What's with "being saved"?

Being saved, in the Christian vernacular, means to openly ‘accept the lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior’ and to ‘let Him into your heart’. Once you have done these, you are certain to get into Heaven. You know, if you believe in Heaven.

@aug- GA, very good definition. I almost always lurve your answers.

To me there seems to be so much more than just a definition. I’ve heard that before, but I still don’t get it. How does my friend know this guy let Jesus in his heart? Just because he says it doesn’t mean it’s true.
No person on this Earth that can tell me if I am certainly going to heaven or not.
Do I sense questioning in your answer also?

Agnostic, here! Pretty close to atheist, really. Yeah, no one knows. I don’t see how the girl can know if he’s really been saved. You know, even if he really believes it, that doesn’t make him not an asshole. Plenty of Christians (and other religions – atheists, too) are still assholes. Being saved would not be enough, in my book!

PS: Thanks for the kind words!

I have to lurve you for that one too. Pretty soon my lurve will not apply to you. That makes me sad, because you so deserve it.

I couldn’t agree more

Thanks for asking this question…it made me think about religion versus God versus morality…things I always enjoy pondering together!

It’s misplaced compassion, in my opinion anyway.

Also, he could be lying but those that ‘have been saved’ take it very seriously as it’s a commitment of faith and the heart to their Lord Jesus Christ. Notice, their Lord.

Well krose, you are obviously a heathen or you would totally understand this “saved” business. :0)

**Picks nose while farting on bible** Yup.

Yes, people who genuinly feel saved are serious about it. I was “saved” at 13, and I really felt it. It just didn’t stick as I got older.

@krose—That last answer made me laugh so loud I woke up people in my house. Lurve.

I aim to please. Glad I could be of service

LOL! Farting on the bible? Blasphemy! You are for sure gonna fry.

That’s what they tell me. Kinda why I asked this question. I should probably go find Jesus now. Maybe he can explain it to me.

Bible farting as opposed to bible thumping. What a great bad religious TV show that would make. Of course, we already have this

I’m not too keen on being “being saved” myself, but ”saved” is one of the funniest movies i’ve ever seen.

if you’re exasperated with your friend now, you will be even more exasperated with mandy moore and company…but, but in a funny way, instead of a really sad pitiful kind of way.

“Jesus Saves, Moses Invests.” I saw this written on a bathroom wall 35 years ago

@Krose: I think Augustlan’s first definition of being saved was correct, except it’s missing an important part of the spiritual walk- surrenduring everything to Christ and letting him lead your life. Whew! It sounds like such an overwhelming commitment, I’ll be honest, sense I’ve been saved, having a relationship with Christ is actually the EASIER way ;-) I find that when I make decisions without his guidance, I ultimately mess things up. With God, all things work together for good, for those that love the Lord.

Hmm… So, why would you not want to try being saved?

Also, you’re right. No one else can know for sure if somone else is saved. It should be visable in the way somome lives their life, but ultimately it is between God and person that says they are saved to know for sure.

I hope this helps ;-)

@cruious404,
“surrenduring everything to Christ and letting him lead your life.”

It sure beats thinking for yourself.

Less than 2 minutes! I knew my post would get a quick response… And, I’m sure there will be more.

Monty- I live a VERY fun and normal life. I think for myself, but choose to let God (not religious cults) guide my direction. Can’t say that He’s lead me wrong, so why not? Where’s the harm?

@curious404,

“surrendering everything to Christ and letting him lead your life. ... I find that when I make decisions without his guidance, I ultimately mess things up.”

Sorry, that isn’t thinking for yourself, and it isn’t normal. Normal people live their own lives. They don’t turn them over to someone else.

“having a relationship with Christ is actually the EASIER way”

I’m sure its fun. Fantasy is always fun. Real relationships with real people are difficult.

Where’s the harm in turning your life over to someone else? The harm is in not being able to see the harm in becoming a slave to a person or an idea.

@MontyZuma I think what @Curious404 means is that she knows she’s not in control of everything, and she’s right. We’re not. We can take steps to make things happen in our lives, but sometimes things don’t go the way we planned and if we’ve done everything we can, we have to accept it’s out of our control. I don’t think she means just being passive and not taking action or making any decisions for herself.

And FYI, I’m not religious.

Monty: Happy to have this dialouge with you. In fact, I respect your views, as I hope you can respect mine.

While I firmly trust God and look to him for guidance, the choices I make are my own. Each day I make hundreds of decisions. Like everyone else, it could be right or wrong. I may seek God’s guidance, but I’m human and face the same decisions as you and everyone else.

Funny that you’ve labeled me as not normal. I think if you met me you’d change your opinion. But, it may be that you’ve only met Christians similar to those featured in the movie “Saved”. If that’s what you think all Christians are like, you’ve been mis-guided. I

Megan64: Thanks for adding clarity. That’s right. Too many things in life fall outside of what I can control.

whoa
I thought that “being saved” was more like being in trouble with the bad guys and out of nowhere superman/batman/hellboy/the punisher appear to help you out and “save you”

I don’t need saving. And no, I’m not “born again.” I got it right the first time.

The 11th commandment-
Keep Thy Religion To Thyself

@Curious404,
If other people found your beliefs ridiculous, cliched and unworthy of respect, would you be inclined to keep them to yourself?

“That’s right. Too many things in life fall outside of what I can control.”

Except, presumably, for those things that don’t. Are you, perhaps, praying for the wisdom to know the difference?

When you take the nature of humanity in general, and then, instead of accepting that as natural, you somehow decide that it is default sinful and then say that your religion is the only way to “save” you from what people basically are, well, it reminds me of something.

It reminds me of going into a repair shop and then hearing that my wheels need greasing, my blempglorf needs adjusting, my steering wheel needs rustproofing and my converter needs more Catalits inside. If I believe that the mechanic is a kind of authority, I give him about $5000 and then he lets me drive my perfectly good car away after “fixing” what didn’t need fixing. I feel better, but it’s a false kind of better, and meanwhile he’s richer. And then I tell other people about how good my car works, and how improved it is after all the “adjustments” he made.

While being “saved” has resulted in positive improvements in peoples’ lives, and I don’t begrudge them that, I believe it’s pretty much the power of placebo. And when they tell me that I need to swallow it myself to be saved from my own default nature, well, it makes me tetchy. I can’t prevent people from being taken for a ride at the mechanic’s, but please don’t trash me because I read up on Consumer reports and check the Better Business Bureau before going to such places. And, my car is just fine. :)

Amen, Chuck.