If You Are A Christian...... Why?

[forHISglory]

Not everyone will agree with me, (and that's OK), but I think that being Christian is a deliberate choice. I was raised by Christian parents, but that no more made me a Christian than being raised in a barn would make me a cow. I really don't think that I could be "born Christian". I'm grateful for the Christian home that I grew up in, but I had to make a deliberate choice to be Christian myself; it just wasn't inherited.

So my question today is to Christians: Why did you decide to be a Christian? Why that choice over something else, or nothing else? Was it an easy choice? Did it take you time to make the choice? Have you ever regretted this choice? Had you made other religious choices before becoming a Christian? What is the hardest aspect of your Christian lifestyle choice? What is easy or enjoyable?

I'll type up my own story of my journey in a little bit. But I was just wondering about your story.

[homesteadmamma]

Why did you decide to be a Christian? I was at rock bottom, on my way to becoming an alcoholic and struggling in our marriage. A friend gave me the book The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson and I began to realize I needed more than the bottle.

Why that choice over something else, or nothing else? It made total sense to me.

Was it an easy choice? No it was one of the hardest choices of my life because I had to give up what I thought I loved and it meant I had to work on our marriage which I didn't want at the time.

Did it take you time to make the choice? Yes, it took me almost 6 months from the time I read the book.

Have you ever regretted this choice? NEVER

Had you made other religious choices before becoming a Christian? I was raised in a Catholic home. I won't go into the details of what that home was like other than to say it was totally disfunctional.


What is the hardest aspect of your Christian lifestyle choice? At this time I don't find anything hard about the lifestyle I've chosen. There have been times when I've felt like I've failed God in some of the choices I've made since becoming a Christian and there have been times when I feel like I'm a thousand miles away from Him. He then reminds me it's me that's moved, not Him.

What is easy or enjoyable? Worship either by myself or in a group setting. I love worship.

[QM]

Why did I decide to be a Christian?...Why that choice over something else, or nothing else?
Because I have decided to follow the Truth...
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

I believe that Jesus is God, that he came to Earth to demonstrate God’s love for humanity and that He called humans to follow him.
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

What it an easy choice?
Yes. I was saved from my sins at the young age of six years old. I am thankful that my parents taught me about God's saving grace at a young age. I came to know my Lord and Savior as a child with a simple, open and humble faith. That is exactly how Jesus wants us to come to Him today.
Luke 18:15-17 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Have you ever regretted this choice?
No. Jesus is the Light of my life.
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

What is the hardest aspect of your Christian lifestyle choice?
I struggle with complete obedience to God. (Biblical obedience is immediately, completely, without challenge and without complaint.)

What is easy or enjoyable?
Praying and worshipping Him is very easy and enjoyable.

[homesteadmamma]

I can't edit and I forgot to say that I was saved in Feb. 1976. I remember it has if it was yesterday.

[frugalbabe]

I have been a member of my Christian church my entire life, but I think, really it has only been in the last few years that I have been converted or know for myself. I always attended church and had all of the right answers at the right time and on the outside I really seemed to have a firm faith. As I began to raise my family I started questioning things and really understanding that I couldn't just act on the surface anymore I needed to go deeper. It is an ongoing process and I am still jealous of people who seem to just instinctively believe. I am an academic by nature and I do tend to think things to death before I make it my own. But in a way that is good and the way things should be, we change and grow and our understanding and faith should also be expanding and deepening.

[HisDaisy]

My decision to follow Christ came out of my emptiness. I was a college student who had grown up in a home where religion was not taught or encouraged. My folks were both raised in religious traditions that taught rules and works, not love and grace. There were marred by religion and decided that their kids who grow-up without religion.
This left me very empty. I was constantly seeking to fill up the hole in my heart. I tried to fill it with friends, being good, and school. When none of those things worked, I was left empty and hopeless. What I was left with was depression and thoughts of suicide.
It was in the midst of depression that I was introduced to true Christianity. I laughed at those who tried to share the good news of Christ with me. I was good a person and had no need for the forgiveness of sins.
However, I few Christians decided that I was not a lost cause and decided to be my friends. It was friendship and love that needed the most at that time. After few months, I began wondering what made these friends different. I realized that they had something that I wanted. I began to seek after God. It was then that my heart was open to hear the gospel.
I will never forget the date, Sept 11, 1995. I was a sophomore in college and the whole in my heart was filled. The emptiness began to disappear.
I have never regretted this decision. I have had to put up with ridicule from some of my family members, but having the peace of God in my heart is worth it all.
There have been times when I think that being a non-Christian who be easier, but then I remember that if it were not for Christ, I would not be who I am today. I may not have even made it today.

