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rj_andersonQ: What would you say if you met Jesus [here on earth, in an everyday setting, and he appeared just as an ordinary man]?
A: I've spent nearly a week thinking about this now. I think that if I met Him on the street, and actually knew for certain that it was Him, I would not be able to say anything right away because I would be flat on my face. It wouldn't matter that He didn't look glorious or superhuman; just knowing who He was would be enough. And when I could speak (if I could get past the tears), I would say, "Lord, forgive me. You loved me so much you died for me. I owe you everything. And I've given you nothing."
Q: What do you think of people of other religions, or agnostics, or atheists?
A: I think they are human beings like myself, many of them more intelligent, better educated, and more generous to others than I am. In fact I am quite sure that among those groups there are any number of people whose kindness and sensitivity and general good behaviour puts me to shame. If human beings could earn God's favour by doing good works they would no doubt be a lot further ahead than I.
However, I also believe that like me they have a conscience and a general awareness of right and wrong, and that like me they have all violated their consciences and done things they knew or believed to be wrong, not just once but many times. And so I also believe what the book of Romans says, that before God all men are "without excuse" and that none of us can enter heaven or gain a right relationship with God in our own merit. I believe that every one of us, regardless of nationality or culture or creed or personality or number and nature of sins, is in desperate need of a Saviour and that Jesus Christ is the only One who can save us.
At the same time, I also believe that if our hearts are genuinely searching for the truth about God and crying out for Him -- if we are faithful to whatever little light we have -- then it doesn't matter where we are or who we are, God will give us what we need to find Him. Whether that means meeting a missionary on the road or finding a Gideon Bible in a hotel room drawer or any of a million other, subtler things, I can't say; but I do believe that God is faithful and merciful and just, and He will not turn away from anyone who genuinely wants to know Him, nor will He condemn anyone who does not deserve it.
Q: What is your favorite hymn?
A: I've always loved "Be Thou My Vision", but more recently I've fallen in love with My Song Is Love Unknown, to the gorgeous tune "St. John (Calkin)", which unfortunately The Cyber Hymnal doesn't have so I can't link to that. The words are there, though.
Q: What's your number 1 fanfic pet peeve?
A: Bad characterization. And by "bad" I mean "I do not recognize this character as being in any way connected to the one I know from canon, except for a few incidental similarities." The phenomenon is by no means limited to badfic, either.
Q: What's your middle name / What does the J. stand for?
A: Joan. It's my mother's name.
Q: What colour are your eyes?
A: Blue-grey with yellow rings around the pupils, but they can also look green or brown depending on what I'm wearing.
Q: Coke or Pepsi?
A: Coke, but I don't really drink either. I'm not big on carbonated beverages; more of a Snapple gal.
Q: Have you hugged your muse today?
A: Well, I tried, but the only one who hugged me back was Malcolm. The others either looked at me askance, or went stiff, or threatened me with bodily harm. Sigh.
If anybody has any more questions feel free to stick 'em in the Comments section; I'm game...
A: I've spent nearly a week thinking about this now. I think that if I met Him on the street, and actually knew for certain that it was Him, I would not be able to say anything right away because I would be flat on my face. It wouldn't matter that He didn't look glorious or superhuman; just knowing who He was would be enough. And when I could speak (if I could get past the tears), I would say, "Lord, forgive me. You loved me so much you died for me. I owe you everything. And I've given you nothing."
Q: What do you think of people of other religions, or agnostics, or atheists?
A: I think they are human beings like myself, many of them more intelligent, better educated, and more generous to others than I am. In fact I am quite sure that among those groups there are any number of people whose kindness and sensitivity and general good behaviour puts me to shame. If human beings could earn God's favour by doing good works they would no doubt be a lot further ahead than I.
However, I also believe that like me they have a conscience and a general awareness of right and wrong, and that like me they have all violated their consciences and done things they knew or believed to be wrong, not just once but many times. And so I also believe what the book of Romans says, that before God all men are "without excuse" and that none of us can enter heaven or gain a right relationship with God in our own merit. I believe that every one of us, regardless of nationality or culture or creed or personality or number and nature of sins, is in desperate need of a Saviour and that Jesus Christ is the only One who can save us.
