My Perspective

The Essence of Christianity
We live in an age of much skepticism where nonbelievers are quite confused about Christianity. It is quite easy to understand how the nonbeliever can be so confused. Recently I had to ask myself if I am doing my part being a good example to the skeptics and nonbelievers or am I contributing to their confusion? I think it is a question that all Christians should ask themselves.
Many nonbelievers do try to understand Christians. Unfortunately what they find sometimes is there are many who are Christians in name only, who seem to barely practice or believe their faith. Or they find the ones that have seemed to have gone off the deep end by expressing their faith loudly and appear intolerant and self-righteous. Christians like the Pharisees in Jesus’s time that assume they are right with God because of their moral behavior and right doctrine wind up with feelings of superiority! This is not what God wanted the Christian faith to be like. Was Christ fanatically over zealous during his ministry years? On the other hand was he quiet and indifferent about Christianity? The essence of Christianity is, salvation by grace, salvation not because of what we do but because of what Christ did for us! Believing that you are accepted by God by sheer grace is profoundly humbling.
Christ was humble, sensitive, loving, empathetic, forgiving and understanding. I believe if Christians spent more time trying to be Christ like and actually lived by "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone" (John 8:7) they would actually become fully committed to Christ and His gospel. The skeptics and nonbelievers would see what true Christianity is really all about! Are you a Christian saved by grace? When people examine your life do they see a humble true Christian not perfect but forgiven? They should because a humble forgiven Christian who is honest in their Christian walk are the ones who tempt the nonbeliever to consider the Bible and Christianity. God expects us to be positive Christian examples to those around us because one never knows who might be impressed and see the true essence of Christianity in their lives . . . Christ!