As the avid reader that I am, I’m quite intrigued by stories of people who have gone on a search of Christianity. Young people within their 20s & 30s, some spurred by the visible changes evident in their friends. Others, an act of curiosity. All trying to answer the question: Why choose Christianity?
Even though the search is typically approached with some scepticism. More often, there’s a change they can’t explain as the days pass by. Although, for a lot of people, the change never lasts. Either because it was a temporary product of the environment they were in, or they liked the feeling but not the Jesus who provides it.
You see, Christianity isn’t about the feeling or the changes alone. Rather, it is focused on the person you get to do life with; God through Jesus Christ.
Origin of Christianity
Do you know how we even got the term Christianity? From a city called Antioch, now Antakya, in modern-day Turkey. Google Maps location
At one point, there was a lot of persecution against the people who had a belief in Jesus. That persecution made them flee from Jerusalem, their place of abode, to other regions. One of which was Antioch. One would think they’d cower in the face of persecution and keep a low profile, but they did the opposite.
They kept preaching Jesus Christ to the Jews in Antioch. In observance, some non-believers in Antioch eventually called them Christians. People who had been with Jesus.
Origin story adapted from Acts 11:19-26
Now, from the origin, we can see that Christianity is actually about Jesus Christ. The mirror or express image of God. In Jesus, we see clearly who God is.
Curious about Jesus? Check out this article: Jesus the express image of God
Jesus – The only way to God
My pastor says this: God is more concerned about a man coming to know Jesus than He is concerned about getting a man to change. Why? Knowing Jesus means you get a new heart, a new perspective, and a new way of life. A complete change.
You can’t meet Jesus and stay the same.
There are quite a number of people who say they have become Christian and decide to leave to find a different faith. Certainly, my heart breaks because my first thought is always: “Which Jesus did you meet for you to decide He wasn’t enough?”
In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.“
If you don’t believe in Jesus, obviously, you may think: What level of pride does this man have to make such a statement? But it wasn’t just a statement for Him, His actions showed it as well. How?
He was tortured, whipped, and eventually crucified on a tree. Actually, He died and was raised to life again. Why would He have gone through or said this?
Hebrews 2:14-15 ERV (paraphrased) says We are people with physical bodies. So Jesus himself became like us and had the same experiences we have. Jesus did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death—the devil. [15] Jesus became like us and died so that he could free us. We were like slaves all our lives because of our fear of death.
You know, the greatest measure of love is never that you had a need and you begged for it to be met. Rather, you had a need, and it was met before you knew you had that need. Exactly that is what Jesus did.
So why choose Christianity?
Ultimately, I’ve written this article for the person considering Christianity. That you know, beyond the feelings or the allure of change, Jesus is the entirety of Christianity.
In my personal experience, the feelings fade and sometimes, the change is slow. The only constant in the Christian journey is Jesus. Knowing that He’s right there at every step, what a joy!
May you forever encounter the correct representation of Jesus Christ. May your heart be open to Jesus, now and always. Amen
Here’s one of the articles I read about curiosity in Christianity; Can I be a Christian in 1 year?
Thank you for reading – Funmi
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