[wiggy]

@akoni, no prob.

[freeman12]

Bothers peace lang po tayo ha, respect po natin ang paniniwala ng isa't isa. If we don't agree each other's statement, let us try our best not to argue with each other in an offensive or aggressive manner. Let's just try our best to explain or ask questions nicely. Talagang napakaraming pwedeng pagtatunan when it comes to the scriptures, like bro. wiggy said, mostly because of "misinterpretations."

I could compare this "personal relationship with Christ" to a typical father & son relationship.
You love your father, you respect him, you trust and believe in him, you obey him, you communicate with him all the time. And the father loves his children, guides them, and takes responsibility for their well being.

Since we can't physically see or hear Christ, faith now comes in.
You love Christ, you respect Him, you trust and believe in His teachings, you obey His commandments, and you communicate with Him through prayers, and He answers you through the Bible. We feel His love though His spiritual, physical blessings. And when we depart from this world, a promise of an eternal life with Him in heaven.

Bro akoni, i apologize if ang dating sa iyo ng evangelicals is that they "brag" about this "personal relationship with Christ."
In my honest opinion, it shouldn't be bragged, but rather, be shared to others.

God bless us all!

[akoni]

No worries at all Freeman12, I ate dialogue and attacks from non catholics everyday, oh God they are far more violent than what you think specially to us Catholics, but I considered their attacks as an opportunity for me to share the truth. the truth that handed down from Jesus, Apostles to his Church. The Church is the pellar and foundation of truth not the Bible(1 Tim 3:15)

Anyway, let's agree to disagree here, The danger is that many evangelicals believe in only a personal relationship. EVERY relationship is a personal relationship. But Christianity is not just a personal relationship but a communal one. It's a family bond. Reducing it to just 'me and God' removes the entire family of God that is given you when you come under the covenant. It's also important to note that the sign of the covenant, IS the Eucharist. We must, and Jesus demands it of us. He doesn't say it's a good idea. He doesn't say if you want to Eat my body and blood.. he says you MUST or you have no life.
Post Merge: Aug 15, 2012, 09:13 AMA story I got from the Catholic website regarding this "personal relationship with Jesus" and I want ishare it to here......

A Jesuit priest preached our parish mission this past March. In one of his homilies, he recounted a time when an evangelical Christian tried to evangelize him, asking if he had a personal relationship with Jesus. The priest said, "Yes, but I don't want one." The evangelical was very puzzled and asked why. He continued, "What I desire is union with Christ...to be joined with him and be completely configured to his will and likeness...and this is accomplished by receiving him into myself through the Eucharist. Like an old married couple that has loved each other for so long that they have each become like the other, and you can't think of one without thinking of the other."

We have something beyond a personal relationship

[freeman12]

Ah yes, that is the part that really saddens me, some of us treat catholics and other sects like enemies and even spritual "criminals!"
Pero hindi naman lahat ganun, but i have encountered some.
Sa akin kasi hindi tama na magshare ng gospel sa pamamagitan ng pagtatalo or winning a religious debate.
It just worsens the situation by putting angst in the loser and ego in the victor. Anywat it's just my opinion.

Btw, i learned something in our discussion, di kasi ako familiar sa eucharist, and i was surprised to know that it is also known as the last supper.
Sa church namin we do the last supper pero not every sunday, every first sunday of the month lang.

Thanks akoni, and for the patience as well. God bless you!

[akoni]

For me naman Freeman12, Dialogues or Debate will lead us to inquiry..... Inquiry lead us to TRUTH. Imagine a world without argumentation? There will be no LAW, no POLICY, no THEORIES, no MODELS... thanks for the people who ones argued for their belief. Debate is not a verbal wrangling neither to show who is superior... but to shed light.

And in fact our model of debating is Jesus and the Apostles, there were lots of debates happened in the Bible, because of their arguments/debates nakuha nila yong mga romano at pagano(aside sa kanilang kabaitan). They have the logic and truth to destroy heretics arguments.Kailangan lang talaga mahinahon sa debate (1 Peter 3:15)

[freeman12]

I agree with you with that, especially with the verse.

