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This
poem to me, describes kind of how I would like to
explain Christianity to those who know nothing
about being a Christian...or to those who think
that Christians seem above them.
To
me, to be a Christian simply means that I believe
in God, in the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy
Spirit), that Jesus died on the cross for my sins,
was buried, was resurrected, and in knowing that
God loves me and gave His only son, Jesus (John
3:16), so that when I mess up, my mistakes (sins)
can be erased forever (Acts 3:19, 2nd Corinthians
5:17).
It
also means that I love my Lord and Savior, and He
lives in me, and guides me and speaks to me, and
that I have a relationship with Him like no other.
Being a Christian does come with some high
standards, however. To be a Christian means we
have to 'walk the walk' if we are going to 'talk
the talk', but that doesn't mean we are perfect.
We
fail, and we struggle, and we have pain and
problems, but the difference in having those
things as being a Christian is that I have God to
forgive, to guide me, to comfort me (2 Corinthians
1:3-4), and to turn my problems over to...for He
is our Father, and He wants what is best for us,
and it is not His will for us to suffer and
struggle and be in pain. Being a Christian means I
turn to Him in my times of need, but also to be
thankful and to praise and worship Him for all He
does for me. Just as a child loves their Daddy
simply for his love and kindness, and for just
being Daddy, this is how I love God. God doesn't
want us to want to be saved just
for the sake of being saved from
eternity in hell, He wants to have a
personal relationship with us. He wants us to be
with Him.
Not
to mention the inheritance to come (Colossians
3:24)...our Father has a place prepared for us
that is so awesome that it is not even in our
human comprehension (John 14:2)...but we know it
is so wonderful, and to see the face of our Father
when we finally reach the holiest of places,
Heaven, and for Him to say "Well done my
child, welcome home"....well, this is an
inheritance that is promised to me and you.
To
witness for Jesus, and to tell others about Him
and how wonderful He is, is also being a Christian
(Matthew 10:32). Even I used to think that being a
Christian meant that you couldn't have fun, and
that you had to go to church every time the doors
were opened, now I realize that, as a
Christian, I have more fun than I ever have. I
have a truly peaceful kind of fun, the kind
that comes without guilt. And as for going to
church...I think that a commitment has to be made
there, and that Christians need to go to church
for their strength. I draw off of the strength
that God gives me (2 Corinthians 12:9)...but to
hear the word of God and to get good, solid
teaching is the foundation of getting to know God.
How else are we going to know Him if we don't
visit Him in His house? He visits me
in my house daily...the least I can do is to visit
Him in His.
However,
understand that no church or Christian
organization can 'save' you. That is a personal
commitment you have to make yourself.
Fellowship with other Christians is important also
in my opinion. That doesn't mean that becoming a
Christian means you have to leave your
non-Christian friends behind, but God will lead
you in this also. If those friends are a bad
influence and do things that would hinder a
relationship with God, then you won't even have
the desire to know them any longer (2nd
Corinthians 5:17). But you could be the person who
leads them to salvation. What you gain in exchange
for that is a friendship like you have never had
or will ever experience again with a human being.
You
will never have a more faithful or loving friend
than Jesus. Christian friends are literally a
God-send in the fact that they will lift you up in
prayer, and bear your burdens when you feel like
you don't have the strength to pray for yourself,
and when you falter.
Above
all, being a Christian is to accept Jesus as
Lord and Savior over your life...to accept Him
into your heart, and to seek a relationship with
Him. If you are not a Christian, then I'd
like to invite you to become one now. He is
just waiting for you to ask Him into your heart
and life...God is not a pushy God...He waits to be
invited, and He wants so badly to be invited into
your life (Revelations 3:20).If you would like to
become a Christian and don't know how to, I will
post a prayer at the bottom for you to pray
(Romans 10:13). I plea with you to give God a
chance....He will not fail you nor forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5).
(All
scriptures used here are listed below in full
context.)
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