Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: garyh@crash.cts.com (Gary Hipp) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The Bible and Us: a book review; comments on Mary and Protestantism Message-ID: Date: 23 Sep 90 06:57:51 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Crash TimeSharing, El Cajon, CA Lines: 42 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article mmh@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Matthew Huntbach) writes: >>This is not what Protestants mean by a personal relationship with >>Jesus. Normally people who describe such relationships talk about >>Jesus as a friend whom they experience in their normal lives. > >As a matter of interest, where in the Bible is this rather >sentimental view of Jesus suggested as the core of religious >belief? Is it, in any case, "traditional Protestantism"? It >always struck me as a 20th century marketting trick. > >Matthew Huntbach I don't know if you could call it the core, but it sure is the result of Christian belief. "Personal relationship" is terminology used to designate the relationship between an individual and his Lord as opposed to the following of a structured religion. Religion does not save, only Jesus can. One could say, I'm a Baptist or I'm a Catholic and still not have a "personal relationship" with Jesus. One must be saved (from the wrath of God) to have a personal relationship. The aspect of friendship is threaded throughout the NT. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you." John 15:13,14. Belief and obedience are very similar terms used in the NT. (See John 3:16 and John 3:36) A personal relationship is one such that you "know" the other person, spend time with him/her, etc. A PR is also characterized with times of distance, coldness, aloofness. (If you're married, you know what I mean) The same is true in a PR with Jesus. There are conditions set on the quality of the relationship (sometimes referred to as fellowship). "...and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ." IJohn 1:3. The greek for fellowship is koinonea which means sharing, communion, partnership. "If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice truth;..." IJohn 1:6. For further enlightenment on this subject, I suggest reading IJohn. I hope this explanation gives you a better understanding and shows you that it is much more that a marketing tactic of the 20th C. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.--Gary