Introduction
Today many wonder what exactly a Christian is. If someone wants to become a Christian he or she should know what it means to be one. If someone does not want to become a Christian it is reasonable to know exactly what he or she is rejecting. It is not reasonable to imagine what a Christian is and make a life-long decision based on that. It is also unreasonable to accept uncritically prevailing opinion, as some do.
What follows, therefore, is suitable to one and all. Only a person who does not want to make important decisions for life or who acts irrationally may accept or refuse something without understanding what he or she is accepting or rejecting.
Some just drift into a life-giving or life-destroying decision without adequate or reasonable consideration.
What we are inviting you to consider is based on reason. However, the journey that we are about to undertake together goes well beyond what can be understood by human reason alone. The journey goes beyond natural reason as Scripture tells us:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts and your ways are not my ways, declares Yahweh. For the heavens are as high above earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts above your thoughts. (Isaiah 55: 8, 9).
We shall enter into the logic of God, before which the natural logic of man fades into insignificance. Our rational mind will perceive and understand the logic of God but we shall also discover that this is radically different from the life-destroying logic so prevalent in the world today.
Whatever you believe in this moment, whether you are a Christian or not, we invite you to read what follows with an open mind. We invite you to begin this journey and we also urge you to persevere to the end.
Some Misconceptions
Here's a typical but erroneous idea of what a Christian is. A Christian is essentially someone who must go to church on Sundays, a person who must meet certain moral standards, who must believe in certain doctrines, who must .... must ... must. A Christian is a person unable to enjoy life, a person who is not free.
Is this your idea? It is the idea of someone looking in from the outside, as a spectator. It is an idea with which it is difficult to identify. Looking from the inside it is exactly the opposite. Participating in worship with other Christians creates a liberating community, a sense of belonging and unity. A lifestyle in harmony with certain moral standards is a nutural growth towards integration of spirit, soul and body, a necessary condition for inner peace and happiness. What from the outside is seen as a 'must', an imposition, is experienced from the inside as a prfound 'need' emerging from within.
A slogan once seen on London buses read: "there's probably no God now stop worrying and enjoy your life". A great message indeed for parents with handicapped children!! A great message of hope for the homeless and jobless!!" For those immersed in suffering and despair! A great prospect for those with empty pockets! For those imprisoned in addictions of all sorts! Only healthy atheists with their pockets full can afford to accept that slogan! - But even then, only for a while, we might add!
In the present economic crisis many of these so-called atheists have had their pockets emptied. Empty inside and empty outside! What is there left to enjoy? Some of these have even committed suicide and have even made the headlines. After all, life at this point, has no meaning. For many it is the time to start worrying and no longer to enjoy life:
and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time. "But God said to him, "Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?" (Luke Chapter 12: 19-20).
These have had to start worrying, without hope, imprisoned in their own emptiness. Materialism is the culture of death. We are concerned with Life, the fullness of Life.
Just imagine if I, seeing a homeless person outside a supermarket holding out his hand for some small change, said: "cheer up there is probably no God now you can enjoy your life", I would certainly not get a good reaction. If, on the other hand, I said to to that person: "cheer up there is a God now you can enjoy your life; he will give you the strength, courage and hope to tower above your circumstances", which message do you think would be more acceptable to that person? Which message would give him that glimmer of hope necessary to survive? How is it that people often say 'think positively' and do so in all things except when it comes to God? I could never place my faith, my trust, my life or surrender myself to a negative. I would hate to imagine what would happen if I were to do so.
A counter slogan, written not on London's buses, but inscribed in the hearts of all men since the beginning of time and easily noticed by those who are able to distance themselves from the prison of materialism and open up to the more profound realities of life and being: "There IS a God now stop worrying and enjoy life". This is acceptable to all, far more rational, far more humane, far more engaging, far more beneficial and no one is excluded. It is a universal message, not just a message for the privileged few.
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Introduction to the Christian Faith Index
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© R W
bsgbiblestudyguide@gmail.com
