To the Becomer

Becoming a Christian is probably the most important decision you can make -ever. A true Christian experiences God. I will try to explain in very simple terms. But it is necessary to talk about the human mind.

It is very simple to take the step of becoming a Christian but many people confuse taking the first step as the only step. I encourage you to think very carefully about this step and the consequences to your life as a result of taking this step. Billy Graham talks about this first step in every one of his crusades. He quotes the bible. "For God so loved the world (his creation and specifically man) that he gave his only begotten son that who ever believes (in him) should not perish but have everlasting life". Sounds pretty simple doesn't it. Although true, that statement needs to be properly understood and it is only part of what is involved in becoming a Christian.

Becoming a Christian is a decision to follow the resurrected Jesus Christ and to completely turn your life over to his management of your life. If you were serious and responsible about this step then you would realize that this will involve a transformation process in your life where you grow in mind and character in a way that is like his mind and character. Now the above bible verse does not really say this because it was not meant by the writer to be taken out of context. Jesus, as well as the same writer in the New Testament that wrote that verse, as well as other writers in the New Testament all provide more information about becoming a Christian. They all explain in their own way at great length how our state of mind is key to becoming and remaining a Christian. This means that Christ - not you, guides your attitudes, motivations, and behavior. This is what a lot of people do not realize. They have to give up who they think they are and what they think is important and become who God wants them to be and value what God wants them to value. So when an evangelist quotes the above verse and perhaps a few other verses he or she may be inadvertently conveying to the listener that there is no real effort on the part of a believer in becoming a Christian. They sometimes convince their listeners that all they have to do is say a simple prayer and God will do the rest whether they realize it or not. This sort of talk can be very misleading, as I will explain.

Becoming a Christian is something very personal - an experience as you will see. Going to church does not make you a Christian. Performing rites and ceremonies does not make you a Christian. Saying prayers and singing songs does not make you a Christian. Uttering statements of faith does not make you a Christian. These are all just forms that can be engaged in without real understanding and sincerity. What happens to your mind and in your mind, is what makes you a Christian. I talk about your whole mind, the conscious and unconscious part that contains all your thoughts, knowledge, and feelings. It is this mind that must be transformed. Now that does not sound like the above bible verse does it? That is because the above bible verse does not tell you everything about the issue of becoming a Christian, it was taken out of context and presented as a self contained expression that the preacher could talk around to serve his purpose.

The first step that begins this transformation (of mind) is very easy but for many they cannot really take the step, they just pretend to themselves they have taken the step. This first step involves a sincere and determined attitude to turn your life over to God through the mediation/interface/help of Jesus Christ. This is partly what the word "believe" means. It partially carries the meaning that you want with all your heart for this transformation to take place. The word "heart" does not refer to your heart as in lungs, liver, heart, kidney, etc. The word heart refers to the core part of your mind from where your feelings and thoughts originate, the very basic level of thinking where thought is so busy it is hard to express or you may not even be aware of it. In modern day word usage this would be your unconscious mind. The unconscious is the part of your mind that underlies the conscious. The conscious is all that you are aware of and can communicate to others in the form of words or pictures. The unconscious is the part of your mind that does so much work that there is not enough time to give it a conscious appearance in the form of word expressions. In the bible this deep or inner part of our mind is the heart or source of our thoughts and feelings. The expression, "In your heart you know it is true don' t you?" is obviously not referring to your physical heart organ. It is a way of referring to deep-seated feelings and thoughts that become attitudes and that are hard to express in every day terms to other people. We have a similar modern day usage of the word "heart" as the followers of Jesus had back in the first century. The word "heart" can be used as a metaphor to refer to our very basic thoughts, feelings, and attitudes.

To believe with all your heart also carries the meaning that you earnestly "expect" and in a determined way diligently look forward to seeing this transformation take place. You don't doubt the outcome. It is analogous to being seated at the dinner table and wanting a glass of water. You see the pitcher of water within your reach. Without doubt you reach over, grasp the pitcher of water, and fill your empty glass. It is an attitude that goes forward with the process - you are thirsty and you reach and grasp the pitcher. It is a motivation - you want the water because you are thirsty. It winds up as an action that you complete - you fill the empty glass and you drink the water and your thirst is quenched. All that you are wants this to happen. The water is God in your life. In fact Jesus also used the word "water" metaphorically.

