Giving Up my life for what I believe

[nev]

Giving Up my life for what I believe

Christianity is based on a man claiming to be the son of God dying, apparently to save his followers from the wages of their sin, and then rising again. Ever since then we have heard statements like “…. no greater love shown than that by a man willing to give up his life for his friends”.

What does it mean to give up my life for what I believe? Does it mean I have to actually die for it? How often am I challenged to do this?

I believe that it is as crucial, more involved but far deeper then just dying for some great cause. I believe that everyday and every moment of my life I am asked the question – what do I believe is right? The answer I give to that question is reflected in the way I think and behave! If I believe in a particular way of life and I live it regardless of any hurdles then not only am I living my beliefs but will actually die living them, and that is as great an act as any!

From the minute I wake up in the morning, to when I go to work; in the way I treat my family; the attitude I adopt towards my work colleagues; my actual work; how I manage my ambitions; the attitude that I face my difficulties with; looking after myself as much as I look after others: I am consistently challenged – do I do what I believe is right, do I behave as others do, what will people think of me, how far can I push the boat out to just being me?!

These are age old questions, and will always present that dilemma. But to achieve some level of inner peace I will always have to find my answers that honestly fit in with my beliefs, decide to what extent I am willing to apply them and then actually live by them; thereby giving up my life for what I believe!

[daffodil52]

nev wrote: Giving Up my life for what I believe

Christianity is based on a man claiming to be the son of God dying, apparently to save his followers from the wages of their sin, and then rising again. Ever since then we have heard statements like “…. no greater love shown than that by a man willing to give up his life for his friends”.

What does it mean to give up my life for what I believe? Does it mean I have to actually die for it? How often am I challenged to do this?

I believe that it is as crucial, more involved but far deeper then just dying for some great cause. I believe that everyday and every moment of my life I am asked the question – what do I believe is right? The answer I give to that question is reflected in the way I think and behave! If I believe in a particular way of life and I live it regardless of any hurdles then not only am I living my beliefs but will actually die living them, and that is as great an act as any!

From the minute I wake up in the morning, to when I go to work; in the way I treat my family; the attitude I adopt towards my work colleagues; my actual work; how I manage my ambitions; the attitude that I face my difficulties with; looking after myself as much as I look after others: I am consistently challenged – do I do what I believe is right, do I behave as others do, what will people think of me, how far can I push the boat out to just being me?!

These are age old questions, and will always present that dilemma. But to achieve some level of inner peace I will always have to find my answers that honestly fit in with my beliefs, decide to what extent I am willing to apply them and then actually live by them; thereby giving up my life for what I believe!
hi and goodbye

[abbey]

Hiya Nev, pay no attention to Daffy.

Being an Athiest i have to say i envy your belief, good luck to you. :-6

[daffodil52]

abbey wrote: Hiya Nev, pay no attention to Daffy.

Being an Athiest i have to say i envy your belief, good luck to you. :-6


hi abbey i can speak for my self ok daffy.

and the question is

prove it...i am a atheist 2 ..... ok believe in what.....

dust to dust ashes to ashes ,,,, nothin their " ok it happen years ago he's "dead"

now,. gone.... does'nt exist ok.... get a life......

[BabyRider]

daffodil52 wrote: hi abbey i can speak for my self ok daffy.



and the question is



prove it...i am a atheist 2 ..... ok believe in what.....



dust to dust ashes to ashes ,,,, nothin their " ok it happen years ago he's "dead"

now,. gone.... does'nt exist ok.... get a life......
There was no question, daffy, just an (apparently) snarky comment. "Hi and goodbye"??? WTF does that mean?

What does you being an atheist mean? What does it have to do with anything?? What should nev "prove" to you in your opinion?

The rest of your post doesn't make any sense at all, so I'm not even touching that. Actually the whole post is pretty odd, but I am wondering what it is you think nev needs to prove to you....

[abbey]

daffodil52 wrote: hi abbey i can speak for my self ok daffy.



and the question is



prove it...i am a atheist 2 ..... ok believe in what.....



dust to dust ashes to ashes ,,,, nothin their " ok it happen years ago he's "dead"

now,. gone.... does'nt exist ok.... get a life......What happened years ago? who's dead? :rolleyes:

[SOJOURNER]

nev wrote: Giving Up my life for what I believe

Christianity is based on a man claiming to be the son of God dying, apparently to save his followers from the wages of their sin, and then rising again. Ever since then we have heard statements like “…. no greater love shown than that by a man willing to give up his life for his friends”.

