Why should I convert to Christianity?

[awitch]

Why should I convert to Christianity?

 

[Lukaris]

We were created to be holy beings in the image of God but the sin of our ancestors (disobedience) brought death to us all and eventually greater sins like murder, sodomy etc. defiling our entire being. God cannot receive us to eternal life (in His kingdom) like this. We cannot cleanse ourselves (although we must do our part). To remedy this, God, in His only begotten Son, took on flesh was crucified, shed His blood for atonement of our sins, died, was buried, and resurrected to confer eternal salvation for us to be received undefiled to etenal life. This world is going toself destruct but "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). May I add an anology: it is like we have survived a nuclear blast, will always suffer from radiation, we can be cleansed and there will be a place for us to live free of any more fear of death or suffering from painful infirmities. We cannot enter that safe haven if we still carry the contamination of radiation.

 

[winsome]

I posted this in another thread in the forum, but I think it is relevant here.

As I see it all religions seek to answer these basic questions:

1. Are there non-material beings outside of our material cosmos; more specifically what we could call God or gods? And if we believe in a God (or gods) what is the nature of that God (or gods)?

2. Why am I alive? Am I a random event? Is there a purpose in my existence?

3. What happens to me when I die? Is there existence after death and what is the nature of that existence?

I believe Christianity give the true answers to these questions as far as we can know them.

 

[Emmy]

Dear awitch. Christianity is a personal relationship with Christ, and God has given us free will to choose. The true answer to your question, can only be found by giving " Why should I convert?" a fair and honest try. You will never know, until you do find out for yourself. I say this humbly and kindly, and send greetings, Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[awitch]

"For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

That God did something special for everyone is a fair answer, but not very compelling for someone who does not believe that to begin with. Had I accepted that answer and believed it, then I would already be Christian would I not?

 

[awitch]

Dear awitch. Christianity is a personal relationship with Christ, and God has given us free will to choose. The true answer to your question, can only be found by giving " Why should I convert?" a fair and honest try. You will never know, until you do find out for yourself. I say this humbly and kindly, and send greetings, Emmy, sister in Christ.

I can't think of a better answer than "why not?", but given what's at stake, what about those who DO try but decide on an alternative religion (or no religion) instead?

How hard does one have to try and for how long?

 

[Emmy]

Dear awitch. If you are truly seeking, trust God when He lets us know: " Ask and you will be answerd." God knows our motives and wishes, He will know how much it means to you, or is it just a passing fad. Simply ask for help and guidance to the truth of what you want to know, awitch. God is Love and Jesus died for all, it is between you and Jesus Christ. Talk to Him as you would talk to a loving and caring brother, and listen to your heart, and keep your eyes and ears open. I say this humbly and with love. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ. P.S. The Bible, God`s Word to Man, has given much valid advice.

 

[James 1:27]

Why convert? You will be assured an eternal life with God and you will have Jesus to help you with all the trials of this lifetime. It's a pretty good deal!!! I'm praying that God will reveal himself to you.

 

[aiki]

Why should I convert to Christianity?

John 10:9-11 (KJV)
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 16:11 (KJV)
11 You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fulness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.


John 3:16-17 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes 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.


Romans 6:23 (KJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


These are just a few of the reasons why you should convert to Christianity.



Peace.

 

[Minty]

Why should I convert to Christianity?

My reply is you shouldn't.

You shouldn't feel you have to convert, you should feel you want to convert.

If you don't want to, then don't...the gift of salvation is yours to accept or not, and no-one has the right to force it upon you...regardless of what they may say. God gave us free will and you must use it as you see fit.


You don't have to change for anything unless you feel you should!


Speaking for myself, and what accepting Christ means to me: it means that I am never alone as He is always with me, even if I don't realise it. It means that I don't have to worry anymore as I can give it to Him and He deals with it. It means that He is caring for me all the time, and no matter what I do, He forgives me if I ask Him to. Being Christian just gives me a sense of peace and joy that I cannot explain, but I just have. I no longer fear death (but then I'm a universalist, so the death of myself and others has ceased to worry me, as there is nothing to worry about). There's more, but I think you get the picture

Converting is not something that you do...it is something that He does to you.

I can't give you any clear cut answers, none of us can, because unless you are being called by Him personally in your heart, it's something that no amount of Scripture or persuasion can explain to you.


Sorry if this wasn't the answer that you were seeking...sadly, it's the only one I have

 

[awitch]

Sorry if this wasn't the answer that you were seeking...sadly, it's the only one I have

That's probably the best answer that there is.

Doing it for rewards like eternal life (which I'm not sure I really want) seems insincere.

So...what do you make of proselytizers?

 

[AV1611VET]

Why should I convert to Christianity?

So you won't go to Hell when you die.

 

[Minty]

That's probably the best answer that there is.

Doing it for rewards like eternal life (which I'm not sure I really want) seems insincere.

So...what do you make of proselytizers?

Me personally? I don't like them...and I'm also rubbish at it.

If people want to know what I believe and don't then they can ask me, but I remember how much it used to annoy me having people shoving their faith down my throat (before I became Christian, and mostly even after I did) so I don't do it to others

But then I'm from the viewpoint that my faith is no more valid than anyone else's...they don't push theirs on me, so I don't push mine on them

Respect is the key...gotta give it if you want to receive it

 

[aiki]

Doing it for rewards like eternal life (which I'm not sure I really want) seems insincere.

