I'm Not Your Average Christian

Hello readers,

I'd like to say to you today that when you hear the word "Christian", please don not automatically think "bible thumper" or "gay hater" or any of those terms people mistakenly use...

What I've learned over the years, as an observer, and a participator, is that a true Christian is someone who has "Christ-like" qualities. Anyone, even if they dont call themselves "Christian" may be very close to being one because being a good person and practicing good morals, and wanting to do good, is pretty much the definition of a Christian except that one did not accept Christ.

There's one thing, admitting to God that we believe in Him, is really all that's required. God just wants to be acknowledged.

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith: and not that of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV.

Romans 5:8-9

But God commendeth his lovetoward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Why is there evil in churches?

There is evil in every place or every church because for one:

• God allows the devil to attack the church. Why? Because the devil is allowed to tempt humans. That's the "test" we go through in this life to prove to God that we want (him) and not ourselves.
• The church is run by humans and humans err.
• Nothing in this life is perfect

We as humans have a heart designed by God to seek him. We have an "empty place" in our hearts that yearns for love and there is no greater love than God because humans always fail us.

We should seek the truth and seek to know God (or find out if we are not sure if there is one.) Let us put aside our self pride and look deep within ourselves and if we are really satisfied.

I've gone down the path of being unsure of a god and even being sure there was no god and then I also became a born again Christian. I was confused. The Catholic Church was not enough for me at the time because I needed to know God in a more effective way which I had not learned in the Catholic Church for whatever reason; I needed to know I was going to heaven no matter what and I needed more strength (His Word) in order to overcome obstacles. I asked God to give me more strength, and I became a believer that I was saved. But then I grew despondent and I was upset that things were not going right in my life or the way I wanted them to. I began to believe also through outside influences that there was no God or no proof but I could never really be happy inside being this way because humans almost always fail us! There is never a guarantee any human in our life will not fail us, and then where do we go?

Instead of thinking of myself as my own god, or thinking of someone else as a god (who could only fail me) I choose to believe in a power greater than myself and just by doing so, it gives me a peace and a hope that somewhere, something, or someone is out there taking care of things, keeping me safe, and making things happen in my life.

I have gut feelings about this. I know in my heart a lot of things that you may call intuition but I just know somehow. I know things change and I've discovered acceptance or at least am trying to have acceptance.

Acceptance is very key in the spiritual life because we must not only accept Christ, accept ourselves, and accept others, but we must accept what happens to us in this life as being God's will. No, it's not easy to do. Why do we want to accept a god deciding things for us, or allowing suffering in our lives? What sense does that make? Is he evil? Is he up there laughing?

Please be honest with yourself, and ask yourself, "Before any suffereing came into my life-- did I truly accept God in my own life (pray or ask for help from a divine source)?"

Tell me if I'm wrong please, in the comments, that if your life here on earth were so happy and perfect, Would you pray? Would you ask a higher power for help? I think that's where the answer lies.

I believe that God is a loving God and that he doesn't hate gays or anyone who has comitted murder even or abortion or something like stealing or adultery for example to go to hell, he just wants to offer us a chance to be forgiven and accept him and try to do good as best we can for the rest of our lives. Even if we commit the same sin again and again, he knows our weakness and is ready to forgive again and again, all he asks is that we love him and call upon Him.

I think he reaches out to us through people in our lives and through inspiration which comes from his holy spirit which is drawing us, pulling us to him, with an invisible force.

Everyone in life makes a choice to love god or not to love god.

It is that choice

that determines

if we

go

to be with him

where he is

in heaven

or to not be with him

in a place

called

hell.

It took me a long time to learn these things.

Some Christians say I'm "lukewarm" but I believe it's better to use honey than vinegar and that is actuallly the way God wants it.

I'm still discovering a lot of things about myself and one thing I have learned is I need to try to accept people as they are, for they are the way they are. And I can't expect anyone to accept me with my flaws if I don't make the effort to appreciate them.

I may not agree with some things people do, but I don't think it's a good idea to fight about it.

I like to discuss things in order to learn. I get excited when involved in an intellectual discussion. But sometimes it's better to pick your fights and just let things go. This is hard to do when two people are very opinionated and I admit I defintiely need more practice in letting things go but I am willing to try to learn the ten minute rule of not responding until ten minutes have gone by, provided the other person does that same. Now that sounds like a pretty good deal, don't you think? Fair?

I think there is a time for everything and it's not always a good time to debate. Sometimes a good laugh is in order or just time to relax and not think.

I'd like to be told in a positive way, if I make a mistake, and I don't want to be one of those Christians that turns others off and causes them to leave the church. I don't want to gossip or think I'm better which are two things I've always noticed many people in churches do. I want to love people and I want to be kind. Whatever I can do I'll try to do.

Don't get angry if I talk about God. And don't get angry if we don't agree in politics. My greatest wish is to be able to show others by my actions, not words, who I am. Then, if they are interested in hearing about God I'll be happy to share my own experience.

~Rosey