"Personal relationship" with Jesus

[thegreypiper]

This is meant as an expansion on the question I’m seeing on the upper left: “Isn’t a relationship with Jesus more important than religion?”

So here is the question for all the protestants/evangelicals: Since everything you believe is straight out of the Bible, where exactly does it say something -anything- about a “personal relationship” with Jesus?

I know there are a couple places where Christ states that one must eat His body and drink His blood, but I can’t think of anyplace speaking of a ‘personal relationship.’

 

[Garyjohn2]

I’m not a protestant, but I wanted to contribute to the question, and anyone else that might be interested.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:12-15 (translations may very)

It’s important to take this in context. Jesus is to be our friend, and have a very personal and intimate relationship with us. That being said, we are also to do what he commands.

I don’t think there is a difference between a “personal relationship with Jesus” and “religion.” It’s the same thing, isn’t it? It’s only when people distort the meaning of the work “religion” that we get into trouble.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27

Loving Jesus, caring for others, and belonging to the Church are all the same!

 

[paddy22]

I’ve never really understood that phrase - what exactly does it mean to have a ‘personal relationship’ with Jesus?

 

[Garyjohn2]

I’ve never really understood that phrase - what exactly does it mean to have a ‘personal relationship’ with Jesus?

That is too bad! I think people really do know what it means, but they are either trying too hard, or picking on a phrase just because protestants use it. I responded to this very same question a few months ago, and this was my response…I think I summed it up nicely.

"Someone might ask me, “do you have a personal relationship with your dad?” I’d say “yes! We talk, and spend time together. I know him, and he knows me. We are familiar with each other much more than strangers would be.” In other words, we have a personal relationship as oppsed to an impersonal relationship. Someone else might answer “No, I don’t have a personal relationship with my dad. We had a falling out several years ago. We rarely talk. I don’t really know him any more, and I’ve changed so much he probably doesn’t know me. At family events, its all business.” So if someone asks if we have a personal relationship with Jesus, this is what they are wondering.

(From google.com “define:”)
Personal = concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality

Impersonal = not personal; not representing a person; not having personality; Lacking warmth or emotion; cold"

All Christians should strive to have a personal relationship with Jesus. It’s ok if you don’t though, but it’s a really simple concept. Marvelously simple, in fact!

 

[paddy22]

I’m not picking on it because Protestants use it, I’ve just always thought people use it as a way to denigrate Catholic devotions as impersonal because many devotions rely on prayers previously written by others. I see it as implying that these devotions are inferior because they lack the ‘personal’ feeling of a conversation; that they are cold, mechanical, impersonal, not heartfelt.

 

[Scoobyshme]

I find the term “personal relationship” kind of odd. If one has a relationship with anyone, it must, by definition, be personal. Otherwise, there’s no relationship at all.

Also, “religion” is the submission of one’s will to the Divine will of God. How can this be bad?

I think some folks try to make stuff up in order to gather a bigger following. It doesn’t matter if it makes sense or not.

 

[CaptainPicard]

Of course we should have a relationship with Jesus (the “personal” is redundant). Scripture describes God as our Father, brother, friend, and master. These describe different facets of our relationship with God. If you read the writings of the great saints, you’ll find that they all had an intimate relationship with Christ. This is how they became saints.

The religion vs relationship issue is a false dichotomy. If you love God, you’ll want to follow his commandments. That’s where the practice of religion comes in.

What some protestants have done is loaded up the word “religion” with all sorts of stiff, self righteous, pharisaical, stereotypes. The word has become a sort of scapegoat that they load the sins of the Church onto.

 

[scriabin]

The word “personal” can mean several things.

It can mean heartfelt, deep commitment in the soul. “Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and strength.” We Catholics can agree with this meaning.

It can also mean exclusiveness, as in “my faith relationship with Christ is my own personal concern, back off and mind your own business Mr. Pope Benedict.” This meaning of the word ‘personal’ in regards to faith is incorrect. We Catholics understand the body of Christ and our connectedness to it.

