Why are you Christian

[Guest]

I am not refering to why you believe in God as I can see why many of you do.

Rather I am asking what it is that makes you so certain that Christianity has got it right, what made you choose it and the bible over say Islam or paganism? as they all have the same amount of physical evidence. Also to those who are Christian have you always been Christian or are you a convert?

 

[Solo]

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:1-21

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:44-47

 

[reznwerks]

I am not refering to why you believe in God as I can see why many of you do.

Rather I am asking what it is that makes you so certain that Christianity has got it right, what made you choose it and the bible over say Islam or paganism? as they all have the same amount of physical evidence. Also to those who are Christian have you always been Christian or are you a convert?

It is a fact that most people are born into their faith. That is why the west is predominatly Christian , the middle east is Muslim and Israel is primarily Jewish. Those that start questioning usually become atheists, agnostic, or adopt a more liberal , laid back approach to the spirit world if one exists. The far east is dominated by Hinduism and Buddhism.

 

[ÃÂoppleganger]

8-)

 

[peace4all]

I am not refering to why you believe in God as I can see why many of you do.

Rather I am asking what it is that makes you so certain that Christianity has got it right, what made you choose it and the bible over say Islam or paganism? as they all have the same amount of physical evidence. Also to those who are Christian have you always been Christian or are you a convert?

It is a fact that most people are born into their faith. That is why the west is predominatly Christian , the middle east is Muslim and Israel is primarily Jewish. Those that start questioning usually become atheists, agnostic, or adopt a more liberal , laid back approach to the spirit world if one exists. The far east is dominated by Hinduism and Buddhism.

Very true..

 

[Windozer]

I am not referring to why you believe in God as I can see why many of you do.

Rather I am asking what it is that makes you so certain that Christianity has got it right, what made you choose it and the bible over say Islam or paganism? as they all have the same amount of physical evidence. Also to those who are Christian have you always been Christian or are you a convert?

I am a Christian because it works for me. I have been physically healed (by God) on more than one occasion. I am not the same person I was 25 years ago. In fact I am the exact opposite of what I was before I gave God a chance. I have found my purpose for being on this planet, and I am pleased with my lot in life. Don't really think one could desire more than that.

I was born into a family that belonged to a church that is referred to as a cult, that believes in salvation by works.

Seasons Greetings.

 

[SputnikBoy]

I am not referring to why you believe in God as I can see why many of you do.

Rather I am asking what it is that makes you so certain that Christianity has got it right, what made you choose it and the bible over say Islam or paganism? as they all have the same amount of physical evidence. Also to those who are Christian have you always been Christian or are you a convert?

I am a Christian because it works for me. I have been physically healed (by God) on more than one occasion. I am not the same person I was 25 years ago. In fact I am the exact opposite of what I was before I gave God a chance. I have found my purpose for being on this planet, and I am pleased with my lot in life. Don't really think one could desire more than that.

I was born into a family that belonged to a church that is referred to as a cult, that believes in salvation by works.

By that, do you mean they were obedient to the commands of God?

 

[Windozer]

By that, do you mean they were obedient to the commands of God?

No... They believe that if you do not sin you will go to heaven when you leave this world. They do not believe in miracles or spiritual healing or any thing of that nature.

 

[Free]

Rather I am asking what it is that makes you so certain that Christianity has got it right, what made you choose it and the bible over say Islam or paganism? as they all have the same amount of physical evidence. Also to those who are Christian have you always been Christian or are you a convert?

I was born into a Christian home but I have made my own choice to follow Christ through much theological, philosophical and personal reflection and comparative religious studies.

Besides, Christianity has better evidence than Islam, which is a Christian heresy, so that makes that choice simple. Paganism is, well, paganism; nothing to really consider.


rezenwerks and peace4all,

Were either of you born atheist? Just as people are often, but not nearly always, born into their faith, people are also born into their lack of faith in anything.

 

[Guest]

snip

So you believe in the Bible because it tells you to?

 

[Solo]

snip

So you believe in the Bible because it tells you to?

After being lost and on my way to eternal condemnation, God drew me to himself through his Son, Jesus Christ. The holy Spirit revealed the truth of God after he quickened my soul to understand. He gave me faith to believe and I believed that Jesus died for my sins and was resurrected from the dead to reign forever more, defeating death and sin. After being born of God, I became hungry for the truth, and was led into God's Word for wisdom and understanding. I thought that I knew quite a bit, until at the age of 28 I was brought aware that I didn't know anything of any importance, and that knowing God through Jesus Christ was the most important direction that anyone could take in this lifetime.

