I am a Christian, in public and also in private. Every day as a pastor I "represent" the Christian faith to others. In private, I also live consciously as a Christian. I make decisions about what I say, what I do, what I buy, aware that I want to make decisions as a faithful Christian. My being wants to be - tries to be - Christian.
It's wise for any of us who follow a religious path to ask, every so often, why we choose to live this way. Why do we do it? What do we expect to get out of it? What is most important about our religion? What do I find in there?
Why am I Christian today? Three reasons:
- I find Jesus interesting. Even after years of reading about Jesus ad nauseum in the New Testament, "introducing" people to Jesus in sermons as though I know the guy, trying to be personally more like Jesus and experiencing the frustration and futility of that endeavor, nothing yet has soured me on Jesus. I like him. I admire him. He challenges me, he encourages me to live a better life, he has this peaceful spirit in him. I think Jesus is great. I also think he's God.
- I love love. I believe life is better with love in it. I've been loved - I've had people around me who looked out for my well-being, who held me, encouraged me, and taught me important lessons. Christianity teaches its followers to love themselves and others. I want to love others well. I want to love my partner and my children well so that they feel stronger because of my love. I'm especially provoked by Jesus' invitation to love neighbors, strangers, and enemies. I want to love and love well.
- Christianity gives me hope. I find life discouraging. I see selfishness, greed, prejudice, violence - and that's just in myself. The world is sometimes lovely, but just as often brutal and broken. I am angry about systemic injustices and inequities and I wonder whether I should simply accept them. But the story of Jesus' resurrection leads me to hope that evil forces in the world are not the most powerful ones. They do not feel like the most powerful forces in me, even when, on certain days they get the best of me. I am being constantly beckoned to become "new" - to love more fully, to care for others, to look with eyes of compassion at myself and others, to forgive hurts, to be a friend. This beckoning comes from somewhere, and I choose to call that somewhere "God" - the God whom, I believe, resurrected Jesus. The persistent beckoning of God gives me hope.
Do you have 2 or 3 reasons you are religious? Or 2 or 3 main reasons you are not?
I admire the shrewdness as serpents and innocence as doves that Jesus preached and lived. He went inside to garner strength and shone it outside to all of us through his words and examples. Thanks for your comments brother,
ReplyDeleteTarek Abuata
www.tarekabuata.com
Thanks Tarek. Got a chance to look through your work today. Thank you for all you do. I'm familiar with Sabeel and CPT. Thanks for encouraging the way of justice and peace.
ReplyDelete"We love Him because He first loved us." (I John 4:19) and because of John 3:16, 17. He loved us so much He died in our place, taking our sins upon Himself. How could we not respond to such a great love as this? I just want to say on a personal note David, that I admire your frankness and transparency in your posts. I think I used to follow you on Blogger.com several years ago but got away from blogging and reading blogs because I got so busy. Then I opened an adult day care center and home service company along with my youngest daughter and that kept me extremely busy until January of 2012 when I had a very bad car wreck. My car went down an embankment, I broke my neck and had severe scalp injuries that required 3 surgeries by a plastic surgeon, but 1 1/2 years later, I am getting back to life as it was (almost) and thanking God every day for all He did for me during that past year when I was healing and recovering. He was an 'ever present help in a time of trouble' (Ps. 46:1). Having time to be on the computer when there are so many other things I want to do all the time is hard, but I hope to get back to at least reading your posts, as I so used to enjoy them. You are a very transparent Christian and we can all learn from each other. I'm so glad I discovered you again after all the time that has gone by! Thank you for still being here and posting and remaining "transparent and REAL". Sincerely, Linda
ReplyDelete