So what exactly is Christianity? Does it mean that you like and enjoy Christmas, and don't hesitate to say "Merry Christmas?" Or that you are a nice person? Or that you go to church regularly, or once a week, or once a month, or annually? If you believe that there really was a guy named "Jesus" in history that lived 2,000-odd years ago, does that make you a Christian? If you are "nice," isn't that synonymous with being Christian? Or how about "stupid" - many people believe that is the required attribute, stupidity!
Do you have to jump up and down and act silly or ludicrous on television to be a Christian? Or is everyone that jumps up and down and acts stupid on TV a Christian?
If you say you are a Christian, does that mean you are a Christian? How about if you SWEAR it?
Believe it or not, people have killed each other over these kinds of questions. And many of the questions, and the supposed, or alleged answers, are in far more silly ways much sillier than anything I have presented herein, at least thus far. Today, one group that calls itself Christian labels another group that calls itself Christian a cult (or all other groups aside from themself), or because of a disagreement in semantics designates it as "dangerous." And believe it or not, there are many groups out there, right now, mixing "Jesus and Guns," and believing it a holy calling of God (and some of them are very mainstream Christanity, the groups that won't let women teach or talk in church, that teach that women are second-class Christians).
True Christianity has nothing to sell you. True Christianity does not request you to send a love gift, or a "seed" so that you can become wealthy with a glorious wallet harvest. True Christianity does not dispense "anointed" handkerchiefs (as a "point of contact") to get rid of your bills or tame your wild teenager. True Christianity does not hold up a set of cassette tapes and swear: "You need this series of tapes, and you will be greatly blessed by it, cuz I taped it especially for you and you really need it to find God, and please send me a love gift of $49.95...today (and if you don't, well, then get ready to burn in hell, like, FOREVER)." Or: "I have the secret that can change your life forever...and now if I can just get your credit card numbers...?"
We know what Christianity ISN'T. But what in the world IS it, really?
In a nutshell, Christianity is finding out that "...God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" -- and believing it. And accepting that gift from God, since He died for me when I was at my worst. At that point, accepting Him with all my heart, and mind, and soul, I am a new creation, saved, and there begins my relationship with Yahweh, especially through His Son, Yahshua (in Hebrew) the Messiah, most commonly known today as "Jesus the Christ." (Christ is NOT a "last name," it is in fact a title, in Greek, meaning "Anointed One," or "Messiah" in Hebrew -- thus Jesus the Christ means Jesus the Anointed One.)
In that daily relationship with God, I allow Him to do His will in my life, and change me, in little ways, every day, bettering me, shaping, molding me, as if I am clay in His hands, allow Him to perfect me in His great plan for my life. And I don't have to wait for some great and glorious day, my life starts getting better immediately in so many ways, including physically, financially, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and in probably the most wonderful way, I now have HOPE, where there never was before, and I am never alone, for God sets up residence in my heart, and He writes His laws there, in my heart, and in my mind and obedience to Him becomes such a relief, such a better way to live than this present empty life. I become a citizen of heaven, my real world, my final destination, and now, at present, in Christ I am only a stranger here in this world, for just a short time.
This is called "abiding in Christ." And it may be a very slow process, but God begins to gentle us, as if we were a wild horse, or perhaps more likely a wild pig, or a dangerous animal. There will be bumps. There will be problems. Sometimes we won't like it and we will run away from Him. Sometimes it will be painful, as we learn Who He is, and we will rebel, change our minds, scream and rant and throw a shrieking hissy fit. But as we learn to love Him, and love Him more, we begin to OBEY Him, and allow Him free reign in gentling us, in improving us. We obey His commands, because we love Him (not for doggy treats in obedience school).
THAT is Christianity. Simple. Beautiful. Uncomplicated. Not too crazy, is it?
Possessing guns is not a prerequisite. Or looking down on other people. Or controlling anyone's mind, decisions, opinions, actions. Or allowing anyone to control my mind, or force me to do anything. Or being rude. Or being stupid.