What does it mean to give up my life for what I believe? Does it mean I have to actually die for it? How often am I challenged to do this?

I believe that it is as crucial, more involved but far deeper then just dying for some great cause. I believe that everyday and every moment of my life I am asked the question – what do I believe is right? The answer I give to that question is reflected in the way I think and behave! If I believe in a particular way of life and I live it regardless of any hurdles then not only am I living my beliefs but will actually die living them, and that is as great an act as any!

From the minute I wake up in the morning, to when I go to work; in the way I treat my family; the attitude I adopt towards my work colleagues; my actual work; how I manage my ambitions; the attitude that I face my difficulties with; looking after myself as much as I look after others: I am consistently challenged – do I do what I believe is right, do I behave as others do, what will people think of me, how far can I push the boat out to just being me?!

These are age old questions, and will always present that dilemma. But to achieve some level of inner peace I will always have to find my answers that honestly fit in with my beliefs, decide to what extent I am willing to apply them and then actually live by them; thereby giving up my life for what I believe!


Welcome Nev.

I never thought of the term "giving up my life" to encompass all of which you stated. It's true. AND, it's a daily on-going act of love.

Rarely are any of us called to make the 'big sacrifice', of my life or yours, but every single day we have choices of how we will live out that day.

I think this concept would be the same if one was a Buddist or a Muslin or another religion -- or even none at all.

Our daughter and grandson (plus her two dogs) are currently living with my husband and myself. It has impacted our lives, mine particularly because I am now home throughtout the day. A number of other members care for spouses that are ill.

When these acts of love are done, no one thinks of it as sacrifice, because they are done out of love. Wrapping one's mind around this, it makes God's son's sacrifice even more an act of love.

Thank you for your lovely post. I shall be passing on your thoughts to my friends and shall enjoy "walking on holy ground" today..................:-6

[Bronwen]

Very nice, nev.

For those do don't already know, 'nef' (pronounced 'nev') is the Welsh word for heaven.

[daffodil52]

abbey wrote: What happened years ago? who's dead? :rolleyes: is father xmass still alive ?

no only in the imagination off a child....... books are away off life before we had DNA

dino saw{LOL) rule the world for , 73 millon years ... now extinction come to mind...

were does that leave the believer..... true or false... that is the million dollar question....

work it out .. daffy50 oops dinosaur/? it a pity they didnt write a best seller of fiction...

[CountryDweller]

nev wrote: What does it mean to give up my life for what I believe? Does it mean I have to actually die for it? How often am I challenged to do this?


To me it means sacrifice. Sacrifice is part of life and it should be. It's not something to regret but something to aspire to.

I believe there are eternal consequences to everything we do on earth. You are free to choose what you surrender to, but you are not free from the consequences of that choice. I also believe that at the end of our life on earth, we will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well we handled what God entrusted to us. Meaning....that everything we do, even simple daily chores, has eternal implications.

How often am I challenged to do this? Every single day! No, it doesn't mean you acually die for it. You learn and grow from it. Do what you feel from your heart that is right. That's all He asks of us.

[Kathy]

To give up my life for what I believe depends upon what you are talking about.

For me, my religious beliefs are strong. Let's say a terrorist grabs me and says that I must denounce Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior or be shot in the head. They might as well as shoot me because I am not going to deny Him.

Now, if the same terrorist says, "Tell me you like Coke better than Dr. Pepper or get shot in the head", I am going to tell him to get me a case of the Coke and I'll drink every drop in front of him and ask for more!

[Slade1]

Kathy wrote: To give up my life for what I believe depends upon what you are talking about.

For me, my religious beliefs are strong. Let's say a terrorist grabs me and says that I must denounce Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior or be shot in the head. They might as well as shoot me because I am not going to deny Him.

Now, if the same terrorist says, "Tell me you like Coke better than Dr. Pepper or get shot in the head", I am going to tell him to get me a case of the Coke and I'll drink every drop in front of him and ask for more!


Denounce Dr Pepper? Not a chance, for was it not said 'Drink the drink that is so misunderstood, and thou shall inherit the earth'? No...wait... oh bollocks, it was bloody Fanta! Sorry.

