R
Racer_X
Guest
What’s this “personal” stuff mean? What distinguishes the two statements “Jesus is my Lord and Savior” and “Jesus is my personal Lord and Savior?” Why do some groups consistently use this phrasing?
- Status
A
Apologia100
Guest
Fundamentalists use this distiction to indicate that they don’t need a church or religion to have a relationship with Jesus. However, how much more personal of a relationship can you have with Jesus than to eat his body and drink his blood? You have a much more personal and intimate relationship with Jesus through the Eucharist.
For some reason, Fundamentalists seem to be bent on smearing the term religion. Its the “through the baby out with the bathwater” syndrome. Jesus didn’t denigrate religion, He is the founder of all true religion! He just denounced anyone who used religion for personal gain. Religion is the name and context of the relationship that you have with God. Just like marriage is the name and context of the relationship a man has with his wife. Wouldn’t it be silly if I said “I don’t want a marriage, I want a personal relationship with my wife.” Well duh, marriage is the name of that relationship. It also defines the context and the boundaries of that relationship.
It is almost as if they want to say, because I have a personal relationship, I can run willy-nilly with my spirituality, but everything is okay. God is the one who defines the boundaries of our relationship to Him. “I am the Lord you God, you shall have no other god besides me.” “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all you heart, all you mind, and all your strength.” These are boundaries. These boundaries put your relationship with God in proper context. These boundaries, this context of the relationship you have with God is called religion. You therefore CAN’T have a personal relationship with God, you CAN’T have Jesus as your personal Lord and savior without religion. Religion and relationship with God are inseparable.
For some reason, Fundamentalists seem to be bent on smearing the term religion. Its the “through the baby out with the bathwater” syndrome. Jesus didn’t denigrate religion, He is the founder of all true religion! He just denounced anyone who used religion for personal gain. Religion is the name and context of the relationship that you have with God. Just like marriage is the name and context of the relationship a man has with his wife. Wouldn’t it be silly if I said “I don’t want a marriage, I want a personal relationship with my wife.” Well duh, marriage is the name of that relationship. It also defines the context and the boundaries of that relationship.
It is almost as if they want to say, because I have a personal relationship, I can run willy-nilly with my spirituality, but everything is okay. God is the one who defines the boundaries of our relationship to Him. “I am the Lord you God, you shall have no other god besides me.” “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all you heart, all you mind, and all your strength.” These are boundaries. These boundaries put your relationship with God in proper context. These boundaries, this context of the relationship you have with God is called religion. You therefore CAN’T have a personal relationship with God, you CAN’T have Jesus as your personal Lord and savior without religion. Religion and relationship with God are inseparable.
S
Seeking_Wisdom
Guest
I agree with Apologia just one more added note. I think ‘personal’ in this context also has to do with having a one on one relationship.
T
tom.wineman
Guest
**If you really believe in the Blessed Sacrament how personal can you get ?
I like to say Jesus is my Lord, God and Redeemer
**
.
I like to say Jesus is my Lord, God and Redeemer
**
.
D
Delgadoajj
Guest
There is no such thing as a “solitary christian”. Christianity is based on the Body of Christ, which is his Church. We are members of that Church. If one of us is hurt, we all feel the pain, if one of us is happy, we all feel the joy. This is biblical. 
he term “personal Lord and Savior” implies some sort of individualism that is not in line with Jesus’ purpose in instituting his Church. It minimizes the need for a visible body, and that the church is some sort of invisible institution.
Jorge.
he term “personal Lord and Savior” implies some sort of individualism that is not in line with Jesus’ purpose in instituting his Church. It minimizes the need for a visible body, and that the church is some sort of invisible institution.
Jorge.
Z
Zski01
Guest
The Protestants I have known moreso focus on the one-on-one relationship, as mentioned before when they say “my personal Lord and savior.” That is a true statement: Christ is a personal Lord and Savior to all Christians. That is definitely a crucial thing for us Catholics to realize (as we do), but if anyone thinks that you can disregard the Church in your walk of faith, you have to ignore a lot of Scripture to take such a stance.
M
MGEISING
Guest
I engorage all of you to look to my LINK … How Catholic’s Hear The Gospel … it is truly PROFOUND.