I believe the Bible because God saved me through his Son Jesus Christ, and awoke my soul by the holy Spirit as I was dead in sin.

 

[Agarash]

I believe because my eyes finaly opened up a few years ago (7 years). I started to see a God that really exist, and not just someone being spoken about on sundays. I started to experience a love from people who called themselves christian, a love which I never knew and now know could have only come from God. I finally grasped what it means to be completely lost, to be heading straight to a Hell. To be so utterly and completely clueless and shattered that only ONE thing can save me, the Grace of Jesus Christ, and what He did. I finally started to grasp all this, where previously it was something I knew, but never really changed my life. It became part of my life, it became me... and I became NEW.

 

[Khristeeanos]

Those that start questioning usually become atheists, agnostic, or adopt a more liberal , laid back approach to the spirit world if one exists.

I am not going to let you get away with this one!

That is simply not true at all.

There are many, many people who are atheists/agnostic who genuinely search out Christianity and become Christians.

There are many books written by these men that show their journey.

CS Lewis
Josh McDowell
Lee Strobel

There are others I could cite as well. These were intellectuals who really desired to have the truth, not just their minds.

 

[peace4all]

Those that start questioning usually become atheists, agnostic, or adopt a more liberal , laid back approach to the spirit world if one exists.

I am not going to let you get away with this one!

That is simply not true at all.

There are many, many people who are atheists/agnostic who genuinely search out Christianity and become Christians.

There are many books written by these men that show their journey.

CS Lewis
Josh McDowell
Lee Strobel

There are others I could cite as well. These were intellectuals who really desired to have the truth, not just their minds.

what rezn is saying.

Most people who truly question the validitity of the bible, and actual "mysticism" and "magic" often turn out to become atheists or agnostics. Yes, some do convert back, but a majority that become atheists, stay atheists.


As for myself, I was not born into any real, religous home. My moms side is primarily catholic, and my fathers side is primarily agnostic. I was a boy scout when I was young, and one of the things was to attend a church, to get a badge, so i went, sat through it, found it boring, and unbelievable, so i didnt go back. WHen i reached age 12 or so, I asked my mom Why we didn't go to church etc.
My moms response basically reworded:

" Yoru father and I have decided to let you choose whatever you would like on your own. We wil take you to any religous group you ever want to go to, and support you through it, However, we are not going to try to force you into any religion.

My father is atheistic (he is also a drug abusing total jerkmonkey (if this wasnt a christian forum, there would be many other words in there) and my mother, although she believes in a "higher power" is not any religion.

My brother john is more of an atheistic agnostic, He just want's peace and love, and he finds that religions tend to , well, not provide that.

My brother christopher (14) is a "pastafarian" He finds the idea of creation so laughable, that He joined the group found at http://www.venganza.org and has since began preaching it. He doesn't truly believe it, but he gives it the same credit he gives genisis.

Also, I am "technically" Reverend Patrick Bernard Whelehan II with the "universal life church"

 

[Free]

As for myself, I was not born into any real, religous home.

So then why do you agree with rez's argument that most religious people are "born into it," since you clearly were born into your beliefs?

 

[wiseclock]

By the Grace of God.

I am a sinner but by Gods sovereign grace God chose to ready my heart to receive his true word. As a good farmer will do before the planters sew seed of truth. None will come to Christ unless the father dares them.

 

[peace4all]

As for myself, I was not born into any real, religous home.

So then why do you agree with rez's argument that most religious people are "born into it," since you clearly were born into your beliefs?

Because, Instead of being Forced, to go to a church every sunday, my parents let me choose, and let me go wherever i wanted.

I visited a mosque, 2 diffrent jewish temples, and about 5 diffrent churches before i really ende dup making my decision.

I guess you are right. I was born, and given the option to choose, instead of being lead down a path my parents chose for me.

 

[reznwerks]

[


rezenwerks and peace4all,

Were either of you born atheist? Just as people are often, but not nearly always, born into their faith, people are also born into their lack of faith in anything.

Everyone is born atheist. Only their upbringing and / or other input changes their outlook.

 

[Khristeeanos]

Everyone is born atheist. Only their upbringing and / or other input changes their outlook.

You will have to explain this further to me. I simpily don't understand how you came to this conclusion.

 

[wavy]

^People do not believe in God when they are born. They usually are told, or are introduced to a belief system by how they were raised by their parents (or other environmental conditions)