I wonder what thoughts and images that statement conjures up in your mind. I wonder what judgements you have made about me as a person, my home, my family and my work as a result of this. I wonder if this makes you not want to visit this blog anymore.
Not all who visit this blog hold the same values or beliefs that I do. That is ok. We are all responsible to make our own choices in life, and our differing beliefs act as a guide through our lives and the choices we make along the way. Can we still respect eachother, live in community together and learn from each other, and work alongside eachother even when we think the other is wrong in their beliefs? I think so, although admittedly there will be times when this is difficult, and quite honestly the lessons learned will not always be positive.
So, what exactly is a Christian? In it's purest form, a Christian is simply a person who believes in God and who is a loyal follower (disciple) of Jesus Christ, God's Son.
What exactly does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ? Essentially it means that there are a few basic beliefs that I hold to as truth. Things about God such as he is eternal, good and perfect; He created the world and everything in it. Things about the world such as sin entering the world through the deception of the devil and the temptation of the first man and woman. Things about Jesus such as He is the Son of God who came to earth to conquer sin and its effects and Satan which Jesus accomplished through His sinless life here on earth, His teaching which points us to God's truth and shows us how to live, His death and His resurrection.
But that is not where it ends. Being a follower of Jesus Christ includes my faith in Him as my Lord and Saviour, and how all of this works out practically in my life, how I live, love and work. Prayer is essential, as that is how I communicate with God, talk to Him about everything and seek guidance. Faithful study of God's Word (the Bible), in order to grow closer to God and understand Jesus teachings and how I should live and apply it to life here on earth. Putting into practice what I have learned about Jesus way of living and lastly, meeting and fellowshipping with other Christians in order to encourage each other in our individual Christian walk and to glorify God together.
My aim here is not to 'Bible bash' anyone, or shove my 'religion' down your throat. My aim is to try and create an understanding of what Christianity really is (many people and activities are labelled Christian when they are not) and to give you an idea of where I am coming from. If you have a different perspective and would like to share your thoughts, I welcome you to share - but please be respectful and thoughtful in the process. With this in mind, from time to time I will post about matters specifically related to a life dedicated to faith and following Jesus.
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| The Lost Sheep Alfred Soord 1916 |
Christianity is more than a creed, more than a religion, it is a way of life for all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
1 comments:
On the contrary, it makes me want to visit more!
I agree that people may not understand we would blog about being Christian, but to me, it is what I am and the best part of me. It's essential that we don't hide or pretend to be like others in order to not offend. If people are offended or feel that you are trying to convert them, they don't have to listen. Similarly, if I read a blog post that offends me, I will click away, I don't have to endure it.
In these increasingly secular times I feel myself becoming more open about my religion - in the end I live for Him and his glory.
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