Emotional intimacy and Christ

[Storyrider]

This question will probably make the most sense to people who are not hostile to matters of faith.

 

Some say that being truly intimate with someone is like touching or melding souls.

 

If someone has accepted Christ, that is supposed to transform the person's soul according to Christian doctrine, right? You're inviting Christ in, and He changes you.

 

So if a non-Christian becomes very intimate with a Christian, does the non-Christian experience direct and intimate contact with Christ?

 

I know it seems like a contradiction in a way because a non-believer would, in theory, experience nothing and contact nothing. But what if the non-believer suspects there might be something?

[ConfusedButLoved]

So if a non-Christian becomes very intimate with a Christian, does the non-Christian experience direct and intimate contact with Christ?

 

When you say intimate, do you mean sexually or intimacy in some other form?

[melodymatters]

Well, if you, or rather, the non believer senses something that feels like magical intimacy, why not go with it, enjoy it ?

 

What is Reality anyway, and perhaps we create it by feeling it ?

 

My relationship with the universal spirit has always been akin to the analogy that an ant could no more understand my existence, than I could begin to understand "God's" plan and or reality.

 

Helps me sleep

[Storyrider]

When you say intimate, do you mean sexually or intimacy in some other form?

 

Emotional and sexual intimacy, as with a lover or spouse. To put it simply, if you get close to them, are you getting close to Christ as a side effect?

[disgracian]

If someone has accepted Christ, that is supposed to transform the person's soul according to Christian doctrine, right? You're inviting Christ in, and He changes you.

I think that is, overall, a reasonably accurate way of putting it. It's certainly supposed to go further than an intellectual understanding, such as in something you say "Ahh, I get it" or "That makes sense" without actually acting on it. It's no good saying "Man, Jesus was really onto something when he said 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'." and then walking past the next beggar on the street and tell him to get a job.

So if a non-Christian becomes very intimate with a Christian, does the non-Christian experience direct and intimate contact with Christ?

You could see it like that, but we're getting deep into the realms of subjectivity here. Speaking as a non-Christian who is married to a Christian, I don't see it that way personally. Christ does influence who they are, but so do a whole lot of other people. I think our relationship could get potentially crowded if we viewed it that way: I would be experiencing direct and intimite contact not only with my wife, but also her whole family, her pastor, her close friends and anybody else she's been influenced by! It's not really what I want to visualise.

 

For any kind of direct and intimate contact with Christ to occur for me, it would have to be initiated by me. I don't think there exists such a thing as getting a bit of second-hand Christ. It has to be a conscious choice.

 

Cheers,

D.

[Storyrider]

For any kind of direct and intimate contact with Christ to occur for me, it would have to be initiated by me. I don't think there exists such a thing as getting a bit of second-hand Christ. It has to be a conscious choice.

 

Interesting. That makes sense. But if you choose to be in contact with someone who exudes spirituality, don't you ever feel in contact with something bigger than the person?

 

The phrase "second-hand Christ" is funny. My H always says he doesn't go for "Roll your own religion," ha ha.

 

My H is Catholic and I'm Jewish. What is your faith background, if you don't mind me asking?

[disgracian]

I can't say that I feel in contact with something bigger than my wife just by being around her. Again it comes back to the issue of where to draw the line. She is who she is partly because of the external influences in her life, but the rest is down to her own nature. It's the combination of all those things that I'm intimately connected to.

 

My faith background is rather patchy and bare. I'm not really anything but nor am I nothing. Right now my interest is Buddhism but there is no expectation to become one. I think that, to call myself Buddhist (or anything) implicitly implies an exclusion from everything else, and I prefer not to do that. Wisdom is wisdom, no matter where it comes from. Except maybe Scientology. I draw the line there.

 

Cheers,

D.

[riobikini]

re:

 

SR: " So if a non-Christian becomes very intimate with a Christian, does the non-Christian experience direct and intimate contact with Christ?

 

I know it seems like a contradiction in a way because a non-believer would, in theory, experience nothing and contact nothing. But what if the non-believer suspects there might be something? "

 

SR, I think that looking at it as just something having good, positive vibes and presence is, probably, the surest way to get yourself an answer.

 

Generally speaking, I think anything truly designed to project or inflict no harm, possessing goodwill, and keeping up pretty decent standards can have a positive influence on others -whether it creates a path to religious beliefs or not.

 

As long as you're not preaching, spouting religious verses all day long, and spending more time concerned with the souls and beliefs of others instead of focusing on the "heaven" in front of you -I see no problem with anyone being who they are and believing what they believe.

 

And surely, that should be positive influence enough for anyone to find attractive and want to check into.

 

-Rio

[Love Hurts]

This question will probably make the most sense to people who are not hostile to matters of faith.

 

Some say that being truly intimate with someone is like touching or melding souls.

 

If someone has accepted Christ, that is supposed to transform the person's soul according to Christian doctrine, right? You're inviting Christ in, and He changes you.

 

So if a non-Christian becomes very intimate with a Christian, does the non-Christian experience direct and intimate contact with Christ?

 

I know it seems like a contradiction in a way because a non-believer would, in theory, experience nothing and contact nothing. But what if the non-believer suspects there might be something?

 

The Christian has failed and sinned against all he or she stands for.

The non believer is not accepted by Christ because he or she took part in the act of.

Both have sinned against God.

[disgracian]

Generally speaking, I think anything truly designed to project or inflict no harm, possessing goodwill, and keeping up pretty decent standards can have a positive influence on others -whether it creates a path to religious beliefs or not.

That's how my marriage is; we tend to bring out the best in each other even though we have different beliefs. It's just different approaches to the same outcome. My wife sees it as the OP puts it, letting Jesus in and living his teachings and his love for everybody. I have more of a Buddhist perspective but it ultimately amounts to the same thing.

As long as you're not preaching, spouting religious verses all day long, and spending more time concerned with the souls and beliefs of others instead of focusing on the "heaven" in front of you -I see no problem with anyone being who they are and believing what they believe.

Verily said!

 

Cheers,

D.

[lonelybird]

Scripture--God's words are life, hope, light, love. God's words can enter people's heart, awaken their soul, so that they can be saved.

 

True believers LOVE God's words:love: whoever doesn't love God's words, that because their flesh is working rather than spirit

[Trimmer]

The Christian has failed and sinned against all he or she stands for.

For clarification, what was "the Christian's" failure and sin, in this case?

 

The non believer is not accepted by Christ because he or she took part in the act of.

Again, for clarification, "the act of..." what?

[burning 4 revenge]

Jesus died two thousand years ago, so you can't get close to him anymore than you can get close to Elizabeth the First.

 

I suppose if your husband was an expert in the Tudors you would feel closer to Elizabeth than you might have felt before, but only in so much as you know more about her.