[57plymouth]

I'm Christian because it is the only way to heaven. Salvation through Christ alone.

It's easy to live a Christian life, remember that the alternative leads to hell.

If you don't believe in salvation through faith, you are going to hell. The more I read about false religions the stronger my faith becomes.

I would say I'm sorry if this post offends, but I'm not. I'm not politically correct, but that's tough. I believe in the truth, and I don't sugar coat it.

[Backtoreality]

Why I am a Christian.....I was raised in a spiritual house. Saying that I questioned everything. So when the answers started coming, and they did, very loudly...My heart and mind were in agreement. How can anyone deny God and His love for us?

Was it easy?... At the time, no. But looking back, yes. He made it very easy to find answers to my questions.

I haven't regretted in for one second. My only regret is that I can never repay Him for all our blessings.

[StartingOver]

I was raised in a Catholic home, attended Catholic school...when I married I attended a Lutheran church and the whole time I felt lost and confused. I'd sit and listen to the message during mass/service and be so confused as I couldn't follow what they were preaching.

I attended a church on the advice of a friend, and as I sat in the pew and listened to the morning message it was about how you don't need to feel confused and alone...right there I invited Jesus into my heart and immediately felt the change in my heart...and have NEVER looked back.

In all my years I never heard about having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ (or maybe I wasn't ready to hear about it).

Even in the toughest of times I never felt hopeless as I knew He had a plan for me.

Jeremiah 29:11 - 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

My dh is a non-believer and it breaks my heart. Both my kids have dedicated their lives to the Lord (they 14 & 9). But I pray daily for my dh that he will invite the Lord into his life.

[forHISglory]

What wonderful stories you have! I hope you have shared your story with your family and friends.

My story is of a little girl raised by good parents in a good home. My parents were Christians and they took me to church and Sunday School every week. At home, we prayed, read Scripture, and talked about Jesus. My head knew it all. My heart knew nothing.

I wasn't really really bad. I could be a bit rebellious, and jealous and selfish, but I didn't think I was too bad. Because I didn't want my parents to keep harping at me about being baptized, I went ahead with baptism when I was 9. But it was just an act, nothing more. I remember being concerned about going to heaven or hell, and thinking that if my daddy was a pastor instead of a farmer, maybe I would have a better chance of heaven. I just didn't get it.

Then it was off to college. Campuses in the '60s were dangerous places: drugs, sex, Vietnam protests, liberation, etc. But God in His infinite love protected me from all that. Despite not being involved in those dangerous things, I found myself sinking lower and lower into despair. I had always leaned on my family at home; they were my fortress and my protection. They were my structure. Now I was in another state, alone, with no family and no faith. Many things in my life were falling apart and I didn't know how to pick up the pieces and put them back together.

When I hit bottom, I began to look up. For me, it was a slow process to accept Jesus as Christ and Messiah. I questioned and argued and reasoned. But I finally began to see sin as God saw it and it wasn't a pretty sight. I had been so proud that I wasn't involved in alcohol and all the other "bad" stuff, but completely had missed that my "little" sins were still repulsive to God. When I began to see this, I realized that I could not fix the messes on my own; I was broken and needed divine repair. That's when I asked God to forgive my sins and truly believed that Jesus died to pay the penalty for those sins. What a powerful change!

I went on to marry a man who had become a believer. Much later, I began to see that I still had some things backward. Scripture commands that after we profess our faith, that we are then baptized. But I had been baptized as a child, and then came to a genuine belief as an adult. So I asked my pastor to baptize me, and then God's power began to work in my life. I finally was following His pattern.

Do I regret any of these choices to be Christian? No. I have an incredible peace and joy in everyday life. Is my life perfect? No. Do I have problems? Yes. But God is greater than all these.

I've read the end of the Book, and I know Who is going to win! I rejoice that I am following a Winner! Now as I contemplate the Baby who gave up a heavenly kingdom to live among us humans and suffer in incredible ways, I can only repeat, "Thank You. Thank You."

[pollypurebred39]

Why did you decide to be a Christian?

When I was a young girl a group of college kids came to our neighborhood and had a mini vacation Bible school under the trees in the meadow. They presented the Gospel and my heart just knew, I knew I was hearing the truth. I had been raised in church but had NEVER heard that I needed to accept Christ. I also NEVER heard of the second coming of Christ and what that is going to be like if you chose not to follow Christ. I knew what I was hearing was the truth, I could feel it within me.