At the same time, I also believe that if our hearts are genuinely searching for the truth about God and crying out for Him -- if we are faithful to whatever little light we have -- then it doesn't matter where we are or who we are, God will give us what we need to find Him. Whether that means meeting a missionary on the road or finding a Gideon Bible in a hotel room drawer or any of a million other, subtler things, I can't say; but I do believe that God is faithful and merciful and just, and He will not turn away from anyone who genuinely wants to know Him, nor will He condemn anyone who does not deserve it.
Q: What is your favorite hymn?
A: I've always loved "Be Thou My Vision", but more recently I've fallen in love with My Song Is Love Unknown, to the gorgeous tune "St. John (Calkin)", which unfortunately The Cyber Hymnal doesn't have so I can't link to that. The words are there, though.
Q: What's your number 1 fanfic pet peeve?
A: Bad characterization. And by "bad" I mean "I do not recognize this character as being in any way connected to the one I know from canon, except for a few incidental similarities." The phenomenon is by no means limited to badfic, either.
Q: What's your middle name / What does the J. stand for?
A: Joan. It's my mother's name.
Q: What colour are your eyes?
A: Blue-grey with yellow rings around the pupils, but they can also look green or brown depending on what I'm wearing.
Q: Coke or Pepsi?
A: Coke, but I don't really drink either. I'm not big on carbonated beverages; more of a Snapple gal.
Q: Have you hugged your muse today?
A: Well, I tried, but the only one who hugged me back was Malcolm. The others either looked at me askance, or went stiff, or threatened me with bodily harm. Sigh.
If anybody has any more questions feel free to stick 'em in the Comments section; I'm game...
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no subject
Date: 2003-04-29 08:13 am (UTC)Thanks for your answer. It's an interesting insight.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2003-04-29 08:24 am (UTC)"Be Thou My Vision" is one of my favorite hymns as well. I particularly enjoy Twila Paris' rendition of it and have a tendency to hit the back button on the CD player until the rest of the family rises up in protest and insists on something else!
At the same time, I also believe that if our hearts are genuinely searching for the truth about God and crying out for Him -- if we are faithful to whatever little light we have -- then it doesn't matter where we are or who we are, God will give us what we need to find Him. Whether that means meeting a missionary on the road or finding a Gideon Bible in a hotel room drawer or any of a million other, subtler things, I can't say; but I do believe that God is faithful and merciful and just, and He will not turn away from anyone who genuinely wants to know Him, nor will He condemn anyone who does not deserve it.
We were discussing this in Sunday school just last week and came to roughly the same conclusion. It is a difficult point for me, as a Christian, because I do believe that Christ is the way to salvation but have trouble imagining God condemning those who have never had the opportunity to know Him. It also causes discomfort when I take stock and realize how very little, really, I'm doing to spread that message.
And now a question of my own, to a fellow mother of small children: When do you find time to write? When is your most productive writing time, and are you able to accommodate that somehow or do you squeeze it in when you can? Do you ever have guilt over time you spend writing/reading/online? OK, that was three questions, but they're all related :)
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Date: 2003-04-29 12:54 pm (UTC)Re:
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Date: 2003-04-29 06:33 pm (UTC)I hope it's not too presumptuous of me to carry on. I'm not trying to be obnoxious, indeed it's usually me who's trying to defend some Christian attitude or other to people I know. Also, you said you felt guilty about not doing enough to promote the message, so here's your chance: I am a Christian, though a somewhat skeptical one. :)
What if you are an atheist, because you have deliberately rejected the teachings of the Christian society you have been brought up in? Not as a way of justifying acts of sin, but because you honestly believe the existence of God is just implausible? Then, if you live your life generally according to Christian values, and obeying your conscience, is your entry into heaven blocked because you never appealed to Christ to redeem you from your small sins? Does the same apply to people of other religions who seek God but find Him in their own faith? Or must it only be the Christian faith?
Also, while I'm here, another, more obvious question. What's your favorite character in a book, ever? :)
~Chresimos
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Date: 2003-05-04 05:18 pm (UTC)Secondly, I hope you don't mind my constant commenting on your LJ. I do it because I know people in general like feedback, and so if I have a thought, I'll oblige and write it down. If it irks you, let me know.
Finally, is it only Bible study that interests you? As it happens I've been delving into the world of Medieval Christianity, in which I've found some passages that reminded me a little of one your above replies. It's random, I know - but sharing information is a good thing, isn't it?
~Chresimos
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From:My Song is Love Unknown: St John (Calkin)
Date: 2004-05-01 10:43 am (UTC)In the Redeemer,
R. Watrous
Re: My Song is Love Unknown: St John (Calkin)
From: