Christianity is often misunderstood by people not truly involved in it. It is easy to develop misconceptions based on seeing/hearing people that are not actually believing and living "real" Christianity, but are calling themselves "christians".
I'm certainly not the ultimate authority on this either, but I do know a lot about this, and also have heard most of the misconceptions about what it is.
Christianity does not equal religion
God's main interest is not in whether you go to church or not.
God doesn't care if you wear "fancy" clothes to church.
God's main interest is not even in whether or not you have been baptized.
God doesn't even care how "good" you are.
God loves you SO incredibly much and He will never give up on you.
Confess the fact that you have sinned (done wrong things in the eyes of a Holy and perfect God)(we are ALL sinners).
Believe that Jesus did come to this Earth and die on the cross in order to forgive YOUR sins. He paid the price for you because He loves you.
Ask Him to come into your life, your heart, and to be your Lord and Savior. Ask Him for help in living... and look to Him for guidance.
Believe that by doing this, your sins HAVE been forgiven, and because of this, you can stand before God blameless, because when He sees you, He sees Jesus, and His sinlessness.
Thank Him for His forgiveness, and ask that He indwells you with the Holy Spirit, that will forever give you His peace, love, guidance, and insight.
If you truly ask this of Him, with a total sincerity in your heart and soul, you can KNOW that you are saved, and you can KNOW that your name will forever be written in the lambs book of life, and that you will go to heaven, where we will spent eternity in a place where there is just love, no pain, no disease, no death, no sorrow, and will always be in the presence of the very living God. For Christians who truly know Him here, we can have a mini-version of that here. We can live with that peace, joy, and love, and a total sense of His presence. We do not have to fear anything, even death, for that is just a passage to something greater. We also have fellowship with other believers here, and totally feel like one big family, because we truly are, all children of one heavenly Father.
If you prayed a prayer of any sort like that above to God and asked Him the above and asked Him to be Lord and Savior of your life, please contact me (at devo0028@tc.umn.edu) just so I can make sure you get in touch with a good local church, and get support in your new beliefs. Please also tell someone about the decision you just made. It is important. I would love to talk with you more or answer any questions you have. Feel free to write.
What I wrote above just came from my heart... through prayer... cause I just want to help people know the total love I know, and know the total and complete peace I know, through our glorious heavenly Father, and that so many others may know.
The bible says that very soon, Jesus will return to this earth (read Revelations in the bible), to reclaim His Church (all believers) and then will come the judgement. At that time, there will be no more time to decide to believe or not believe.. to accept or reject. If you haven't read the bible before (or even if you have), I would encourage you to start reading the book of John (and then whatever else you feel called to read :) It will tell you the basic gospel story. The rest of the bible really pivots around this (with the old testament showing the need for a savior, and foretelling His coming).
For those of you reading this who question the bible, I would simply say, if you are interested, ask Christians (real ones ;) how they came to accept Christ, and what their experiences were/are. The stories you will hear will be very interesting, and will reveal the true love and reality of God and Jesus. I'd be interested to hear what you find out.
There is a new song out on Contemporary Christian Music stations (by NouVeux) (spelled something like that! ;) called "If Only".... very cool words to this song to think about.....
If only the stars in the heaven could tell the story... If only the mountains could cry out... We would hear them... And all would believe... And every knee would bow... All would be free... Heaven would be here now... If only the wind would whisper words... And carry the Truth... To all the Earth... And speak the name... Of Jesus Christ... The great I am... The Truth the Light... If only the wind...... would whisper words..... to tell the Truth.... of Jesus Christ..... All would see... and all would be free...... And Heaven would be here...... now...............
God's true desire is to have a face to face relationship with you... nothing less. But He loves you enough to give you a choice... and everyone must make this choice....... do you hear Him calling your name?..... He has a very quiet, still voice........ what will your answer be?.....
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Last updated Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 5:29:58 PM
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