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To you, what does it mean to be “a Christian”?
- Some people believe that if they claim to be Christian, it secures them a spot in heaven. Some people think that Christians are hypocritical, and don’t want to be associated with or known as Christian. Some people think that Christians are stuffy and serious and have no fun. What do you think it means?
The TRUTH:
God loves you and He has a plan for you… - He loves you and He offers you a FULL life; one that is meaningful and complete, on this earth and in heaven. God made you and He wants the best for you. He also wants to build a relationship with you; He wants to be one you can trust.
What would happen to me if I choose to believe all this stuff about God? - The Bible does not teach that once you believe in God, your life will be a walk in the park. In fact, the Bible is very straightforward about the hardships you may face as a Christian…BUT WAIT!!! It also says that God will not allow you to be tempted with more than you can handle. That means that you may have a horrible day, but God will be there as your comforter, your counselor, your friend…you can always know that He will get you through. It also means that if there are parts of your life that God doesn’t accept, some things may have to change. Very simply, God is holy and you can’t build a relationship with a holy God if you hold onto things that are unholy. The Bible calls this sin and includes things like gossiping, lying, being sexually immoral…the list could go on and on. The thing is, you will make mistakes…God knows you will…but you can’t hold onto those old sins as part of your new lifestyle. If you choose God, you also choose a new lifestyle. It does not mean that you can’t or won’t have fun, it only means that as you start learning about what God wants from you, your meaning of fun will probably change. The great part of it is that when you start growing in your relationship with God, you won’t miss the old stuff…plus, you’ll have a relationship that is fulfilling and meaningful.
How do I start a relationship with one I don’t really know? - First of all, you need to know that Jesus Christ is the only one who makes it possible for anyone to have a relationship with God. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is holy and loved by God. He came to earth because people had become so corrupted, very few attempted to have any kind of relationship with God, even after all He had done for them (read the Old Testament in the Bible). So, the Son of God came to earth to remind people (all people; past, present and future) and help them see that God really does want a relationship. He also came to show them how to live. And, He came to take the penalty for every person’s sin…including yours. What that means is that He died here on this earth so that anyone who accepts Him can live eternally with God in heaven. Simply put, Jesus is the Savior.
So, what exactly am I supposed to do? - See, the Bible says that because of our unholiness, even the best effort we put forth is like filthy rags to God. We have to realize that we CANNOT be accepted as holy to God without knowing our need for Jesus, whom God loves completely. What we have to do is accept Jesus as Savior. In other words, we can’t do anything aside from accepting His gift of salvation, truly believing that He and He alone is the way to God. From that point, we begin building the relationship by praying to Him, by reading and studying the Bible, by getting involved in a group of like-minded believers. These steps will help you to know where to go from there. You will begin to see changes in your life as you grow in the relationship because the Holy Spirit (the part of God that stays with you all the time) will be helping you with the whole process, as long as you ask for it.
Short version, please… - God is awesome. I want to have a relationship with Him. God is holy. I am unholy. Jesus knows I need some credentials to get in with God. I accept His gift and the Holy Spirit guides me as I grow in my relationship with God. I now have an awesome heavenly Father who loves me and gives meaning to my life.
