Why Are You a Christian?

[StupidUserName]

Preferably good answers, but bad ones will work too.

 

[lesliedellow]

I suppose I am a living breathing testimony to the fact that conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit. I had no interest in religion, and, to the extent that I thought about it at all, I thought Christians were narrow minded, self-righteous prigs, who had major hang ups about sex.

But then I felt something within prompting me to look more closely at this religion stuff. In the light of what I have just said, you might guess that this prompting wasn't altogether welcome at first, but eventually wandered down to a bookshop and bought a Bible. Over the last three decades I have gradually gone from being vaguely theistic, to being an ultra liberal Christian, to being a liberal Christian, to being a more conservative Christian.

There are probably advantages to being a liberal Christian at first, because the liberalism moderates the later conservatism. I doubt if the Holy Spirit is finished with me yet.

 

[elman]

Preferably good answers, but bad ones will work too.

Jesus said the will of our Creator was summed up in loving God and loving man. That seems to agree with what God has written on my heart.

 

[Freedom63]

I believe Jesus was who He said He was and represents salvation for all men. I no longer follow organized religion because I believe it has strayed too far away from Jesus teachings. (BTW - I am a licensed minister and have been a bible teacher to adults for more than 20 years until I recently felt I could no longer support my church's ministry)

 

[Walter Kovacs]

"You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee."
-St. Augustine

 

[KTskater]

I was lost, and I went seeking. In Christ, I found a peace that surpasses all understanding, a guide for my life, a passion and purpose for existence, a close friend, a caring father, and, most importantly, a love that I cannot describe or find anywhere on this earth.

 

[SkyWriting]

Preferably good answers, ..

Becasue Jesus works.
The things He taught are without error. I mean, I've tested what He said and found every statement to be accurate and true. There are no other "spiritual leaders" who have a perfect record.

That led me to trust the source as well, the scriptures. Is there good reason to? No. The bible was written by man and a number of other men decided what should and should not be in the Bible. Men I don't really have any solid reason to trust even. Still, from what I can tell, they did a perfect job. I've read some of the stuff they left out, and I have to agree with their choice.

From what I can tell, the Bible has been under God's hand the whole time.
And God actually works in my life. Changes things. That's why I believe.
No thanks to my home church...that's for sure.

 

[mrmccormo]

Because God chose me, and now I put my faith in His mercy.

 

[Tabletform]

I was born and raised in Ireland so I expect that had something to do with it.

 

[New_Believer]

I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for my sins and he raised three days after his death from the grave. I put my faith in Him and repented of my sins.

That's how someone becomes a Christian according to the Bible though we all have different stories to how we were led.

 

[StupidUserName]

But some of you just tell me that you believe, not WHY. For example:

Q: Why are you a Christian (why do you believe in Christianity)?
A: Because I believe Christianity.

What?

I'm asking WHY do you believe? Why do you have faith in Christ and the Bible and not something like Allah and the Quran?

 

[Walter Kovacs]

Why do you have faith in Christ and the Bible and not something like Allah and the Quran?

Because I don't believe the Koran to be the inspired word of God, and I believe Jesus to be the Messiah as foretold by the prophets.

 

[New_Believer]

But some of you just tell me that you believe, not WHY. For example:

Q: Why are you a Christian (why do you believe in Christianity)?
A: Because I believe Christianity.

What?

I'm asking WHY do you believe? Why do you have faith in Christ and the Bible and not something like Allah and the Quran?

I suppose I am a living breathing testimony to the fact that conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit. I had no interest in religion, and, to the extent that I thought about it at all, I thought Christians were narrow minded, self-righteous prigs, who had major hang ups about sex.

What lesliedellow posted helps me answer that question. I believe true conversion comes from the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Past experiences or beliefs don't even matter when the Holy Spirit is putting you under conviction. Once you hear the message of Jesus dying and rising from the grave 3 days after, the seed has been planted. I believe in the sovereignty of God. God led me to a point of putting my faith in Christ. It was nothing I did or anyone around me did. It was all God.

I used to believe in total free-will when it came to salvation but now I'm not so sure. It doesn't seem like we change our minds on our own. It has much to do with God changing us and calling us to salvation.