You don't have to understand the transformation process as much as you have to believe it will take place and you will cooperate within yourself with that change that God requires. This is no different than not understanding how the water will quench your thirst but it does anyway. The point here is that it is by your "belief" that God can and will do this transformation. Your belief is the "trigger" or "glue" from your point of responsibility. You have to expect and seek within your mind evidence that this transformation is occurring. Because of this belief God will join to you and the transformation will happen within you in progressive steps over time at your own rate as you adjust. You may, as some do, cite a specific date and time where you made this decision. However, it may be as it was with my wife who over time gradually came to the realization she had made this decision. What she wanted in her "heart" gradually surfaced in her conscious mind and she was one day "aware" that she had accepted Christ into her life and he was already managing this transformation which to this very day she does not understand very well. Everyone makes decisions in a way peculiar to them and only the narrow minded think everyone thinks the same as they do. We all think in unique ways even though we have a lot in common. The issue here then is "belief" which brings with it the expectation that God will do this work in our soul (minds).

Why does God require a change in what kind of person you are from the perspective of the character of your mind and its expression as personality based on how you feel and think? First, how you feel and think form your attitudes and motivations. Personality is the expression of your attitudes and motivations as others see you express these in your behavior or actions. The emphasis here is on your attitudes and motivations not on how others see your behavior.

So we know what has to change but not really why. The reason that God incarnated in human form as Jesus Christ was because natural man is unable on his own to have the kind of mind which expresses as the kind of personality and behavior that is pleasing or acceptable to God. This kind of mind is a requirement for eternal life. Some will tell you otherwise and cite some verse, for example, the thief on the cross who was told by Jesus that "this day you will be with me in paradise". Some Christians are so busy with doctrine they cannot see straight. Jesus could see the "heart" of every individual, even that thief. He knew what was in every persons heart, even that thief. The heart of that thief was prepared to go all the way with God. What about those new Christians that become martyrs? Again, they did not have to live in this world and be a Christian. If someone is prepared to die for Christ their heart is basically acceptable to God. If they discounted the things of the world as of no value next to Christ and chose death over denial of Christ then their heart is acceptable. But for those of us that have to live in the world the challenge is living not dying. No one can sneak by Christ for he knows all our hearts and he knows the mind of man.

The mind and therefore the personality and behavior of the natural man is considered "enmity" or the enemy of God. Even though God loves His creation that creation is considered to be in a "fallen" state. That means that the creation (mankind in this case) is not able to form the state of mind necessary for eternal life. Man does not measure up to his intended purpose. The New Testament says it this way; "Not by works lest any man should boast...the free gift of God".

Many professing Christians think of eternal life as a gift handed to them by God - a promised state they will inherit. In a sense that is true but what is really meant by scripture is that a certain state of mind is in itself eternal life. If that state of mind facilitates "oneness" with God then that state of mind is in itself eternal life by virtue of the "oneness". God is not a man standing in the streets giving out nicely wrapped packages called eternal life that you eat like a chocolate bar and then live forever. The use of the word gift is an analogy. That certain state of life is called "oneness" which God enables in several ways by Jesus Christ. We don't establish that state of "oneness" we engage the state of "oneness". Christ establishes the state of "oneness" if our attitude and motivation is suitable. This is what the transformation is all about - having that "state of mind" which is "oneness" with God. Only then can the transformation begin.

As the mind is transformed to attitudes and motivations pleasing to God then that "oneness" extends further into our so-called mental "real estate" and makes our relationship with God more certain. Since God is eternal, being "one" in mind with God is eternal life. Not being "one" with God is the state of the natural mind having not been transformed. Only God can give of Himself. Only God can endow man (his creation) with His own self. There is more on this subject in the web site.

This is the "intent" of the writings in the New Testament. The writings are concerned about the eternal well being of man. Man was made with the purpose of being a co-worker. But man has to realize that purpose though "oneness" with God. The New Testament says that believers are to be co-workers with Christ. But these writings make it clear that you or me or anyone else is unable to establish on their own this required state of mind.

