What I like about Christianity

Here’s what I like about Christianity. It deals with the most important issues and questions of life. The past, the present and the future. Origins and destinies. How to live and how to die. Our most important problem. Our purpose. Love, freedom, security, hope, joy and peace. Eternity with God. It’s good news that changes everything. And it’s based on the most important person who ever lived. The best hero.

One of the beautiful things about Christianity is that Jesus has done everything for us. This means we don’t have to strive to do anything to please God. Salvation depends on acknowledging and confessing one’s sin. It’s a gift from God (Eph. 2:8). And it’s not difficult to understand or accept.

Christians are part of a world-wide spiritual family with whom they share a spiritual life, union and inheritance that never ends. It’s a relationship that surpasses all other human relationships. It crosses racial, cultural, social, age, and gender distinctions (Gal. 3:28). As Christians are all children of God, they are all equal before God. Every believer has the same spiritual status before God. And they have spiritual fathers and mothers to encourage and help them. Spiritual brothers and sisters to share life with. And spiritual children to nurture. So Christians shouldn’t be lonely. They have a ready-made spiritual family.

Christianity is unique because:
– God reached out to us, whereas other religions involve people reaching up to God and looking for the meaning of life.
– It’s a relationship with God (initiated and maintained by God) and not a list of rules and regulations.
– It’s based on the Bible, which is the written word of God. The Bible is an historical account of what happened in ancient times. Most of our deepest moral instincts (like equality, human rights, and justice) come from the Bible.
– Its leader (Jesus) rose from the dead and performed many miracles to prove His claim of divinity. Christians serve a living God, whereas most other religious leaders are dead.

When the Philippian jailer became a Christian (Acts 16:24-35), his immediate problem was solved (he was about to kill himself), his family was helped (they didn’t lose a husband and father), he gained new and better friends (Paul and Silas), he was filled with joy (v.34), and he was assured of a home in heaven when he died. How did this happen? First, he was convicted of his sinfulness (v.30). Then, he believed that Jesus took the punishment for his sin (v.31, 34). How about you? If you are a Christian, you can share in similar benefits. If not, then you can become a believer just like the Philippian jailer.

Written, September 2019