2 Peter 1:16-18
“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.” vs. 16
One of the ways Christianity is different from other religions is its connection to a person who lived and breathed and walked this earth. Granted, our written records of that person come from among his disciples (Jesus himself never wrote anything) and reflect their occasionally different memories of his words and actions, but there is no doubt that their experience of him was life-changing. They came to believe that he was the Christ, and through their testimony billions have become believers. As a result Christianity can never really be reduced to a set of doctrines or even a statement of faith, but is at its core intensely personal. Believers often speak of a relationship that they have with Jesus, a connection that goes beyond adherence to a particular metaphysical system. One of the exciting aspects of this core belief is the amazing diversity that exists among disciples. Followers of Jesus have any number of divergent beliefs about the world and how faith should be lived out, but all will feel a kinship with him, and look to him as their source of strength and hope. This has resulted in wonderful elasticity through the years as the Church has been molded and remolded to fit the times. Change is a natural part of the Christian experience, something to be embraced, because our focal point is personal, and not theological. Praise God!
Thought for the Day: How would I describe my personal relationship with Jesus?
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