Things You'll Need:
- Faith
- A desire to live a better life
- Christian friends
- A willing heart
- A Bible
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Step 1
I believe that Christ was an optimist, a wise man, a kind and caring man, but those are the obvious things we read. I believe that when Christ was face to face with a non-believer, He didn't grab them by the shoulders and say, "You will surrender your habits and your lifestyle and follow me. Live by my rules and read this book and become a believer." No, I think Christ, in his elegance and grace, was himself. He sat amongst the partiers, the drug-doers, the hookers, the loud, boisterous, sometimes tactless people and watched quietly. He asked simple questions as to why people lived this way. He listened to their pains and struggles. He then presented an option. A simple option of letting go of all that and trusting him by faith.
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Step 2
At that moment, it's up to the person to decide what he wants to do with his live. I believe that within a non-believer's mind, any of us who came to Christ, we say "what do I have to lose? If I follow this dude and nothing changes, then what am I truly out. My life will be the same." Not knowing that letting going and following Him, and trusting him will change their lives forever.
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Step 3
I believe that as people chose to follow him, it was his prophetic teachings, yes, but more his gentle kind spirit. His passion for people. I believe that he is a man that has ears that never cease to listen and a heart that never ceases to love.
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Step 4
He doesn't look on people's lives and say "You didn't read the Bible today, you don't love me." His pure acceptance of people for who they are right now, is what keeps me a believer.
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Step 5
Christ called people to a higher standard in a layered sort of way. I think you are on track with your thoughts, but keep in mind he was repeatedly calling people to a deeper level of living. The key is that He did not call them deeper until they had time to get comfortable on the level they were on. Salvation is not a mere one time decision. There are always calls to deeper levels. Also, Paul said that all things are lawful but not all things are beneficial. What is OK for one person is not necessarily OK for someone else. I should try to hold people to my standard unless that I can clearly show that my standard is actually God’s standard. Most Christian also seem to want to hold non-Christians to Christian standards. It doesn’t work that way. When Jesus met a sinner, He treated her as a friend. When He met with the disciples, He called them to consistent holy living.