So the first thing Jesus Christ does to enable this has already been done. He "paid the price of sin" to use the same terms as the New Testament. But let us put this into different terms that convey the same intent. Sin is basically having an inadequate state of mind for "oneness" and therefore constitutes separation from God. There are consequences of separation; the term "penalty of sin" is used in the New Testament. Again, different terminology. It really means the natural consequences of not having a Christ Like mind. These consequences are thoughts and feelings expressed in the form of attitudes, motivation and behavior that eventually lead to death (without "oneness" with God). So the penalty or natural consequence of separation has been dealt with symbolically in the death of Christ on the Roman cross which death became the occasion for his resurrection - being the first of many, and our redemption and resurrection. There is a New Testament tradition where this is referred to metaphorically as being washed and made white by the blood of the lamb and other such expressions that refer back to Old Testament rituals. Obviously, these expressions are not to be taken literally. New Christians don't physically wash themselves in the blood that Jesus shed 2000 years ago any more than they eat his physical body when communion is performed by the breaking of bread or his blood is consumed by the drinking of the wine. But it was necessary for Jesus Christ to die and take on a glorified body establishing a means whereby God could reconcile man to Himself. This is not symbolical but a very real process. He explained this to his disciples. He told them that they should not be sorrowful but rather joyful because it was necessary for him to die in order to "ascend" to his Father in Heaven who was greater than he was. From this position or state he would have all power and authority which in the New Testament was symbolized by the expression "standing at the right hand of God". Then he would send the "Promise" (of which he had previously spoken about to them) associated with the Holy Spirit (The will and determination of God forming into an expression in the lives of believers. Perceived by the believer as a "power" and "presence" by the believers thoughts and feelings. This is the experience of God made available by God to mankind. This extends the mind of God into the mind of the believer. The Holy Spirit is therefore God interacting with man, person to person, that is on the terms in which man's mind functions. *1) to empower or establish this "oneness". So this is the "means" or process by which God establishes "oneness" that we are to engage in order to be transformed and to have eternal life. This process is managed by the glorified Jesus Christ. This is further explained in another article using the "Dream Analogy" which helps to clarify the process of how God through Jesus Christ reconciles mankind to Himself.

Jesus Christ died on the cross so that he would be in a position of authority and power. As he told his disciples, it was necessary for him to die so that he could go to the "Father" who was greater than he was. So the New Testament uses expressions like "he died in our place...he died that we might have life...he paid the price of death on our behalf...and other similar expressions. For the thinking person this might bring up a lot of questions why it was necessary for God to redeem (restore) mankind to Himself in this fashion. Some academics criticize Christianity and call it a "bloody" religion of sacrifice. But they speak out of ignorance. In the Old Testament the sacrifice of animals at the altar served 2 purposes. The sacrifice was food for the priests and symbolized the time of the Messiah to come - Jesus Christ. God was to come in human form, the form of man his creation, and die as that man that he might arise as the first of many and be the means whereby the many would so rise. And if you are the thinking type you will find information on this web site that will help clarify the need for God to incarnate in human form as Jesus Christ and then have to physically die to be with the "Father" who is God in the first place. This involves a little theology and is not necessary to understand at this point unless such questions get in your way of making a decision. On this web site you will also find theological information about why the Christian thinks of God as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (*1) There is also an OOLSB (Overcomer On Line Study Bible) slowly developing on this web site.

Bear in mind that the New Testament writers were writing to people in their time and culture about God and about Jesus Christ. Many of these people to whom the scriptures were written had a cultural backdrop such that all these words were understood in the right way. All of these people had been exposed to Christians many of whom had been with Jesus. All of these people were taught what these terms mean.