Well, what you may have yet to understand is that eternal life is found in a person: Jesus Christ. One cannot have eternal life separate from him. Becoming a Christian is about entering into a personal relationship with one's Maker. All of the good things the Bible tells us God wants to give to us come by way of His Son, Jesus.

Why does God make us such wonderful promises of good things if we walk in submission to Him? Do you really think He is trying to attract insincere people? Is a father who rewards his child for right conduct and wise decision making fostering insincerity in his child? I don't think so. Doing things well and doing what is right ought to be encouraged by reward, just as doing evil ought to be discouraged by punishment. The reward wisely given promotes further righteousness and wisdom in the recipient, just as punishment justly and strongly administered checks evildoing.

It is not a more sincere person who serves God out of a sense of hard duty and ascetic self-sacrifice. Such a person misunderstands what God wants from them. God wants our obedience to flow out of deep love for Him. When it does, it is joyful and unhesitating. Such obedience is not forbidding and difficult, but fulfilling. It is oriented on God, not on Self. But love must exist before obedience; it must give birth to obedience. Where does this love come from? It arises out of a profound awareness of God's incredible goodness to each one of us in what He has done for us on the cross and what He does for us each and every day.

The kind of person who thinks obeying God should always hurt, should always be without self-interest, to be truly sincere has fallen prey to a very subtle and powerful form of selfishness. This is the kind of religiosity that promotes the efforts of oneself, not overtly but quietly, under the guise of piety and religious service. The more one sacrifices, the more one appears to be righteous and spiritual. People like this recoil from the idea of enjoying God except in the most austere sense. Someone might mistake their delight in God for shallow insincerity and they couldn't stand for that to happen, not out of any concern for God's reputation, but for their own.

One other thing I might say: It is logically impossible for all faiths to be equally valid. They can't all be right while at the same time be in contradiction to one another - which they are. To consider all faiths equally valid is highly confused and nonsensical thinking.

Peace.

 

[awitch]

So you won't go to Hell when you die.

I was waiting for that answer - and like some of the other responses, one would have to believe in hell to be feel the need to avoid it - and to believe in the Christian hell would imply the already existing belief in Christianity.

Besides, I don't feel a god that requires belief to avoid eternal suffering is really worthy of worship. Sucking up to get out of hell or to get a reward still doesn't sound very sincere.

 

[Lukaris]

I was waiting for that answer - and like some of the other responses, one would have to believe in hell to be feel the need to avoid it - and to believe in the Christian hell would imply the already existing belief in Christianity.

Besides, I don't feel a god that requires belief to avoid eternal suffering is really worthy of worship. Sucking up to get out of hell or to get a reward still doesn't sound very sincere.

Do you not believe that any Christian who is answering your question is doing it out of love toward a fellow human being to share a salvation that him/her self feels undeserving of but is thankful for? None here are seeking self glorification or will gain anything of it and Christians are called to good works from their salvation. So works may not save but are necessary for our salvation (depending on the length of our life).

 

[AV1611VET]

... one would have to believe in hell to be feel the need to avoid it ...

Or as we put it: You gotta get'em lost, before you can get'em saved; and that's the job of the Holy Spirit --- to convict you that, without Jesus Christ, you're lost and on your way to Hell.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

Why should I convert to Christianity?

Personally I think it is up to God whether you become Christian or not. Kind of like not being able to see unless God opens your eyes.

JOHN 17:6

I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

 

[aiki]

Besides, I don't feel a god that requires belief to avoid eternal suffering is really worthy of worship.

What should God require of you?

God requires belief from you so that you may fellowship with Him, not merely to avoid eternal suffering.

The same God you're rejecting for the reason you've given above is also the Creator of Everything. He made you. He made the world you live on. He made the Universe. If He had done only these things, He would be fully worthy of your worship.

Sucking up to get out of hell or to get a reward still doesn't sound very sincere.

Sucking up may be the tactic you'd adopt, but not everyone is like you. Besides, God can tell when you're just sucking up and when you're sincere. He's not fooled by appearances.

Peace.

 

[Laurelleelove]

So You can serve the one true God. Because a relationship with the Lord is the most beautiful and loving relationship one can have. Because there is hard evidence and proof of God. Because your whole life changes and is easier with God. Because he loved you before you were born, and loves you still in your ignorance and sin. There are so many reasons... If I could give you the feeling in my heart, the wonder of choosing God and walking in my life with God I would. You have no reason to trust me, I'm but a stranger. But he is no stranger to you, he is in your heart, your soul and as close as the air you breath. I would imagine, despite your claims that you don't believe. You wouldn't be here if you didn't have a twinge of doubt in your mind. Hold onto that twinge, grab it and put your heart and faith in our redeemer. You will never regret it. This life we lead is nothing compared to the LIFE we will have in heaven.


Now, as far as God not being worth believing in-if Jesus is the only way to heaven......


How could a just, righteous and holy God- send his son to die for you, watch his flesh ripped and battered and send someone that DENIES him and his son to heaven? Where would be the justice in that? Because he's a loving God, who wants you in Heaven with him he sent his son. But, because his son died he also requires devotion.

Calling God unworthy is like calling the dirt-clean. God is all that is worthy and holy. He defined worthy, he created worthy, he made the earth, the sky, the stars... he made you and me and every animal. He's proven himself over and over, to people that don't deserve his proof. Yet still he gives you the life of his son, so that 2000 years later you can get online and doubt him, but still be saved. Who is more worthy? Can you imagine anyone that loving and worthy?

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.- Romans 5:6-9


I pray you find your way, I love you and so does God... even if you choose not to believe in him