Why that choice over something else, or nothing else?
When presented with the truth what other choice is there?


Was it an easy choice?
YES!


Did it take you time to make the choice?
The vacation Bible school was for 5 days, sometime during those 5 days. I can not recall exactly what day.



Have you ever regretted this choice?
NEVER


Had you made other religious choices before becoming a Christian?
No


What is the hardest aspect of your Christian lifestyle choice?

Letting God take the reins and letting him weed out all the junk out of my life. I see all this stuff about myself that I know needs to be worked on and I try to fix myself instead of allowing God to work on my heart and change me in his own timing. I'm getting better at that but I still struggle.


What is easy or enjoyable?
I understand that this time here on Earth is just a drop in the bucket of time. My treasure is not here on Earth. It becomes easier and easier to let go of material things and concentrate on spiritual things the longer I walk on this road. And who would have ever thought that opening up my pantry and wallet and giving until it really hurt would be enjoyable, or that I would find giving 10% plus of our income an enjoyable thing???

[lmbaker520]

I grew up in a Christian family, went to a private Christian school, and practically lived in church growing up. My parents where very active in the service side of the church and we were there a lot every week. Surprisingly, because I was involved in this all of the time, I think that it made it easer for me to become slacking in my personal faith. It just became part of the routine instead of something that I chose to be part of. I became a Christian when I was in elementary school but I don't believe that I truly appreciated and understood my decision until I was older in late High School and College. I began to yearn for that personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is when my faith truly grew. As Quiltin' Mama quotes, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6) I live by this verse.

[shadowfax]

Why did you decide to be a Christian? I was called. I was raised with out religion at all but had some exposure. Had a spiritual need that I did not recognize until the day I asked God to prove to me that he was. He did. So I followed him.

Why that choice over something else, or nothing else? Once I learned the truth there was no other road.

Was it an easy choice? The choice was easy yes. Getting there was tough. One has to study a lot in order to qualify as a member of my faith. It took me 5 years to qualify for baptism.

Did it take you time to make the choice? Not really. I pretty much knew right away that I had found the truth.

Have you ever regretted this choice? NEVER

Had you made other religious choices before becoming a Christian? No but I did some exploring.Attended churches of other faiths and read books bout some others too.


What is the hardest aspect of your Christian lifestyle choice? Well I don't find it hard but I guess the hardest part of being a JW is that one must overcome fear of man in order to preach as we do and the lack of understanding of my fleshly family. Having to deal with peoples biases against my faith, their lack of understanding or willingness to try to understand, and having doors shut in my face. But truly it is not hard because I do it out of Love.

What is easy or enjoyable? Living a clean life dedicated to God. Jesus said his load was light, his yoke kind. He was not lying. I cannot imagine any other way of life being as happy as the one I have... except for the paradise. Now that will be something wonderful.

[Missourimom]

I have quite a story on how the Lord saved me, but I cannot share it on a public board and won't share it with anyone really. However, I will say that Jesus worked in my heart for several years....sort of tugging me.....in a different direction. I finally listened and opened my heart and life to Him about 12 years ago and I've never looked back. He is my rock and will always be my rock and we should always remember that anyone can be saved and change their lives. I don't know where I'd be today without Him.

[lgw]

Why did you decide to be a Christian?
From as long as I can remember, I have always had a strong faith and a deep connection to God, especially when I was a child. My faith waxed and waned in my early 30s, and I explored other faiths -- principally Buddhism and Paganism. But I never could shake the deep ties to my Christian faith -- I am Catholic -- and always felt a profound level of discomfort when I wasn't practicing my Catholic faith. Several years ago, I went through adult confirmation, and I am now a regularly practicing Catholic and very involved with my parish.

Why that choice over something else, or nothing else?
Nothing else could "feed" me like my Catholic faith.

Was it an easy choice?
In the end, yes.

Did it take you time to make the choice?
Sort of, but I'm glad I did. I went through a period of questioning.

Have you ever regretted this choice?
No. I LOVE my faith.

Had you made other religious choices before becoming a Christian?
No, not really. Nothing else ever "fit."

What is the hardest aspect of your Christian lifestyle choice?
Trying to live according to the Word in all aspects of my life.

What is easy or enjoyable?
Praying, believing, contemplating, learning, attending Mass, being part of my Catholic community, and working to help the poor.