I’m wrapping up this article series on “Why I Come From A Christian Perspective” with this one last article.
Thus far, if you’ve been reading, I’ve shared what I consider objective evidence that suggests Christianity is true from historical, intellectual, and philosophical points of view.
However, there is a personal and subjective piece to this that I’d like to share.
In other words, I come from a Christian perspective because I had an experience with God.
It was 2002. I was trying very hard to live a good, moral, and ethical life.
But no matter how hard I tried, I kept falling short of the standard I had set up for myself. I was VERY aware of this and it led to an inescapable cycle of self-judgement, horrible shame, and even self-hatred.
This was the bad news.
But then I realized according to the Bible that what I was experiencing was just part of what we experience as part of the natural human condition.
In Romans 3:23, I was reminded, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
And yep, that “everyone” included me, whether I liked it or not.
Now, at this point, you might be thinking…“Sean, how’s that going to encourage me? I don’t want to hear that! It sounds like you’re saying we’re all ‘messed up.’ “
Well, I hate to break it to you..I am. Or, to be more accurate, it’s not me but the Bible that reveals that truth.
This condition, or state of falling short of God’s standard, according to the Bible, is because of sin (missing the mark of God’s perfect standard) which is what makes all of us as humans – apart from God -what the BIble calls a “sinner.”
But before you get depressed…remember that also, according to the Bible, we are of great worth and value to God which is exactly where God’s plan and – specifically – Jesus comes in to the story.
Just a few chapters later, Romans 6:23 says:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
What this means is that a sinner is spiritually dead and in a natural state is destined for a death in eternity devoid of God.
And so, I came to realize in 2002 that without Christ, I was spiritually dead and destined to a life without God.
But what did Christ do? Let’s talk about the Gospel, or “Good News.”
He came and lived the perfect life, performing signs, wonders, and miracles. Yet He didn’t just come to show us what a perfect life submitted to God looked like.
Perhaps most amazing of all is that He died on a Cross as a sacrifice for all of mankind so that anyone who puts his or her faith in Christ can be purified, cleansed, and forgiven of their sins.
And then, to top it all off, He rose again three days later to authenticate and substantiate the very claims He made while walking the earth.
What God would ever or has ever done such a thing in all of history, I wondered?
Yet, how do I access this free gift of “eternal life” through Jesus Christ?
Romans 10:9 says “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Once God showed me these scriptures and convicted me at the age of 25, I repented of my ways (fancy word for “changed my mind”), and I put my faith in Jesus Christ. The moment I did that, I believe the following happened:
I was saved from my old life of self-salvation and trying to live up to a perfectionistic standard in order to please God. (It turns out God wasn’t expecting perfection from me but simply an acknowledgment that I -in and of myself without God – could never be perfect this side of Heaven)
I was forgiven of all my sins and made right with God
I was given God’s Holy Spirit to guide me
I was given eternal life in Christ
I became a child of the Living God. And I believe I accessed eternal life in Christ.
My life has NEVER been the same since.
And NONE of this had to do with there being anything particularly special about me as compared to anyone else.
I realized then – as I realize now – that I had had an experience of God.
You see in most worldviews/religions, it’s about us as humans reaching up to God by doing various good things, hoping we can placate or please God through our right actions thus earning God’s love.
Yet in Christianity, it’s about God reaching down to us and offering His love lavishly – not on the basis of our thoughts and actions – but on the basis of His own love towards us. Which is evidenced by how He literally came to earth as Jesus Christ and did all that He did with us (you and I) very much in His heart and mind.
To me, this message and reality of God’s Love is the most incredible message of hope ever offered to all of mankind.
And what makes it revelant today is that it’s STILL a message available to ALL people, including you and me!
I had a profound and meaningful experience with God and that is reason #11 that I come from a Christian perspective.
Lastly, to wrap up this series, I’d encourage you to consider the claims I’ve made and weigh them carefully and ask yourself these questions:
Has what I’ve shared stirred something up in you?
What resonates? What doesn’t? And why either way?
Where do you land with all this?
One way or another, I hope this series of articles has at least clarified for you why I personally come from a Christian perspective.
Let’s thrive together!