[Slade1]

Clancy wrote: You gave up your belief for a life ???

....your going to the bad fire


You don't mean...Cherry 7up hell?!?

[Slade1]

Clancy wrote: ....yes exactly, it's time you had a good look at your life....you're in denial.


I may possibly need to reconsider my soft drink of choice. It may seem harmless at first, drinking the odd Apple Tango, but then comes the Mary Jane, then your on to smack, then the next thing you know you've reached the very depth of moral decay...You find yourself in the cinema, watching 'Brokeback Mountain'...

[Slade1]

Clancy wrote: You're definitely on the slippery, slidy, slopes, M'lad.

.....I think you should make a public confession....don't forget the good bits


Okay here goes...

I tried pepsi in college, but it was diet...

I feel better for that, only the odd tizer for me from now onwards. I am a changed man...

[Kathy]

I knew I should have kept my mouth shut.

[Nomad]

daffodil52 wrote: is father xmass still alive ?



no only in the imagination off a child....... books are away off life before we had DNA



dino saw{LOL) rule the world for , 73 millon years ... now extinction come to mind...



were does that leave the believer..... true or false... that is the million dollar question....



work it out .. daffy50 oops dinosaur/? it a pity they didnt write a best seller of fiction...




What ?

[Slade1]

Nomad wrote: What ?


he speak.....daffy language

English it is.....no

oops...slade1

[Bronwen]

Slade1 wrote: he speak.....daffy language

English it is.....no

oops...slade1Kinda like Joyce on acid.

[nev]

Hi

I am absolutely amazed that a message I posted in March 2005 and which initially evoked no reaction has suddenly become alive 10 months later! How awesome is that?! Thank you to all of you for your messages.

I have never intended my messages to inform, convert or prove anything to anybody. My life is based on a teaching which I have chosen to accept as right for me.

Throughout my life I have heard and read of people (of various beliefs) who have given up their lives for what they believe. I always felt that these were noble people doing heroic things that I would not have the courage to do myself.

Last year I lost a friend of mine who was suffering from cancer under his tongue. He will never be famous enough to go down in history as a great hero; but he did become a hero to those of us who knew him – because right until his death he adopted an attitude which was exemplary, admirable and brave.

He had spent enormous amounts of time in the hospital, underwent painful treatment and two major operations. As often as possible to avoid troubling his wife and sons, he would travel on his own to treatment/hospital, he would dress and clean his wounds himself, and he had a tube put in through his throat to help him breathe - he cleaned and changed it himself. Shortly before he died he could eat nothing and very restrictive in what he could drink. He longed for his favourite food but could not have that or anything else. Yet it seems in hospital right to the end he was lively, teasing, making fun of everybody, and hugging everybody who went to visit him. When my brother-in-law last went to visit him, he asked permission, disconnected all his tubes etc, they went to a pub(!), he took his milkshake with him(!), my brother-in-law said that in the pub it was evident that he was really enjoying himself, they went back, he reconnected his tubes etc. etc.

I had a particularly long chat with him as I tried to grasp what he was going through and how he felt. No self pity, no grumpiness, appreciative comments about the doctors and nurses (there was not a complaint against what we all know now is the deteriorating level of care at our UK hospitals), he seemed to enjoy what little he could and accept that whatever be will be.

The question in my mind is/was how is it that my friend could behave with such a bright attitude? He had to have felt pain, anger, bitterness, resentment and yet he looked for and found something positive in all that he went through? Was he born with that attitude? I don't think so. We are born with our own personality traits and characteristics. But surely we have the choice to develop our own attitudes.

And it struck me that while it had nothing to do with being martyred for some grand righteous cause; all my friend was doing, most heroically, was living his life according to what he believed was right. It does not matter who his beliefs came from – whether it be Jesus, Mohammed, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela or just his own conscience even; he lived them! And in doing so he was literally giving his life, to what he believed was right. Is that therefore, I keep pondering, the essence to living a quality, contented normal everyday life?

Thanks again to everyone.

Cheers.

nev

[memebias]

nev wrote: Is that therefore, I keep pondering, the essence to living a quality, contented normal everyday life?

nev


Yes. Theistic belief isn't necessary to live a meaningful life.