by Roy T

Created on: July 22, 2011   Last Updated: July 24, 2011

I have to struggle when I am asked "Are you religious?" Not because I have any doubts about my faith in Christ and the beliefs I have developed throughout my life, but because of the "baggage" that comes along with religion. When I think of religion, I think back to my Catholic upbringing - dogmatic traditions and ceremony, but very little actual discussion of what it really means to be a Christian. Not that I disrespect Catholics, or anyone else who attends a traditional church, but I have developed a set of beliefs on my own.

I know that Christianity is not a religion, but a philosophy about how you should live your life.  If you follow Christ's example, as set out in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, it means loving your fellow man.  You must be able to see that all men (and women) are God's creatures, and remember that when he walked the Earth, Jesus didn't spend time with the Religious leaders and the "pure in heart", but with the lowest of the low - the prostitutes, the tax collectors and the lepers, which society hated and rejected.  When he was confronted for this, he responded "It is not the healthy who need a Doctor, but the sick. I have come not to call the righteous, but the sick." Mark 2:17  So this is a very important part of his philosophy, knowing that we are to love one another, despite our failings.  I also believe that we are not to judge others, as this is against his wishes. 

Here's what I think Christianity is:

Christianity is a strict adherence to the philosophy preached by Jesus Christ in the four Gospels of the New Testament. Christianity is the acceptance of God's gift to us; His only Son, who died on the cross so we could be absolved of our sins and allowed into His kingdom. Christianity is the belief that one must be a good person to everyone, even their enemies, and love always. Christianity is not about hate. Christianity is not about killing "in the name of God or Jesus"

Christianity is not about judging others and their right to go to Heaven... that's not our job. Christianity is not about feeling superior to others, or smug in our faith and "goodness".

I am not a Biblical scholar, nor can I whip out a bunch of Biblical Passages to back up my opinion, but I think I am pretty close to what Christ wants from us.

You must accept his gift. You must repent of your sins. You must live a life of love and forgiveness.

That is what being a Christian means to me.

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