So Why are You a Christian?

“...So, why are you a Christian?”

In 1 Peter 3:15, it says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (NIV) So let’s break this down.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have...” This is basically a really fancy way of saying, ‘Know you Bible stuff so when people ask why you believe what you believe, you won’t go, “um, uh, ah, ummm...”. That is the WRONG thing to say. My basic answer to someone who asks me that is, “Well, in the Bible, God tells us that ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ I believe that, so I’ve put my faith in God.” When they ask me why I’ve picked Christianity when there’s Judaism, Islam, Catholicism, Buddhism, and sooo many other religions. I say, “*Jesus was the only person (who claimed to be God) who actually followed His own teaching 100%. Most of the other ‘leaders’ didn’t even follow their own laws that they set! And another reason – Jesus was the ONLY one who defeated death.”

“But do this with gentleness and respect.” This means, “YOU STUPID PERSON IF YOU AREN’T A CHRISTIAN YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HEAVEN AND YOU’RE A HORRIBLE PERSON!” Is the WRONG thing to say. Gentleness and respect is veeery important. I don’t know about you guys, but someone telling me something like that would really repulse me. Here’s a RANDOM example. Let’s say there’s a religion, let’s just call it, S’moresism, that believes that my pet dog S’mores is really a rainbow unicorn that will save the World if you believe in her. So if someone gets all up in my face and screams at me for not believing that my dog is really a rainbow unicorn, I’m going to be a bit repulsed. (And never look at my dog the same way again.)

SO. When you put this together, it’s basically saying, “Share your faith nicely.” Which is a good idea, because as we go through life, school, all that jazz, there are people who don’t accept Christians, but there’s always a chance of a turn-around. Think of Paul, who started of as Saul, the Christian-Killing Machine! Then, God blinds him right there on the streets. Of course, Saul who is re-named Paul regains his sight, and then goes on the Greatest Missionary EVER. In fact he almost dies countless times, and wrote most of the New Testament. Anyway.

We’re going to encounter people in our lives who aren’t Christians. And we need to study up on our Bibles, so we can give those important answers. I’ve found that reading my Bible daily is tough. When I go to bed, I’m just like, “Dude, I’m behind in history, I reeeaaaaaaally want to read the next chapter in this highly exciting book, I don’t want to read my Bible! Eh, God won’t care if I miss ONE night...right?” But then, one night turns, to two, which turns to three, etc. However, when I read my Bible one night, that turns to two nights, which turns to three, etc. I’ll be writing, “How to Study Your Bible’ soon. But now, I reeeeeeeeeaaaaaally need to do school J

Much Love,

Brooke

Verse of the update: Therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. – 2 Timothy 2:1
*My arguments here were from, "But Don't All Religions Lead to God?" by Michael Green