 

[thegreypiper]

I’m not picking on it because Protestants use it, I’ve just always thought people use it as a way to denigrate Catholic devotions as impersonal because many devotions rely on prayers previously written by others. I see it as implying that these devotions are inferior because they lack the ‘personal’ feeling of a conversation; that they are cold, mechanical, impersonal, not heartfelt.

No, you’re absolutely right. Usually the people who are going on about a “personal” relationship" also seem to think that “religion” and “religious” are dirty words. (And if you poke a little in the right spot, will usually pop out something about Popery and Babylon."

 

[fhansen]

I think we have to be a little cautious with this one. We’re called to have a deeper relationship with God then merely a second–hand one with the Church as our go between- a perspective the Reformers objected to, I believe, and one that can evolve if we’re not cautious and one that can also be abused by clergy.

As Catholics, God and His kingdom are to be operative within us, the HS working to conform us to His image. We’re to grow in the knowledge of God-not just knowledge about Him but to directly know Him individually. So while IMO the “personal relationship” thing can be bogus, shallow or at least somewhat off-base, it may point to a normal desire in our hearts to be closer to God.

 

[SSTeacher]

This is meant as an expansion on the question I’m seeing on the upper left: “Isn’t a relationship with Jesus more important than religion?”

So here is the question for all the protestants/evangelicals: Since everything you believe is straight out of the Bible, where exactly does it say something -anything- about a “personal relationship” with Jesus?

I know there are a couple places where Christ states that one must eat His body and drink His blood, but I can’t think of anyplace speaking of a ‘personal relationship.’

It’s true that the term “personal relationship” isn’t mentioned in the Bible but for Evangelicals it’s an understanding that is at least implied. The understanding begins with the idea that “God loves us” (no argument from most Christians there) and proceeds to the next idea, which is that “God wants to have a personal relationship with us.”

I think it likely that many Evangelicals in the United States are taught that there is a difference between “religion” and “relationship” and that true Christianity is not the former but the latter. I once heard an Evangelical pastor explain during his homily that religion means doing things for God whereas relationship means celebrating what God has done for us i.e. sent His Son to die for our sins. He got a chorus of “Amens” at that point. The idea commonly held by Evangelicals is that “religion” involves rules and regulations and burdensome legalism (e.g. the Pharisees) and is therefore but a twisted version of the good news that Jesus brought to us (cf. Matthew 11:28–30). Catholics that convert to Evangelical Christianity sometimes depict Catholicism as such a religion and assert that it promotes guilt and fear so it’s hardly surprising that Evangelicals often think of the Catholic Church in negative terms.

I daresay the majority of Evangelicals don’t give much thought to what the term “personal relationship” actually means and settle for the “it’s between me and God” stance to which they can default if they sense any intrusion into their routine or “personal space.” For them, the “personal relationship” means “private relationship.” In my experience, people who choose this approach are often found on the finance committee.

Those in the minority that have given thought to what they believe and why they believe it probably perceive the priesthood to be an obstacle to the “personal relationship.” This starting point naturally leads to all the usual objections to Catholicism along with the familiar assertion that many Catholic beliefs and practices are “unbiblical.”

Cordially,
Mick

 

[Araninski]

The reason why people use “personal relationship” with Jesus instead of religion is because, religion is being taken as “tradition” nowadays. So using personal relationship with Jesus makes emphasis on having a intimate relationship with Him.

God bless!

 

[Tide210]

The reason why people use “personal relationship” with Jesus instead of religion is because, religion is being taken as “tradition” nowadays. So using personal relationship with Jesus makes emphasis on having a intimate relationship with Him.

God bless!

Good post. My wife was raised Methodist and is always telling me that she doesn’t understand why Catholics need to confess their sins to a priest since priests are human,. too. She also doesn’t get the whole using Saints and Mary as intercessors since we’ve got Jesus and God right there, so no need to pray to anyone else.