Much of the New Testament writings, for the most part, were a follow up of one sort or another with these people. What is important in all of this is that you accept that there is only one way that God has ordained that you can be saved (saved from death and have life eternal, saved from yourself and directed by God, take on a mind that is Christ Like). That way is Jesus Christ. If you accept that way then you will be imputed with the righteousness of Christ which is another way of saying that God will see you through Christ not as you are but as Christ is. That is as far as some professing Christians go in their transformation. They make a big mistake in thinking that is all there is to following Christ. That imputed righteousness is what is called the "grace" of God. In this state of grace - that is how God deals with you - you have the opportunity to learn how to take on a mind that is Christ Like in character. You are expected to become that for which you have been imputed. The New Testament says we are to become perfect, as he is perfect. Expressions like this are referring to the change that is to take place in our minds until the point where our attitudes become entrenched or fixed as Christ Like in character.

If you take mental snap shots of the attitudes, motivations, and behavior of true Christians you will see over time how they are changing and becoming focused on what God wants and less like the "carnal" natural person they once were like. Some people see Christians at some point in a state of change and call them hypocrites because they do not seem to practice what they preach. But new believers are like children are to their parents. Children are always making mistakes and need the guidance of their parents. So it is that many new believers express in their attitudes, motivations, and behavior contradictions and things in their life that are outright wrong. But a hypocrite is someone who professes to be something they are not. True Christians understand they are being transformed into a likeness of Christ who is God's model for human attitudes, motivation and behavior. They are not suddenly transformed, suddenly gifted with all the right attitudes and motivations. This transformation takes time and some move ahead faster than others do. The transformation into a Christ Like mind involves change and change takes time and often those involved in change resist change because it takes them into the unknown, the unfamiliar. Christians in the midst of such change should recognize that they may display inconsistencies, contradictions, and sometime offensive behavior and therefore should never put on an air of perfection but rather should be humble and admit their failings and move on from there.

So to start you can see that we must understand that Christ is central to the process of redemption - one word the New Testament uses to describe the transformation of our minds. But we have a responsibility to cooperate or allow these changes to take place in our mind. Another New Testament expression is, "Let this mind be in you that is in Christ Jesus". It is unfortunate that evangelists and preachers leave out the important part of the human mind. Possibly many of them do not understand the part the human mind plays in the redemptive process even though such knowledge is assumed throughout the entire New Testament. Poor leadership makes for poor Christians.

But a very important and continuous work that Christ does for those that believe is this: He sends the Holy Spirit into your life. There are different ways of trying to understand this. But you might want to think of the Holy Spirit as an extension of God's mind into your mind. Regardless of the different explanations you might encounter, one thing for sure, the New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit is to be your "teacher" as your mind gets transformed. As this extension changes your mind then that which is your mind (your thoughts, feeling, emotions, logic, concepts, imagination, reasoning power and so on much of which is called your intellect) starts to reflect the Divine Will for you. This is a dramatic change from being driven by lust for attention, lust for money, lust for status, lust for material possessions, lust for food, lust for sex, lust for control, lust, lust, lust. Lust is simply the compulsion to have or be or do. We are not in control of our minds when our minds are driven by lust. When people allow themselves to be compelled by lust they can be manipulated on that basis as individuals and cultural sub groups by unscrupulous and greedy businesses, corporations, institutions, politicians, and all those who live by the rules of evil and self gratification - the predatory component of our societies. Lust is the primary characteristic of the carnal natural mind. Our desires, feelings, ambitions, plans, and energies as the natural man are expended in the pursuit of lusting. The culture we are born in determines our lusts and as we exercise these lusts we form habitual patterns of thinking and thus behavior. These are things that Jesus tried to convey when Jesus told his parables and taught his followers. These things are further explained in the writing of the New Testament.

But what is most magical of all is that over time as the transformation progresses you will develop a very personal feeling and understanding of God at work in your soul - your mind. The New Testament teaches that we as true believers are to consider our bodies the temple of the living God. That is why our minds need to be transformed as holy and pure for it is our minds that account for the condition and behavior of our bodies. Christians are not to be given over by lust.

