Kristin WolgemuthReligion from My Point of View
July 20th 2009 19:58
(Based on Toni’s storyfever.com “Talking about Religion”)
Do you have a religion? I belong to a small splinter sect of the Anabaptists called Mennonite. To sum it up, we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, are pacifists, believe strongly in modesty and charity, and we only baptize adults (although infants can be dedicated to the church at any time). I will explain some things from a book called “Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective.”
1. God has created us and is pleased with those who seek a relationship with Him. He created all things on earth, visible and invisible. He has brought salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, and He will sustain life here on earth until the end of days.
2. We believe that Jesus Christ did in fact come to earth in the flesh to die for our sins. He was the ultimate sacrifice that God made to save humanity and triumph over death.
3. We believe in the Holy Spirit that embodied Christ and all dwellers on this earth to be able to experience a relationship with God.
4. We accept and believe that the bible is the inspired Word of God.
5. We believe that all have fallen short of the glory of God, but that we are renewed and reborn through the salvation of Jesus Christ.
6. We are a missional church, meaning that the Word should be proclaimed to all who are open to hearing it.
7. Ministry is the continuation of Christ’s work here on earth.
8. We commit ourselves to telling the truth, to helping others through stewardship (everything belongs to God and should be treated as such), and to peace.
9. God is the true head of any nation and the world.
10. We believe and trust that God is interacting with us on a continuous basis, and that in the end of days Christ will come again to be with us and carry out the final salvation.
What is religion anyway? I think religion is a man-made organization, with rules and guidelines that someone tries to set up according to what they believe the bible (or other religious text) says. I think spirituality and a personal relationship with God and Jesus are the important goals and what everyone should strive for. I don’t think “religion”, per se, is important.
How important is it in your life? Spirituality and a relationship with Christ are very important to me and dictate my life. Or at least I try to let them dictate my life! I think everyone has slip-ups in meeting their ideals, but we should still strive to meet our goals no matter what.
How do you show your religion? Do you have to brandish it at all? Some of the above explanations on what Mennonites believe have already answered this question. I personally show my faith by trying to live a life of love (more on that topic in an upcoming blog), caring for people, professing my faith when I feel it’s appropriate, not making apologies for what I believe, and by being the best wife, daughter, sister, and friend I can be.
Does one need religion to have a happy life? Again, I don’t think it’s religion that’s important. It’s a personal relationship with God that matters in the end and all along the way. Having that relationship is not about having a crutch- it’s about accountability and communion with someone or something greater than oneself. It’s about loving others and yourself just as Jesus loves us. It’s about the journey of becoming Christ-like, a better person.
Do you have a religion? I belong to a small splinter sect of the Anabaptists called Mennonite. To sum it up, we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, are pacifists, believe strongly in modesty and charity, and we only baptize adults (although infants can be dedicated to the church at any time). I will explain some things from a book called “Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective.”
1. God has created us and is pleased with those who seek a relationship with Him. He created all things on earth, visible and invisible. He has brought salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, and He will sustain life here on earth until the end of days.
2. We believe that Jesus Christ did in fact come to earth in the flesh to die for our sins. He was the ultimate sacrifice that God made to save humanity and triumph over death.
3. We believe in the Holy Spirit that embodied Christ and all dwellers on this earth to be able to experience a relationship with God.
4. We accept and believe that the bible is the inspired Word of God.
5. We believe that all have fallen short of the glory of God, but that we are renewed and reborn through the salvation of Jesus Christ.
6. We are a missional church, meaning that the Word should be proclaimed to all who are open to hearing it.
7. Ministry is the continuation of Christ’s work here on earth.
8. We commit ourselves to telling the truth, to helping others through stewardship (everything belongs to God and should be treated as such), and to peace.
9. God is the true head of any nation and the world.
10. We believe and trust that God is interacting with us on a continuous basis, and that in the end of days Christ will come again to be with us and carry out the final salvation.
What is religion anyway? I think religion is a man-made organization, with rules and guidelines that someone tries to set up according to what they believe the bible (or other religious text) says. I think spirituality and a personal relationship with God and Jesus are the important goals and what everyone should strive for. I don’t think “religion”, per se, is important.
How important is it in your life? Spirituality and a relationship with Christ are very important to me and dictate my life. Or at least I try to let them dictate my life! I think everyone has slip-ups in meeting their ideals, but we should still strive to meet our goals no matter what.
How do you show your religion? Do you have to brandish it at all? Some of the above explanations on what Mennonites believe have already answered this question. I personally show my faith by trying to live a life of love (more on that topic in an upcoming blog), caring for people, professing my faith when I feel it’s appropriate, not making apologies for what I believe, and by being the best wife, daughter, sister, and friend I can be.
Does one need religion to have a happy life? Again, I don’t think it’s religion that’s important. It’s a personal relationship with God that matters in the end and all along the way. Having that relationship is not about having a crutch- it’s about accountability and communion with someone or something greater than oneself. It’s about loving others and yourself just as Jesus loves us. It’s about the journey of becoming Christ-like, a better person.
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