I was reading a friend-of-a-friend’s blog the other day. The person was thinking stuff along the lines of, “Why are we told that we are nothing without God? Why are people who don’t have God – nothing? Even when they do amazing things? … ‘The difference is that the Christian people have God. But I say to that – that’s the only difference, and it doesn’t seem to be much.'”
It made me feel uncomfortable.
Because sometimes I feel that way too.
I thought – I’ve met God in life-changing ways, and most of the time there mightn’t be much to distinguish me from the next person.
In the end, it comes down to the biggie question – why am I a Christian? Because if I wasn’t a Christian I would probably still be a nice man. I would probably still smile lots, love my wife, give money to charity, recycle, appreciate walks on the beach. I might want to give up holidays – or even my career – to build houses or work in needy parts of the world. What marks me, a Christian, as different from the other people in this world that we share?
I think the difference is not in what I do, but in who I am – and in whom I am.
I am a Christian because it makes sense. I am a Christian because somehow my brain can handle the thought of the Creator of the Universe being intimately interested in me, even likes me – despite the fact that I drive a car with only me in it, I get grumpy with my closest friends and family, my nature is to think me first, and I want broadband more than to support a child in Africa. I am a Christian because Jesus makes the best role-model anyone could ever have. I am a Christian because love is deeper and older than any magic, and God is love. I am a Christian because I have a soul that will live long after my dying body has decayed and is no more. I am a Christian because in my weakness Holy Spirit uses me to do extraordinary things. I am a Christian because the west coast of Ireland is too beautiful to be an accident. I am a Christian because God, who is pure, looks at me through Jesus-tinted spectacles. I am a Christian because a relationship with God – Father, Son, Holy Spirit – completes me. I am a Christian because, when all is said and done, it’s not about me: it’s all about God.
This is not a creed – we don’t all have to have the same reasons. But if the difference is only in what we do, there mightn’t be very much of a difference.
Having said all of that, I’m going to ‘do a James’ – faith without deeds is dead. Christians should be different, we should stand out as being the best examples of what it is to be human. I want to put my money, time, energy where my mouth is! Anyone want to join in (and keep me accountable!)?
Hey i am so totally in awe of what you just said, saying what I’ve known in thought but not on paper and what iv needed to realise for at least the past year, thanx, in His grip x x x