Now I have stayed away from a whole bunch of theological considerations and New Testament buzz words other that a few examples to give you an idea how they relate to the practical considerations as well as the fact there are buzz words. You should be aware of this and not get confused. Some people get so carried away with these buzz words that they fail to understand the intent behind their usage. I want to be sure that you understand just how simple, from an overview point of view, being a Christian is, and yet how challenging and demanding it will be. Some evangelists like to scare people into becoming Christians and in so doing they fail to explain what is really involved in being a Christian. Change is not all that easy for anyone and we are here talking about a major change. That is why you need to have close ties with other true Christians. You need to stay on track like a train. The New Testament refers this to being single minded about the things "above" and not to be distracted by the things of this world (man's culture and lusting).

Although there might be exceptions, like one being lost on a deserted island or living in the middle of a Moslem nation and deciding to become a Christian, the concept of Christian imbeds the notion of "fellowship". Man is part of mankind - a community. Man was created to be part of a community. Man is a social being as are most intelligent creatures. This aspect of creation declares one aspect of the Glory (the wonder and correctness of his willing) of God, the aspect that God has ordained the make up of man to require the company of others. I have pets so don't get me wrong. But a lot of people try to compensate this need for others by replacing it with pets. But God had purpose in creating mankind and that is the way it is. There are good reasons as there are for many things, which I have touched upon, but we cannot dive into every issue in intense detail or this article would go on for miles. It is already lengthy.

The bottom line is you "need" to become part of a Christian assembly and you "need" to avoid close and binding emotional and physical ties to those that are non Christian. This is a scriptural teaching. This assembly of believers does not have to be in a church building. Assembly means the coming together. In Russia, some Christians, feeling the persecution of the state, meet together outside in the fields on the outskirts of Moscow. In the first century the Romans persecuted the believers and they had to meet in tunnels under ground. In the early days of Christianity the believers often met together in each other's homes because they were often barred from the synagogues. The kind of "fellowship" is not what you might think. I talk not about a group of people going bowling or meeting over dinner or in some kind of casual entertaining gathering. I talk about something a lot of professing Christians know absolutely nothing about. That is why I am making such a point of it. The New Testament teaches that the "saints" are those that believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and way towards salvation. The saints have the transforming power in their lives, the ticket to eternal life. The saints are to be prepared and equipped so that they can minister (provide help, support, advice, prophesy, healing, prayer, teaching, comfort, etc.) to one another. I talk here of "trust". We as believers are to engage one another in a relationship based on trust that is collaborative - highly interactive. This is called an intimate social intercourse and constitutes the kind of sharing that is required of true believers when they assemble together.

So you see, I am explaining the kind of life that I should not have to explain. It should be common everywhere there are Christians. You should see this in Christians wherever they are. You should see this special intimate and caring fellowship and you should feel their love for each other, for you, and for the world - the love of God. But you probably don't see this around you. You may not see this at any church near you. And this is tragic. We are living in an age where the anti Christ is dominant. The term anti Christ refers to forces in our societies and cultures that bind people in such a way they cannot be the kind of Christians that the New Testament teaches we should be. They are bound in their lusts that they inherited from birth from the cultures they were born into. Our culture has a dramatic impact on how we think and what kind of knowledge and understanding forms in our minds. This is turn affects our intellect, our feelings, desires, and thinking in general. This cultural impact and the affect on our schools and our value system is designed to keep us away from becoming mature Christians and eventually from any notion of Christ. This is just another good reason why you must form solid Christian relationships. Your relationship with God will necessitate you have relationships with other Christians. There is a lot more I could tell you about the need to assemble together with other Christians but this you must do. The New Testament teaches we must be in the world but not of the world. In other words, we must avoid situations that would tend to draw us away from Christ. But this does not mean we stay entirely away or live in isolation of those in the world.

The concept of Christian assembly and unity is to provide a community relationship where the new believer can grow and where this community relationship acts as a testimony to the non believer of the Love of God active in the lives of those that belong to Him. The Christian Community is the vision of what the Global Community must become if mankind is to survive. This Christian Community is the kingdom of God. The citizens of this kingdom are the true believers in whom God dwells individually and collectively. Death and evil cannot prevail against this kingdom because it is a state of being joined to a heavenly "place" from where Christ now rules with all power and authority and not an earthly physical place where it can be destroyed. None can enter the gates of this kingdom except those that belong to God through Christ - those that have become "one" with the Divine Mind. The New Testament says it more metaphorically as "those whose robes are white having been washed in the blood of the lamb".