I always tell not only my chlidren, but the kids I teach CCD to … WE NOT ONLY HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST, WE HAVE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WHEN WE GO TO COMMUNION AND EXCEPT HIM IN THE BODY AND BLOOD THAT HE PROCLAIMED IN JOHN 6: … HOW MORE PERSONAL CAN YOU GET ???/
I always tell not only my chlidren, but the kids I teach CCD to … WE NOT ONLY HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST, WE HAVE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WHEN WE GO TO COMMUNION AND EXCEPT HIM IN THE BODY AND BLOOD THAT HE PROCLAIMED IN JOHN 6: … HOW MORE PERSONAL CAN YOU GET ???/
M
MGEISING
Guest
Seeking Wisdom:
Our Relationship with JESUS is not only PERSONAL, it is INTIMATE, when we accept him in the Eucharist! AMEN
M
Mathetes007
Guest
Racer X:
According to Scripture our relationship with Christ is both personal (me: Galatians 2:20) and shared (us: Romans 4:25; 5:6, 8; 8:32; Ephesians 5:2).
C
Christy_Beth
Guest
I grew up baptist. And, yes, I heard that teaching plenty. I think the emphasis was toward letting the person know that Jesus wanted a one on one relationship with him/her. That Jesus cares about us as individuals and not just as a bunch of people. He died for all. Yet, he also died for each individual.
I’m not sure this is the best way to put it. I never really heard it explained. It was just accepted as part of the deal. Of course, I now know that it takes a lot more than claiming that to be “saved.”
I’m not sure this is the best way to put it. I never really heard it explained. It was just accepted as part of the deal. Of course, I now know that it takes a lot more than claiming that to be “saved.”
M
MGEISING
Guest
What amazes me the most is that it is totally unscriptual … following Jesus means so much more … not that we are perfected in it … but to just accept Jesus as your personal savior … and think that is your ticket to heavan … it just amazes me since scripture is certainly telling us much much much more …
K
Kevan
Guest
Among those I’ve run with, “personal” doesn’t mean “individual,” (although we do tend to be individualistic). Instead, it refers to the way persons relate to one another.
I might learn every available fact about, say, Mel Gibson, but I still wouldn’t know him personally. I may know a song well, but I can’t know it personally since it isn’t a person.
The Evangelical use of “personal Lord and Savior” is meant to convey the belief that Jesus is encountered person to person, rather than as an abstract–like an insurance company that pays out and takes care of you, but is not a person whom you know and relate to.
There are people who just go through the motions, do the church thing the way they believe is right, and assume that God is taking note–but they’ve never met him personally and they don’t know him personally. Evangelicals don’t call people to a law or a philosophy or an organization, but to a person. To make that clear, we use the terminology in question.
I might learn every available fact about, say, Mel Gibson, but I still wouldn’t know him personally. I may know a song well, but I can’t know it personally since it isn’t a person.
The Evangelical use of “personal Lord and Savior” is meant to convey the belief that Jesus is encountered person to person, rather than as an abstract–like an insurance company that pays out and takes care of you, but is not a person whom you know and relate to.
There are people who just go through the motions, do the church thing the way they believe is right, and assume that God is taking note–but they’ve never met him personally and they don’t know him personally. Evangelicals don’t call people to a law or a philosophy or an organization, but to a person. To make that clear, we use the terminology in question.
C
Catholic4aReasn
Guest
How many times have we Catholics heard a former Catholic claim “I never knew I could have a personal relationship with Jesus” or " I never knew I needed to accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior"?
I never want my children to fall into that trap. I’ve begun, with my 8 year old, to tell her something along these lines:
"Some Christians like to say that the they have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. To accept Jesus as Lord means to make a decision to do things Jesus’ way and to accept Jesus as Savior means knowing that He died for your sins".
These are terms that THEY understand and they’ll never be able to say “I never knew”.
I never want my children to fall into that trap. I’ve begun, with my 8 year old, to tell her something along these lines:
"Some Christians like to say that the they have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. To accept Jesus as Lord means to make a decision to do things Jesus’ way and to accept Jesus as Savior means knowing that He died for your sins".
These are terms that THEY understand and they’ll never be able to say “I never knew”.
F
fcb2001
Guest
great point, i always point out the 6th chapter of john
MGEISING:
- Status