Christianity is intelligent, wise, and most of all -- loving (it teaches that without love, everything else, in or out of the church, is as nothing). Christianity is a logical choice (it isn't just for people who cannot or will not think). Christianity teaches that God is love. That God is light. And that makes sense, doesn't it? God is intelligent, He is reason, and He is not a God of confusion or chaos. He is the God of Order.
The Christian is given, and develops, the "mind of Christ." In this present world, it might not happen in the "twinkling of an eye," or in some cases, it does happen that fast -- a lot of all this depends on you, the receiver. Most of it is all up to God. He gives all people the chance and choice to accept Him, He gives all people the faith to want to know Him, and to want to accept Him. He is the sculptor, and we are clay. And sometimes a Sculptor chooses to spend a long time on a choice piece of pottery, especially if its intended use is for complicated things, such as a vase to display flowers, or possibly a cup to contain hot liquids.
Other works of the Potter may be for more humble uses, such as a spittoon, or a chamber pot to lug out the unmentionable things. These works don't need as much refinement, and yet in many cases their worth is just as crucial, or more crucial, than the finer porcelain. The health of the entire community can depend on these humbler works.
It's a humbling thing, to admit that we don't know everything. And that is what being a Christian IS. It is admitting a need. The need for a Savior.
And that Savior knew you before you were even born. He died for you, even if you had been the only person ever born on this planet. What this Savior offers you, you don't have to buy, you don't have to become proficient at standing on your head, or riding a unicycle while singing: "God save the Queen!" You don't have to be white, or act like it, or black, or act like it. Or any other color in the spectrum. It's not about what's on the outside -- God judges by a person's HEART. The Savior accepts you, right now, the way you are, if you reach out your arms to Him.
He wants your company. He desires your love. Right now. You don't even have to send me a love gift of $29.95 (but today, as a special incentive, send me $19.95 and save yourself ten buckeroos! get a tin halo for half that price, yee haw). You don't have to fall to your knees, although it does help us realize how unclean, how imperfect, how faulty, messed up and stupid we are, how unworthy. And in fact, the more unworthy we are, the more unclean, the greater God's grace is toward us.
Becoming a Christian is an intense process -- it is becoming a new creature. And it is personal, markedly personal. You do not have to join any group to become a Christian. You don't have to memorize any mantra or buy any prayer beads. Or choose THIS church above THAT one. You merely admit that you are a sheep in a world of ravenous wolves, mountain lions and bears, and that you need a Shepherd...
...which very well might be the hardest thing in the world for anyone to do, to admit to being helpless, hopeless, sinful and completely lost. Can you even imagine admitting to something like that? I admit it, it's tough. It was the hardest thing in the world for ME to do.
But the Shepherd is waiting. He is knocking at the door to your heart, at this very moment. The only thing you need to do is to open that door to your heart, and allow Him in.
One group says this, another club says that, all of them say "I am right, the others are wrong." But the Savior exists apart from all groups, He exists apart from time or space or dogma or doctrine or creed or oath. He is personal, very personal, and He will deal with you on a one-to-one basis, personally. Look into Him, He will look into you. He has already accepted you -- all you need to do is accept Him. Note, you do not have to stand up in front of anyone, or raise your hand, or throw some money, or have someone breathe in your face.
Christianity is real. It's not just for stupid people, or for obnoxious people, or for people who demand your money, or those dumb enough to send them money. It's NOT about money (and trust NO ONE that suggests it is -- head the other way, and FAST!).
Christianity is personal, and it's for all men, all people, all races, all sizes and shapes and colors, all brain IQs and temperments and ages. God doesn't love green people more than purples ones, even if it might seem that way in the news.
Follow Christ, the true Anointed One. He will lead you. He will improve this life for you, as well as give you eternal life, when He comes again for those who reach out their hands to Him, He will turn to you, personally, and smile that you have been waiting for Him. Choose His side, today, and your life will change, infinitely, for the better -- you will never be alone again.