1 Peter 3:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Ang kaso yung gentleness and respect talaga ang nawawala or ang hirap panatilihin during a religious debate lalo na pag may mga nagkakantyawan na. Like the confrontations of Iglesia ni Knisto and the Ang Dating Daan, which is talagang naka broadcast pa sa tv.

Those kind of things is what really saddens me.

[Burndvinyard]

Finally, i found some healthy conversation about Christianity. Thanks @freeman21 and @akoni.

I actually belong to a band that's mostly made up of Evangelical members. I'm the lead singer and the only Catholic in the band. Yet i really feel the love of Jesus from them. Respect is the key to a happy Christian family.

[freeman12]

^Yes indeed, mutual respect for each other's belief is also important. It doesn't mean na kung hindi man sya nag-aagree sa paniniwala mo regarding Christianity, eh may karapatan ka nang lait laitin or yurakan ang pagkatao nya. (i know some sa religion namin na ganito yung approach nila, especially the elderly, when it comes to arguments,   kaya usually nalilihis tuloy ang primary objective ng isang debate, like akoni said, which is to shed light)

I believe God gave each one of us the gift of free will. If one doesn't believe in your interpretation of the Bible, respect him, it is his decision, at least you tried. Still, treat him like family, not like someone with a highly contagious disease. 

And having this kind of discussion is really healthy for the spirit. Your spiritual horizons could really be widened in search of the truth.

Let us keep the gentleness and respect when touching topics of faith and spirituality.

[akoni]

@ Freeman12, yes I agree with your observation, but don't get discourage with debates and dialogues because of some which resort to name calling and violence, debates per se is not bad.

The same with the word LOVE, some people kill because of love pero hindi natin pweding sabihin na masama na ang love its because maraming nababaliw nito.LOL! kakabaliw nga ba?? hehehe!!

@Burndvinyard, I was once also a member of interfaith fora, where we gathered and settle our differences, iba iba ang style ng mga apologist, what I learned is iba ang debate in the streets over the net, sa net kailangan mo lagyan ng konting anghang at mas marami ang murahan kasi nga hindi ka nakikita at di ka kilala, you can put comments or saloobin as as you want. but at the end of the day mas effective yong.. consistent may logic at hindi nagmumura and one thing also we can get from debates is to strengthen our brethren that reading/listening to you(not to put to shame to your opponents). I believe that apologetics is the new evangelization nowadays.

[freeman12]

@akoni yes i do agree that debates are not bad, as long as it serves it's primary purpose.

Marami din namang ibang paraan ng evangelism and siguro pass ako sa apologetics, i admit hindi ako talaga prepared for such. And since nasa medical field naman ako, medical/dental missions ang napili kong ministry.

Dun na lang ako peace and sa love na nakakabaliw. hehe

[wiggy]

I could compare this "personal relationship with Christ" to a typical father & son relationship.

Bro akoni, i apologize if ang dating sa iyo ng evangelicals is that they "brag" about this "personal relationship with Christ."
In my honest opinion, it shouldn't be bragged, but rather, be shared to others.

I guess this sums it up. I do agree that it shouldn't be bragged but it should be shared. Shared in a sense that it will be for God's glory.

[kithe]

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself..

[sunbeam]

Makikijoin lang sa usapan. Dapat naman mga Christians kahit iba-ibang denomination/sect, pareho naman na si Christ Jesus ang Lord/Savior ay magkaisa pagdating sa respect and love. Followers tayong lahat.

Bilin ni Kristo sa mga disipulo o mga followers niya.
John 15:12
This is my commandment, that you love one another,
 just as I have loved you.

[Palamig]

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself..

Ideal na prinsipyo yan 'te pero mahalaga para intindihin ang kapwang di mo maintindihan, tulad ko.

[kithe]

Mahirap, pero yun ang utos ng Diyos eh. You can choose to obey them or not..