The True Spirit of Being a Christian

Can we really tell who among us are considered to be a true Christian believer? Are they the people who carry around the Bible all the time so that if ever they have a free time, they can read and study them? Or are they the people who help and inspire others to become better Christians?

Believing and striving to live life like Christ simply defines a true Christian. Therefore, you need not read the Bible on a daily basis just to be accounted for in the Christian denomination because Christianity is not a prearranged religion, but rather it is developing a personal relationship with God. And, it certainly is a way of life!

A lot of people, who claim to be Christians nowadays, live their life conflicting with their assertions. There are just too many stories of people involved in murder, child and elderly abuse, adultery, theft and many other cases only to find out that they are Christians. To worsen things, there is a case of a criminal who adamantly insists that God told him to execute the crime as his way of escaping his actions. This however, devastates the impression of what the world has of Christianity.

Many of us got acquainted with God out of what our parents told us, from what we’ve heard at church, from what we’ve learned in school, from the programs we oftentimes see on television, from what we’ve read in books, several write-ups or in editorials of countless newspapers not to mention the different gatherings (spiritual or not) that we attend to. However, these are just mere “get-to-know God” and not establishing a personal relationship or a special connection with him. To clearly illustrate the difference between just knowing and having a relationship with God, let us take a look at this example. You know a Hollywood Actress because you see her in movies, featured in magazines and interviewed on television shows. However, if you invite her to talk with you over dinner, most likely she will decline your offer since she doesn’t have any clue of who you are. You simply know about her and not personally know her.

You can distinguish a genuine Christian by the way they live. Although treating people with kindness and trying to become a good person or an example for others and their children are acts that are expected of a true Christian, these deeds alone don’t make anyone a Christian. The same holds true that a complete church attendance doesn’t make one a good Christian either. Besides, when we stand before God on our judgment day, he wouldn’t ask us how many times we missed attending church. And not because somebody is a pastor or a church leader preaching or promoting the Christian faith, it makes him or her a true Christian. Who knows, they might just be twisting verses out of context to formulate their own version of Christianity and using it as a means of earning money and fame. This consequently indicates that a special bond never came about.

Christians aren’t perfect and nobody is. Anyone who claims to be perfect is not right because even the best Christian’s commit mistakes. There will always be times when we make wrong choices and do things unexpected of us. But what a true Christian does is realize the mistakes he or she has done and find ways to correct them wholeheartedly. If some religious groups condemn those who do not follow their doctrines and beliefs and consider them as their enemy, then this is a very unlikely attitude of a Christian. Because it is absolutely stupid to think that everyone is going to agree with you. Choosing what to believe is a choice you have to make. And if you firmly have faith with your personal relationship with God and believe that it has made a difference in your life, then certainly, it can bring you inner peace, joy and happiness that many are still seeking for.

Realizing the need to know God and our ability to change our lives by ourselves makes a person a Christian. They live to be different in such a way that people could discern that something is different about them. Just like making Jesus as an example when he washed the feet of the servants.

So, the next time you get bumped into somebody who claims to be living a life the Christian way, look after how they lived. If you see them drinking coffee and eating donuts at local donut houses reading unchristian like materials then most probably, they are just using Christianity as a “fire escape” from hell.

Hand in Hand with Science and Christianity

Is it of utmost significance that we have to do everything what our religious leaders told us to? Is it by following such order, we certainly will be saved from eternal damnation? That in every phrase written in “The Holy Bible” came from the holy words of God, and with this, we should never go against it. For by doing so, the gate of hell will be opened for us. Although many people claim that through their unending faith, they were saved from the dreaded diseases, when actually they were taking daily medications to maintain a healthy body. Furthermore, when one was being trapped after an earthquake, news was spread that he was saved by a miracle. However, then again, it was actually a bulldozer that got them out from the piles of crushed walls and the heat-seeker device was the one that traced their location.

We in these modern days where we are greatly influenced by our discoveries of science and technology are able to answer many things in this world. One example to this is the time when Lord Jesus turns the world into a dark place, when, in fact, it was just an eclipse. Fortunately for us, other stories like rain of fire, plagues and much more, we are able to answer many questions in this world we are living in, and it is all through the big leap of science discoveries. However, there is but one question that science alone can never answer—that is the reason behind of all the things’ existence.

With our modern technology, science can show that billions of the nuclear bombs are to be combined to partially equal the intensity of the sun’s tremendous heat. At least with this, we are able to come up of such fact. However, can science come up with an answer of why does the sun exist in the first place? Moreover, what about what lies beyond our solar system? What is the sole purpose of the existence of the entire galaxy?

Science in general can be defined as a study to know a particular thing that exists around us. It can explain things but only if we ask “how”. We should never disregard science because of religion for in such approach, both help us in their own sole purpose way. One example to this is to know the fact on how humans evolved. Through science research, DNA was the answer. However, if we want to know the reason of our existence, this is where religion helps us in finding the answer.

One example of religious belief is the Christianity faith. It is a religion based on Jesus Christ’s life and teachings. If one is to be a follower of such faith, they are called Christians. Although Christianity has been divided into many religious groups (Roman Catholic, Seventh day Adventist Church, Eastern Orthodox, etc…) they all consider Jesus as the centre of their devotion amidst the different beliefs and teachings. They all believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sent into this world of ours as our Saviour and by following His teachings and examples; we will achieve eternal salvation. However, is it true that by following His teachings, we will be saved from suffering or able to know all the questions in this world and beyond?

Many of us are not fortunate enough to see the true meaning of “The Holy Teachings”, that we are not able to value the gift of such guidance that has been shown to us. That to live life with all the material things needed is the sole purpose of living and nothing more.

A writer once said that “A world without God can only be a selfish world”; it is a world susceptible to hate, suffering and death. And even with good intentions, whenever men are left to themselves—war ensues. Let us consider that through Religious beliefs such as Christianity, we will be guided for a selfless act of giving and respecting people. Thus, through Christianity, we will be able to know the true meaning of our existence and that is to love and live in an unselfish way to all the things around us.

All in all, we use science to make a thing move. On the other hand, we use Christianity to make the thing do what it’s supposed to do. For science and Christianity are two different things, just as our reasoning knowledge from our conscience. However, even so, they all act for the good at all and nothing more.