Rather than just accepting what I've been told by my atheistic family, I thought I'd put this to people who might be able to give me a different answer:
Question: Why do christians follow god?
Supposed answer: Because the bible tells them to.
Question: Why do christians obey the bible?
Supposed answer: Because it claims to be the word of god.
That can't possibly be the end of it... can it?
I'll do my best to give you what I think are reasonable answers - if only because they're mine
Why do I follow God? The short answer is because I love Him. I love Him for who He is and for how much He loves me.
At this point it's probably good to pause and provide some background. First I suppose is the need to address the obvious question - 'how do I know He is?' Truth be told, I don't "know" He is - but I believe He is - for a variety of reasons. I look at the world around me and believe it could only be created by God. I see it all, the mountains, lakes, rivers, flowers, forests, the oceans, the sky, the stars above and believe they are all point to Him. Do I have the sort of proof that passes the rigorous test used by some (that somehow "proves" to them He doesn't exist)? No. Another reason is that He answers prayer - not circumstantially, but obviously, and in such a way I "know" the answer was His. Can I prove it to some skeptic or inquiring mind? No.
Another reason deals with my nature - my propensity to "sin" or do wrong in ways peculiar to me, my person. I see in me certain weaknesses and of such a heinous nature that I am appalled at what things I can do, have done. Frankly, I see similar things in all people - propensities to various forms of evil: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these (the list is long). I see in me weaknesses in some of these areas and it appalls me; it shames me. I realize not everyone feels that way about their own weaknesses - for whatever reason, whether they've rationalized it away as "normal" to the human condition or whether they've accepted it - embraced it even. I couldn't. I can't. I don't like those things and want desperately to be rid of those things. He provided a way out.
Which leads to my next "reason" or "proof" why I believe He is. I started reading the bible and was shocked how incisive it was, how it could seemingly pierce my very soul and point out what I knew to be true about me. If anyone wants "proof" the bible is true, I recommend they give it an honest read - we are the proof it's real, it's true. We are the gauge of its veracity - for only we know the true "me" that's inside; and if the bible proves to me it knows too, by pointing out to me what I know to be true about me, what no one else knows to be true about me - or can know - then I have to give it at least some respect. Moreover, if it is capable of knowing the thoughts and intentions of my heart (stuff only I know), then I have to assume other stuff it says is probably credible as well.
I said I love God - and here is why. Being honest about who I really am, about what's really going on in my mind and heart, then reading about this Jesus - how God, through Him sought to reconcile me to Him by not counting any of that trash in my mind and heart against me - well, that drew me, draws me to Him. I read the narrative about Jesus, what He said, what He did - that He did it ostensibly on my behalf, for my sake, that rather than judge me for who and what I was, He refused to hold it against me - indeed, He paid the price Himself rather than make me pay it - for which I'm grateful; because if I had to pay the price for who and what I am, I'd be forever paying it.
And it's more than the fact that He took all my trash upon Himself. That He did it is one thing; that He died in the process another thing altogether. But even that wasn't the kicker for me - I believe God did indeed raise Him from the dead - which means His death wsn't the end of it, rather it was just the beginning. That He put to death the death that was in me - and survived it - moreover that He provided a way for me to participate in the same death, burial, and resurrection is what ultimately threw me down on my knees before Him - in gratitude, in hope, in reverence.
To your second question - "why do we obey the bible?" Well, if "obeying" what I'd been obeying prior to my salvation was doing nothing more for me than proving my need for that salvation, then obeying just the opposite has a contrasting value of equal or greater measure. I obey it because I want to, because I know what the consequences of disobedience are - consequences over which I no longer need to fret. I strive to keep His commandments because I love Him. And no, that's "not the end of it" -- in truth, it's just the beginning.
Hope that helps...
