FAQ’s about Christianity
Q: WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?
A: The word "Christian" literally means "Christ-follower". And since "Christ" means "Messiah" or "Chosen One" or "Savior" or "Deliverer" or "Rescuer", then to be a Christian is really to be someone who follows Jesus because they acknowledge that He is the Savior. Jesus said it Himself in John 14:6 when He said bluntly "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me." So, on the one hand a Christian is someone who goes to church because they have a genuine relationship with Jesus as their Savior and they want to be encouraged in their faith. But on the other hand, just going to church without a relationship with Christ won't make someone a true Christian any more than walking in the woods makes you a tree, or standing in a parking lot makes you a car. It's not just a matter of where you go, but Who you know that makes you a Christian, a Christ-follower.
Q: HOW DO I BECOME, AS YOU SAY, A "CHRIST FOLLOWER"?
A: Well, to become a Christian you need to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship is begun by coming to Him and acknowledging our failure and asking for His forgiveness. Obviously we have something we need to be "saved" from if Jesus came to be our "Savior", right? Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard." Are you ready to admit your failure to live up to God's ideal? He is ready to forgive you and cleanse you from all your guilt. Next comes our whole-hearted commitment to following Him, which simply means to do whatever He would want us to do. Of course, if we're going to learn about what His will is for our lives, this will mean that we become students of the Bible and study it for ourselves as well as learn what we can at church. So becoming and being a Christian is not really about being "Catholic" or "Protestant" or "Baptist" or "Brethren In Christ" (which Marsh Creek Church is). Joining one church or another is not the issue, but committing to Christ is. In fact, it seems quite possible that there are all kinds of people who call themselves "Christians", both Catholics and Protestants, who may think they are Christians because they go to church and do other good things, but who don't really know Jesus. That seems to be the message Jesus gives in Matthew 7:21-23. He says: "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to Me as 'Lord', but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus goes on in those verses to describe that it is not enough to talk the talk, but what's important is our relationship with Him displayed in obedience to His teachings that makes the difference. The Bible uses a word for that - "faith", which simply means "active trust", believing in someone or something enough to act upon that belief. Are you ready to commit your life to following Jesus as His disciple? He's ready to lead you into new and deeper life (John 10:10).
Q: WHERE DID GOD COME FROM?
A: God by definition is the "uncreated One". If He "came" from anywhere, if he had a beginning, whoever or whatever created Him would be considered the real God. Then one would have to ask who created THAT God, etc. At some point we have to end at an eternal being that did not have a beginning and that is Whom we call God. Note: If people have a problem believing that someone or something could always exist without having a beginning, then God makes even MORE sense… because if you don't believe that HE existed forever, then you are left having to believe that the material, physical universe just existed forever and had no beginning. I know people will point to the "big bang", but then we still have to ask who or what started that? And who or what created the giant mass of stuff that went "bang" in the first place? God? If not God, then you have to believe that material matter has God-like ability to exist forever and/or self-generate. Seems more reasonable to just believe in God at that point.
Q: WHY DO WE HAVE A CHOICE TO FOLLOW HIM, BUT IF WE DON'T WE GET PUNISHED? THAT IS NOT FREE CHOICE.
A: Of course it is… All actions bring specific consequences. Some people don't believe their actions should have consequences… we call them psychotic and they can get therapy. But most normal people understand that, just because decisions lead to results, doesn't mean that we have no free choice. God loves us, but He doesn't force His love on us. It makes sense though that, if there is a God and He knows what's best for us that those who chose that way will have a better life than those who don't. If there is a God, He MUST make a positive difference in our lives. That just makes sense. So, those who choose not to follow Him will miss out on that benefit. It's their call. If your school caught fire and someone came to your class and said "All the usual exits are blocked and the smoke is bad - but I know a way out… follow me!" it would be completely up to you to follow that person or not. But if someone decides to stay in the classroom and die or try to find a way out on their own, don't blame the person who offered help.
Q: WHY IS CHRIST THE ONLY WAY?
A: This is the most sensible of all issues to deal with. If God is real, why would He teach mutually conflicting and contradictory ways to find Him? Wouldn't ONE God offer ONE plan to have the best life possible? He knows what's best for us… why offer some people second best. You see, no other religion or philosophy offers a plan to deal with our failure. They all teach ways of generating more success, but when we do fail they have no plan for wiping out our "sin". Hinduism & Buddhism say that our sin will effect our karma and we'll just come back as a lower life form. How cruel. Since our memories are wiped clean during this process of reincarnation, how can we ever learn a lesson from our past mistakes? It's just hit and miss each lifetime - being punished for past mistakes that we don't even know about. Islam teaches that we will be allowed into heaven based upon our works. All our deeds will be weighed on a scale and if there are more good than bad then we can go into heaven. If not, too bad for us. BUT… how can a PERFECT God who lives in a PERFECT place let IMPERFECT people in with even, say, 10% sin and selfishness inside them. Wouldn't they just bring in the same "sin virus" and selfishness that we have here on earth? And wouldn't heaven then become corrupted just like earth? And wouldn't it cease to be a PERFECT place to live? How can any God let sin into heaven? No, it just makes reasonable sense that all human failure would have to be eradicated and all people fully purified if they are going to enter this totally pure place without contaminating it. And that's what the cross does for us! The Jews were the only other people who believed that sin had to be done away with if they wanted to go to heaven. This happened in Old Testament days through animal sacrifices. But since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD they have stopped these sacrifices with no satisfactory explanation as to what happens to their sin now. As Christians, we know that the animal sacrifices are no longer necessary, because Jesus was the final infinite sacrifice for all humanity.
