(December 21, 2014 at 1:14 pm)whateverist Wrote: Well don't tease us, Lek. If you call yourself a Christian anyway that raises two very important questions:
#1. Which specific xtian beliefs would make your top ten, ridiculously speaking?
#2. Umm .. why are you a Christian?
Well, I pondered what christian doctrines are ridiculous to me and I couldn't find any. I seriously understand why the things you all bring up are ridiculous to you. If I believed that all that existed was confined to the natural universe, then I would agree with you. The apostle Paul acknowledged this truth:
1 Corinthians 1:18 New King James Version (NKJV)
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The reason that I'm a christian is because, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I have opened myself up to God and he has given me the faith. I made the decision to follow Christ instead of my own desires, although most of my desires are also his. I believe that the bible is true and inspired. I can see no reason why numerous individuals over the long period of its writing would have anything to gain from creating and carrying on the bible story. Peter and John gave up their fishing business and left their families to follow Jesus around for a few years and then faced extreme persecution while writing and teaching the message. Paul gave up a respected position as a pharisee. I'm also a person to whom the reason for our existence is very important. Just saying that we and the whole universe are just here for no reason doesn't get it for me.
I also enjoy being a christian. I like the lifestyle and the people that I interact with. I like being involved in the community outreach programs we carry on. We're in the process of building on to the church and the city is most helpful with the process because they are aware of what we're doing in the inner city area, where we're located, and don't want us to move to a new location. You guys may be real good people who are self-motivated to do good for others, but I'm really pretty selfish and I need God to prod me along sometimes. My life is full and I don't have any good reason to give up my faith. I've said this before in this forum. I believe it's all true, but if I die and it's all just blackness and non-existence I won't care anyway, because I won't exist to regret it.
