# Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 2, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943 "2005-02-02T04:35:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Igor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/81 "2005-02-02T19:03:44Z")
No. I prefer to live out my baptismal [vows](http://holycross-raleigh.org/bcp/302.html) on a daily basis. If I fail, then I [confess](http://holycross-raleigh.org/bcp/352.html) my sins, and receive God’s [forgiveness](http://holycross-raleigh.org/bcp/353.html). Vlad/Igor ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/82 "2005-02-02T19:18:50Z")
Nope. But I was raised Catholic, so I have a good excuse. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/83 "2005-02-02T19:24:28Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Christians, Jews and Muslims all worship the same God. > > A God who preaches peace and loving thy neighbour as thyself. > > Yet for 2000 years they have been unable to live with their brothers. They have waged wars, they have shed blood and they have spread hate for one another. > Just as soon as they get that straightened out I’m going to have another close look into Christianitly. > > But you know; Church is like baseball, many attend, few understand. > > Colour me a Buddhist. Church is also like baseball. Many attend, few understand, most sleep. Christianity is like football. Everyone sect plays the game different, each has rabid die-hard fans and whoo-whoo cheerleaders of the Dead and everyone’s goal is the Superbowl. ( or at least Monday Night Football…da da din daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa) Ok, whatever. To answer the OP, no. I gave up orginized religion, politics and sports for lent one year. Haven’t looked back and have been emotionally freer, stronger and happier than ever. plus, my sunday’s are free. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Wake\_up\_call](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dec6dc/32.png) [@Wake\_up\_call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wake_up_call)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/84 "2005-02-02T19:25:49Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > But contemplate, O **Idle Thoughts** , the answers you’ve gotten so far. Most of them have taken a particularly humorous tack, but in general you get a “No” answer from most people. Ask yourself Why? , then figure out what “taking Jesus as Savior” means to you, why it isn’t working for them, and then decide what needs to be done to cross that communication gap. **Polycarp**. I clicked on your underlined word “means”, waiting for a cite to support your statement. As I kept on waiting for the link, I was reminded of a bumper sticker I saw the other day. It said: “Jesus is coming. Look busy” !! ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/85 "2005-02-02T19:55:08Z")
> [@kniz](#): > > His witnessing was also on a very low level. Give him a break! Actually, I didn’t think I was witnessing at all. It certainly wasn’t my intent if I came across sounding like it. I just simply asked a question that I was curious about. I wasn’t setting out to “preach the word” or “win souls”. What your opinions are about God or the lack thereof is fine by me. I just wanted to know who was saved and who wasn’t. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/86 "2005-02-02T20:00:07Z")
Thanks for that, but I’m still confused. I was confirmed, ie accepted as a full adult into the Church, so am I saved? I think we’re all a little confused as to what exactly you mean by ‘saved’. Catholics remove ‘Original Sin’ at baptism, and the baby gets a nice clean slate to start over with. So I suppose we’re saved then? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/87 "2005-02-02T20:00:33Z")
No, but I really tried. I was raised Baptist and went to a Christian school, so as a kid, I did say the necessary words, but I always felt doubt. As I grew older, I gave the matter a lot of thought. It fell apart like a house of cards. My family members still threaten me with hellfire, but I figure God would not be fooled even if I were to pay him lip service, which is all I was ever capable of. I have a lot of bad feeling towards most Christians, which I try to keep in check. It’s just that the ones I know always seem to be shoving Christianity down my throat, or assuming that I’m a Christian because I’m a nice person. We also don’t see eye to eye on such things as homosexuality and creationism and prayer in schools and abortion and…well, most stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/88 "2005-02-02T20:03:15Z")
> [@Brainiac4](#): > > Not to join in the pile-on… but no. > > **Idle Thoughts** , I hope you were aware that the SDMB is Atheist Central before posting. I did notice that most of the people here didn’t believe, yeah. I just wanted to find out who did and who didn’t and where everyone stood. > [@](#): > > Do you intend to witness, or to debate? If so, onwards. If you wanted to poll or inquire instead, may I suggest that you request this thread be closed and start another in a forum more suited to that? Well, neither. I don’t witness to anyone. Never have and probably never will. I respect people’s opinions about what they think about this matter, whether it be good or bad. And I never debate this subject either. I honestly don’t see the point. Those that believe have already been convinced as have the people who don’t believe in God. And I don’t think that any amount of debate will change that. Not if most people’s opinions (in the fact that God exists or the opposite) are as strong as most I’ve seen on here. Anyway, I see the topic is in the correct forum now. Thanks to the mod that did that. I’ll remember to go with my gut instinct next time and apoligize to anyone I’ve offended. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/89 "2005-02-02T20:19:09Z")
I think the point that we are (or at least I am) trying to make is this: Nobody knows who’s saved and who isn’t. How do you **know** you’re saved? The act of accepting Jesus, that one instant, is also a lifetime commitment to follow in His footsteps. You don’t just say, “Yay Jesus!” and get a pass on the rest of your life. Acceptance of Jesus implies that you understand His teachings and example well enough to make a conscious and life-altering decision to be like Him. I don’t mean to say that you have not done this, but “who is saved?” is a very loaded question that implies membership in a club that is not very well-regarded here. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/90 "2005-02-02T20:19:50Z")
> [@Idle Thoughts](#): > > Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior? I did, just once. In 1960. For 20 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/91 "2005-02-02T20:22:26Z")
I was baptized last April, but I get an oogy feeling from the question phrased that way. I haven’t read the whole thread, but I suspect someone’s said what I think phrased better than I would have. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/92 "2005-02-02T20:30:43Z")
I was a born-again evangelical for awhile. Then decided everything I believed in was a crock. So my answer would be no. $0.02 ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/93 "2005-02-02T20:39:10Z")
I think I did as a wee child. I don’t remember doing it, but my mom says I did. I was baptised in a non-denominational church when I was 7. I went to various churches until my mid-20’s when I quit going altogether. Last Easter I was confirmed into the Catholic church. I’m feeling really comfortable with my faith now. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/94 "2005-02-02T21:40:20Z")
I was “saved” (meaning I did the whole ritual of saying, “I accept Jesus as my personal Saviour” when I was about 11. By the time I was 14 or 15 I was having serious doubts. By the end of high school I was an atheist. So, to answer the OP, yes, I did accept him. Then I decided the whole thing was bollocks. I renounce my “saving.” ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/95 "2005-02-02T21:49:40Z")
I’m a Resistentialist. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/96 "2005-02-02T21:55:14Z")
Jesus seems to have been a nice enough chap, maybe a bit naeve, he taught a lot of good things and gave advice worth following. I try and follow that advice. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/97 "2005-02-02T22:07:38Z")
yes ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/98 "2005-02-02T22:35:06Z")
I have. I continue trying to do so at every moment, with varying levels of success, but, I think, managing to stay on the positive side. -trupa, Catholic Christian, but Protestant friendly. ---
**Author:** ![Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58956e/32.png) [@Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoodoo_Ulove)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/99 "2005-02-02T22:42:46Z")
I’ve accepted Jesus as my personal trainer. You should see the shoulders I’m developing carrying that cross around. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943/100 "2005-02-02T22:51:36Z")
Nope, but he seemed like a pretty good guy. His followers, however, scare the crap outta me. Jesus, save us from them!!! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-accepted-jesus-christ-as-your-savior/287943.md?page=6)