Friday, November 04, 2005
The other night at Youth Group, I asked the kids why they were Christians. They all responded with the same answer which was, so they wouldn’t go to Hell. I bet if you were to poll adults and ask the same question most would give the same answer.
This bothers me a great deal. It’s like someone saying they like baseball because of the color on the uniforms. Someone who likes baseball only because of the uniforms misses the point of baseball completely. I think the same applies to those who believe the point of becoming a Christian is to avoid hell. (Fire Insurence)
Christianity is so much bigger than avoiding going to hell. That type of prospective dumbs down Christianity and makes its legalistic, and work and goal orientated, which is far from the teachings of Jesus.
Some would say that Christianity is about finding harmony within your restless soul; living and bringing out the Kingdome of God here on earth; centering yourself in attempt to draw closer to God; allowing yourself to be used by God for His glory and becoming an active participant in His story; seeking and understanding truth, and or living a life of love, gratitude and grace.
My friend Sally reminded me this morning, that all of those things are results from having a relationship with God.
This is a great piece of insight. Over the last couple of days, I have been trying to find an answer to that question that would be relevant to the kids in Youth Group. Maybe the point or reason of being a Christian is for the simple fact that God loves us and wants a relationship with us. It doesn’t get any more simpler or relevant than that.
This bothers me a great deal. It’s like someone saying they like baseball because of the color on the uniforms. Someone who likes baseball only because of the uniforms misses the point of baseball completely. I think the same applies to those who believe the point of becoming a Christian is to avoid hell. (Fire Insurence)
Christianity is so much bigger than avoiding going to hell. That type of prospective dumbs down Christianity and makes its legalistic, and work and goal orientated, which is far from the teachings of Jesus.
Some would say that Christianity is about finding harmony within your restless soul; living and bringing out the Kingdome of God here on earth; centering yourself in attempt to draw closer to God; allowing yourself to be used by God for His glory and becoming an active participant in His story; seeking and understanding truth, and or living a life of love, gratitude and grace.
My friend Sally reminded me this morning, that all of those things are results from having a relationship with God.
This is a great piece of insight. Over the last couple of days, I have been trying to find an answer to that question that would be relevant to the kids in Youth Group. Maybe the point or reason of being a Christian is for the simple fact that God loves us and wants a relationship with us. It doesn’t get any more simpler or relevant than that.
