Extraordinary People

We as a christian always tell others about what is a christian and why we are a christian. How about others opinion about what a true christian would be?

A letter to differentiate christians from other people by a prosecuter during the ancient times.

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Extraordinary People
From an anonymous “Letter to Diognetus,” possibly dating fom the 2nd cent
[Ref. “A Lion Handbook – The History of Christianity”, page 69.]

“For Christians are not differentiated from other people by country, language or
customs; you see, they do not live in cities of their own, or speak some strange
dialect, or have some peculiar lifestyle.

This teaching of theirs has not been contrived by the invention and speculation of
inquisitive men; nor are they propagating mere human teaching as some people
do.

They live in both Greek and foreign cities, wherever chance has put them.

They follow local customs in clothing, food and other aspects of life. But at the same
time, they demonstrate to us the wonderful and certainly unusual form of their own
citizenship.

They live in their own native lands, but as aliens; as citizens, they share all things with
others; but as aliens, suffer all things.

Every foreign country is to them as their native country, and every native land as a
foreign country.

They marry and have children just like every one else; but they do not kill unwanted
babies.

They offer a shared table, but not a shared bed.

They are at present ‘in the flesh’ but they do not live ‘according to the flesh’.

They are passing their days on earth, but are citizens of heaven.

They obey the appointed laws, and go beyond the laws in their own lives.

They love everyone, but are persecuted by all.

They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death and gain life.

They are poor and yet make many rich.

They are short of everything and yet have plenty of all things.

They are dishonoured and yet gain glory through dishonour.

Their names are blackened and yet they are cleared.

They are mocked and bless in return.

They are treated outrageously and behave respectfully to others.

When they do good, they are punished as evildoers; when punished, they rejoice
as if being given new life.

They are attacked by Jews as aliens, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those
who hate them cannot give any reason for their hostility.



To put it simply-the soul is to the body as Christians are to the world.

The soul is spread through all parts of the body and Christians through all the cities of
the world.

The soul is in the body but is not of the body; Christians are in the world but not of
the world.”


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It describes perfectly a life that a christian should live as. A life that any of us won't regret upon. It's not about the what we are or who we are but how we live in life. Christ suffered for us and prepare a road that will lead us to a peaceful state of mind and life. The only problem is whether we wanted to do so? Teng Yang used this as a check list every year to check whether he fulfilled any of this criteria written in this letter. It was tough to do all of this even for a christian , what else for a person that never heard of christ?

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MJ testimonial on trusting gave us a good view on trusting God in our life. One of the point that he mention is that he choose to not live a lifestyle that he is affordable to do so. It's hard to do so because people always for the luxurious and a better life. Choosing not to live a so called "better life" is difficult when there's no trust and faith in God's promise. It is also a way to trust God that, He will provide everything that we need when we follow his way.