Three phases of a Life of a Christian

[Maconstewart]

Not everyone finds God as a result of being in crisis. I dedicated my life to God as a child and I grew up in a Christian home. I have never faced any of the horrible situations that the people in this book faced. I have had my ups and downs in life, but my life has never been in ruins. When I was growing up and people would come to our church with flaming testimonies, I always felt like my testimony somehow wasn't as powerful. But as an adult, I think living a life close to God with a grateful heart demonstrates God's grace as powerfully as finding God in a crisis. I am grateful for the life God has given me.

Not everyone face great troubles, and also someones small trouble can be much bigger in someone elses eyes. But if you are with the God, his protection is always with you and you are prevented from being faced with any major crisis

I believe that if you are a child of God, you are protected through major crisis, but they can still occur. God gave us all free will and that leads us to wrong decisions occasionally...also, someone elses free will may cause them to bump into our life with a major crisis. What God does is provide comfort to see His children through the problems. As long as there is evil on earth, there will be major crisis. The day will come, though, that evil is eliminated.

[Erandi Ekanayake]

According to the author, there are three phases in the life of a Christian; Facing a crisis, Receiving grace, and returning grace to others.

What is your opinion about this? Have you ever done it? Is it practical?

I'm not a Christian, yet I think the fact that the author highlights is applicable not only for Christians, but for everyone, because normally when a person manages to overcome a crisis, he tries to enlighten others before they undergo the same problem.

If I add my own personal opinion, I believe that it is the exact reason for the poor people to have much humanity in themselves than the so-called rich and high-class people, because they always live with problems and know how others feel once they face the same problems, and that is why they are always willing to return grace to others.

So the author's idea on dividing a person's life into those three phases seems really practical and I totally agree with it.

[MorganKnightOfficial]

My views are that "facing a crisis" can be replaced with, simply, "being human." I believe that a crisis, so to speak, does not necessarily have to refer to that moment we all see in superhero movies: where the hero is being crushed by falling debris, or has to decide between saving his girlfriend and saving a bus full of people - a moment where the hero has to decide who he wants to be. A crisis can be something as small as admitting that you are wrong. In my opinion, the "crisis" that we all face is being a sinner. When we accept that we are a sinner, but are saved by God's grace, we move on to the next to phases.

[Barbie_sidhu]

Don’t know much about the phases of a Christian but looking forward to learn more about them from the book .

[tjportugal]

I have faced much crisis' in my life and God has given me grace to get through all of them, even those of my own making! I have to confess I don't return grace to others as much as I should, and I hate to admit that!

I couldn't have said it better. Especially the part about God putting right things of my own making. Praise God!

[Kanda_theGreat]

Well, I, personally built a strong relationship with my God in my childhood stage, which gradually declined once I hit teenage-hood. Despite all, I'm gradually revisiting that relationship to the highest possible levl it can get to.
So yes, I agree with the author's tri-stages.

[Adeniyi+samson-]

People look and define Grace in a different way. Only Grace makes one qualified to call God his/ her father. Receiving Grace and give it back to others is a serious issue. Only by Grace are we save and it's expected of us to give it back to others by extending the Grace of salvation to them. I wish and pray that we will be able to do most of this as stated in this wonderful novel.

[Elizabeth Pass]

I don't think everyone goes through the same experiences when it comes to grace. I have a strong faith but I don't think I went through anything specific to get here.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I think these three phases are accurate for those to whom it applies, but not everyone has faced a crisis that redefines or recenters their lives. There most assuredly are still ways to live life as a Christian and receive God's grace without suffering through some major life event first.

Major suffering is not a necessary requirement to feel the grace, and you can express it to the others anyway

[GiselleBengochea]

Yes, I do believe that in moments of crisis we can see God's grace. Yes, I do believe that we can receive God's grace and yes, I do believe that we can extend this grace to others. To be a CHRISTIAN means that your nature must be transformed through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, to CHRISTLIKENESS. Therefore, it is through GOD'S GRACE that we are able to attain HIS nature.

[Becccccca+98]

I don't believe that crisis is a prerequisite to finding God's grace or Christianity.

That's true. I don't think that a crisis is a prerequisite, but I do think that when we do go through a major crisis we are more likely to recognize God's grace; compared to when you're not in a crisis. I guess maybe when we're faced with a crisis, we appreciate God's grace more and as such are more likely to recognize it.

True. I have seen many people turning his head to God to help them even that they have never shown some kind of faith. It's never too late...

Exactly!

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I think one may go through crisis and never realize or understand God's grace in his/her life. So I wouldn't advocate on the fact that it is through crisis one will find God's grace. Finding God's grace can be attributed to just accepting or believing in His grace no matter the circumstances at that particular moment.

You are correct. Yet, most of the people identity the grace when they are in a crisis

[Sushan Ekanayake]

It makes sense, though maybe we can already share grace to others even if we aren't in those 3 phases yet?

I don't think there is any hindrance to show grace to others first, though you haven't been in any dire need of it so far

[Sushan Ekanayake]

In my opinion, this is absolutely practical if someone truly wants to do it. We only think and talk, but never try. I'm not a Christian, but I think this is the absolute positive way of living.

Yes, this is not confined to a single religion. It is a universal fact and it helps the world to be a better place

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I think the author was right. If you really think about it, it really comes down to those three things.

The dividing is just for the understanding purpose. Otherwise these steps are carried out even without one's knowing