What are good ways to answer these questions?

 

[Zenas]

I find the term “personal relationship” kind of odd. If one has a relationship with anyone, it must, by definition, be personal. Otherwise, there’s no relationship at all.

That might be overstating it. People engage in business relationships that are highly impersonal. You and I are having a relationship right here on this post but it is definitely not personal.

It is true the Bible says nothing about a personal relationship with Christ but it says a lot of other things that implies it. Here is one of my favorites: “He who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit.”

 

[Nine_Two]

When I was an evangelical I would have said a personal relationship is getting to know who Jesus was, what he taught, following his teachings, and his plan for your life, I would have said this is something those liturgical churches clearly can’t have with Jesus.

Now that I’m Orthodox, that’s how I’d describe my religion, of course with the added bit of the need to spend time in active worship.

Semantics is a big source for argument, but often you have people arguing the exact same thing.

 

[John_Paul_Jones]

That is too bad! I think people really do know what it means, but they are either trying too hard, or picking on a phrase just because protestants use it.

I don’t pick on the phrase because of Protestants, I think the contrary is true, I’m picked on because I’m not fimilar with it. I usually hesitate I’m sort of caught off guard, when they’ll ask me “Do you have a Personal Relationship® with Jesus Christ?” and then because they know I’m Catholic they’ll try to convince me I don’t have a Personal Relationship® (maybe other Cahtolics had a similar experience) It’s like they have a register trademark for the phrase “Personal Relationship®” because I really don’t encounter the phrase elsewhere.

“Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God”
“Pure religion is this: To look after the orphan and widow”

I don’t see Christianity as (solely) a “Personal Relationship®” for me it has to do with the fulfilling the mission of the Church - Charity for the less fortunate - either spiritual or temporal. “Personal Relationship®” seeems more one on one more independant from other people while Family of God, Church of Chirst, Mystical Body of Christ shows that you are part of a greater whole.

 

[Monica4316]

Can’t get more personal than the Eucharist!

 

[brb3]

I’ve never really understood that phrase - what exactly does it mean to have a ‘personal relationship’ with Jesus?

Protestants use the term to express their ‘rebirth’ and receipt of H.S. When they receive the H.S., they are changed / indwelt by Christ. This new awakening, is a ‘spiritual’ transformation of their hearts/souls. Their ‘theoretical’ beliefs of Christ are replaced by ‘experiential’ awakenings.

 

[Araninski]

Originally Posted by Tide210

Good post. My wife was raised Methodist and is always telling me that she doesn’t understand why Catholics need to confess their sins to a priest since priests are human,. too. She also doesn’t get the whole using Saints and Mary as intercessors since we’ve got Jesus and God right there, so no need to pray to anyone else.

What are good ways to answer these questions?

I was born a Catholic, and was poorly catechized, but later on I grew and studied Catholicism and was a practicing Catholic. Though no longer.

Confessing sins to a priest, is like confessing to Jesus himself. Catholics use different passages to defend this idea.

John 20:23
“If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (However they are not forgiven if they don’t want to accept their sins)

At that point they were already with the Lord. The passage was meant for forgiving people who were to convert(Sometimes people who are being convert need this not always). However converts already being converts have no need to tell anyone their sins (though is helpful sometimes, when you need help to overcome certain sins, etc).

Good Catholics (because there are just some bad Catholics, who are badly catechized, who adore the saints and Mary) pray to Jesus with the Saints and Mary because they belief they help them in their journey with Christ. All of this beliefs are because of and for Jesus. I really never like the idea anyways.
And you are right you don’t need Mary or the Saints, since God hears your prayers no need for no one else.

Matthew 6:6
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (See no Mary and no Saints, if you continue reading the passage there you will find a complete guide to praying:thumbsup: like Jesus himself!)

God bless you in your endeavors!

 

[cheese_sdc]

I never understood it either. Can’t have a “personal relationship” with someone I’ve never met.