I hope this made some sense.

Here are some definitions to help explain where I'm coming from. I'm not a Calvinist nor do I believe in limited atonement or unconditional election. I'm not convinced that God would predestinate people to Hell. Though I do believe that salvation is not a work of man, but a work of God.

Irresistible Grace:
When God calls his elect into salvation, they cannot resist. God offers to all people the gospel message. This is called the external call. But to the elect, God extends an internal call and it cannot be resisted. This call is by the Holy Spirit who works in the hearts and minds of the elect to bring them to repentance and regeneration whereby they willingly and freely come to God. Some of the verses used in support of this teaching are Romans 9:16 where it says that "it is not of him who wills nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy"; Philippians 2:12-13 where God is said to be the one working salvation in the individual; John 6:28-29 where faith is declared to be the work of God; Acts 13:48 where God appoints people to believe; and John 1:12-13 where being born again is not by man’s will, but by God’s.

Total Depravity:
Sin has affected all parts of man. The heart, emotions, will, mind, and body are all affected by sin. We are completely sinful. We are not as sinful as we could be, but we are completely affected by sin.
The doctrine of Total Depravity is derived from scriptures that reveal human character: Man’s heart is evil (Mark 7:21-23) and sick Jer. 17:9). Man is a slave of sin (Rom. 6:20). He does not seek for God (Rom. 3:10-12). He cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). He is at enmity with God (Eph. 2:15). And, is by nature a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3). The Calvinist asks the question, "In light of the scriptures that declare man’s true nature as being utterly lost and incapable, how is it possible for anyone to choose or desire God?" The answer is, "He cannot. Therefore God must predestine."
Calvinism also maintains that because of our fallen nature we are born again not by our own will but God’s will (John 1:12-13); God grants that we believe (Phil. 1:29); faith is the work of God (John 6:28-29); God appoints people to believe (Acts 13:48); and God predestines (Eph. 1:1-11; Rom. 8:29; 9:9-23).


The Five Points of Calvinism | The Calvinist Corner

 

[99percentatheism]

But some of you just tell me that you believe, not WHY. For example:

Q: Why are you a Christian (why do you believe in Christianity)?
A: Because I believe Christianity.

What?

I'm asking WHY do you believe? Why do you have faith in Christ and the Bible and not something like Allah and the Quran?

Why did you barge into a Christian section of this website and violate the rules by posting?

WWBD?

 

[ThatWhichIsnt]

I am a Christian because God made me so.

 

[Tabletform]

I'm asking WHY do you believe? Why do you have faith in Christ and the Bible and not something like Allah and the Quran?

Who can ever say why they believe what they believe?

 

[StupidUserName]

Why did you barge into a Christian section of this website and violate the rules by posting?

WWBD?

What rules did I violate? I just asked a simple question: why do you believe what you believe?

To say, "Well, how can someone give a reason for why they believe what they believe" is absurd.

I believe the sun will come up tomorrow because of the evidence that it has before, and to my knowledge it will continue to do so until something stops it from doing so. I can't be sure of the sun coming up, but I assume it will.

So I'm wondering, why do you believe the Bible? Is there a specific reason for belief rather than just... belief? If asking that is against the rules, thats just stupid. Banning someone for a sincere question that was in no way harmful or intentionally disrespectful is just sad.

WWJD?

 

[Walter Kovacs]

This part of the forum is off limit to non-Christians.

However, several answers have been given which are worthy of reply. If you truly wish to converse on the subject and are not trolling (there are lots of trolls here) feel free to message me.

 

[StupidUserName]

I interpreted the section to mean Christian Theology Only, not Christians only. Sorry.

 

[lesliedellow]

What rules did I violate? I just asked a simple question: why do you believe what you believe?

To say, "Well, how can someone give a reason for why they believe what they believe" is absurd.

It you look at the home page it says "christians only" at the top of the theology section. I don't know the reason for that stipulation, but I can easily guess. It is to stop this site degenerating into a slanging match like very many others on the internet. This one for instance:

Answer | Open Religion & Spirituality Questions – Yahoo! Answers