"Thoughts On Christianity"
by Darlene Morgan
There is much talk going on today about religion. Whether it be Christianity, Islam, Scientology, etc., there are proponents and opponents to be found everywhere. I am a Christian. No other religion encourages its members to develop a relationship with its god. The god of Islam, Allah, is said to be the same God to whom the Christians pray...I beg to differ. My God is a God of peace and love. He does not require His people to seek, kill, and destroy people of other religions.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was the virgin born son of Mary. He worked as a carpenter with his earthly father until He began His ministry at age 30. He never had a place to lay His head that He could call His own. He preached to the masses, fed thousands of people, healed the sick and demented, raised the dead, and gave Himself as a ransom for all. No other religion has a Savior who is alive. A person may visit the graves of Mohammed, Buddah, Krishna, Hubbard, and others, but a grave for Jesus will never be found...for He lives!
I think the main issue people have with Christians is the idea of tolerance. The word has a new meaning in this day and age. Whereas tolerance used to simply mean, to be accepting of someone or something, today it has become a political term. Tolerance now means to not only accept someone's ideology, but to participate fully in that ideology. I have no problem accepting a person for who he or she is, my problem lies with the sin he or she may be committing or trying to force me to embrace.
As a Christian woman, I choose to love the sinner and hate the sin. If the Bible clearly tells me something is wrong, I believe it to be wrong. If there is something out there that people are participating in that is causing irreparable damage to themselves and others...I call it sinful. I am not judgmental nor am I intolerant. I love people, I pray for them, I witness to them both verbally and with my lifestyle, and I don't ostracize them. Jesus teaches us to reach out to those in need, the unlovely, and the sinner. I, as a follower of Christ, have no other option, but to do what is right in the eyes of my Savior.
A strong Christian man by the name of F.E. Sellers once said, "Some things you just don't have to pray about." Truer words have never been spoken. Sin has results. Sinful behavior leads to damage...not only to the spirit, but to the body and soul. Have you ever seen someone who has been an alcoholic all of his or her life, fighting liver disease? Have you seen someone go through mental distress and anguish leading to psychological problems due to physical or emotional abuse at the hands of another? These are consequences to sinful behavior. What about AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases? God says no to sex outside of marriage, not because He's "old fashioned" or "doesn't understand." He says no because He knows the consequences. He says no to alcoholism because He knows it leads to illness, deeper sinfulness, and even death (both spiritually and physically). He says no to abuse because He knows the end result of sinful behavior. He says no to abortion because he knows the future mental and physical consequenses a person will encounter.
In conclusion, Jesus teaches love, understanding, forgiveness, and discipline. He is the ultimate judge of our behavior. Becoming a Christian gives a person the opportunity to participate in a full and disciplined life, unlike what the opposition says. You don't have to get drunk or high to have fun--if you do, you're in the wrong group. You don't have to participate in premarital sex--if you do, you're in the wrong relationship. If everything you do, everything you try, and every time you do something outside of the will of God, you get caught...God is trying to tell you something. The Christian life is not easy, people will make fun of you, ridicule you, fight with you, and think you're an idiot, but "the truth" remains, and that "truth" is Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection. Give Him a chance to change your life, you won't be disappointed.
Scriptures to ponder: I Peter 1:13-16; 4:7-11; 5:8-11; Titus 2:11-14; Exodus 20:1-17; Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 6:9-11.
Read more of Darlene's writings or contact her through: Thoughts By Darlene