So, do some thinking. This web site http://www.help-for-you.com is not really for non-believers. Billy Graham does a good job of explaining in very simple terms how God is reaching out to us all through Christ and wants to redeem us all that we might have eternal life (in God). I am not telling you anything other than what Billy Graham would tell you in any of his broadcasts or even his web site. The difference is that I apply focus to the part the human mind plays in the redemptive process. I stress it no more than do the writers of the New Testament or Jesus himself in his teachings and parables. The web site http://www.help-for-you.com has the most value to those that are Christians already and have discovered a dead end and don't know why. They get just so far into being a believer and they can't seem to get past a certain point. Without realizing it their lusts have gotten in the way and until they recognize this they cannot proceed further in the transformation of their minds towards a likeness of the mind and character of Christ. The site is also a wake up call for all those professing Christians whose lives do not reflect the kind of fellowship I tried to explain to you.

You should understand that a lot, if not most Christians are caught up in what I call "denominationalism". On Sunday they fly by each other in their cars by the hundreds, not knowing or caring to know each other nor having the time or will to even try. This is their testimony of division. They end up in their various church buildings, sing a few songs, say a few group prayers, listen to music, listen to a sermon, and half of them haven't the slightest clue what the other does for a living, where they live, what their problems are, how many children they have or want or can't have, whether they are going bankrupt or whatever. They would not dare trust each other with much of any kind of personal information. And some of them don't even like one another. Perhaps you get the point. They would much rather argue about doctrines and statements of faith than have the kind of "fellowship" I speak of. They neither behave as citizens of the kingdom of God nor do they enter the gates of the kingdom. They profess to follow Christ and attempt to convince others of the same. But they look from outside the gates wanting to enter but cannot because of their lusts. They serve two masters and neither one well. Going to this kind of church is not Christian fellowship as I have tried to explain to you.

When I talk fellowship I am talking about people that consider themselves as family not just call each other brothers and sisters. And by family I mean a family that cares so deeply for each other and is so in touch and in tune with one another that they can extend any trust of information and know without a doubt it will be received and given back in nothing but love. By family I mean that when one suffers they all suffer, when one is happy they all are happy. I talk about people glued together with caring bonds of supportive help and emotional attachment and totally at empathy with one another. This is the kind of fellowship I speak of and if you ever found it you would make it the most important thing in your life next to God because it is the expression of God corporately. So yes, you need to get with or even form such a relationship or your Christian life - if you so choose to be a Christian - will have to endure in isolation great challenges which most are not able to sustain on their own.

I am here for you. And if you are uncomfortable with my style I understand and if you want I can put you in touch with someone else you might be more comfortable with. But bear this in mind. A true Christian is one who gives their all to God through Christ. Your reward as a Christian is your victory over the lust I spoke of. Your reward is not the things of this world as it now exists. Your reward is the realization of your mind of the presence of God in your life. One New Testament writer said that believers are seated with Christ in a heavenly place. This is symbolism meaning that a true believer is "positioned" as part of God. The New Testament term is "partaker". Your reward is in this "oneness" with God, which is itself, eternal life. Your reward is to die in Christ now and live in Christ now and when you discard your body (die) you will know Him as you are now known. Your reward is that upon the Second Coming you will have a glorified body as Christ had after his resurrection. On this last point, the Second Coming and what it really means, there are a variety of views. But what really matters is that at some future point you will have what is called a glorious body that is not subject to corruption as is our natural carnal body. Your reward now and in the future is as a member of the Divine Fellowship of Believers, which the New Testament calls the Body of Christ, the Kingdom of God that will some time in the future dominate this earth. Believe me when I tell you, true Christians experience God from a personal relationship perspective that necessitates experiencing God from a corporate fellowship perspective. You will learn to see Christ in other believers and they will learn to see Christ in you and you will submit to one another as you minister to one another. This experience is beyond words as is the personal experience. That is why you must seek and find such believers that make you the most important thing in their lives and you in theirs. This is hard to find as I explained and you may have to settle with something much less but do not forsake (put aside) the need for assembly.

Yours in Christ - TED