In Defense of Born Again Christianity

It is not all about heaven or hell. It is not all about rules. It is about a really loving God who wants a relationship with us.
Enlarge ImageI hate to admit that Christianity gets a bad rap. Many people are turned off from single instances of the particular breed of Christianity. The ones that call themselves ‘Born Again’ in particular. I have first hand experience as a believer in Jesus Christ myself, and I know exactly why people can’t stand it sometimes.

There are many born again believer’s who think they know the whole truth. The fact of the matter is, if most people have their stomach turned over the projection of a their faith, it’s time to reevaluate the amount of truth that their message actually contains.

Three Major Mistakes Many Born Again Christian’s Make

1. Live in a bubble: Many believers think that they are supposed to cut themselves off from the world in order to live for God.

2. Condemning others: It is not anyone’s job to beat people over the head about sin. It is the responsibility of a believer to focus on doing right themselves.

3. Threatening hell: We all know that one of the primary beliefs of Christianity is that non-believers aren’t admitted into heaven. This is not a selling point. Christianity is not fire insurance.

If you are someone who has been turned away from Christianity because of these things, I would like to apologize on behalf of those believers who have misrepresented what it's all about. I'm sorry!

How True Christianity Should Be Represented

While it is true that the Christian thought patterns and general lifestyle should be based on the principles found in the Bible, it is not a sin to watch a movie, read a book or sing a song that isn’t necessarily about God. The key is to make sure that the things we watch and listen to don’t contradict God’s ways. Another guideline is to make sure God’s ways are understood, by reading the Bible, all verses in context, and apply the principles as appropriate.

It’s okay to give a Bible based opinion and let someone know that they feel what they are doing is wrong, but just saying that probably won’t revolutionize their lives. The best thing for a Christian to do in order to help those around them is not to make other people feel guilty about their lives. Showing them how much happier, more free, and more fulfilling life is when things are done God’s way is more effective than yelling, "you’re a sinner!" If a Christian is living their life right, a non-believer will naturally want what they have.

Living with a relationship with God is what a Christian should talk about. In essence, hell is the eternal separation from God, and no one knows what that is like until they die. God is all around us now, on earth. God is not a mean and vengeful being who can’t wait to send people to burn.

The Bible says, (2 Peter chapter 3) that God doesn’t want anyone to perish, he wants everyone to repent. We have all been in a place where we have done something that we know is wrong. All we have to do is ask Him to forgive us and help us to live our lives better. God loves people more than we can ever comprehend, and to threaten hell is not like His character.

Here is What I Think

Who wouldn’t want to serve a God who loves us no matter what we say, how we act, or what we do? The Christian God, Jesus, loves us unconditionally, better than any other person on earth could. He is always willing to forgive our wrongs because he knows we aren’t perfect. He is always willing to help us when we need strength, comfort, and wisdom. The ‘rules’ of the Bible are simply the best way to live. Every time I choose to go my own way and do things differently, it may be end up ok, but I find that if I had just done things God’s way in the first place, things would be fantastic.

You don’t have to be a religious fanatic to please God. If you get to know who He is, you’ll absolutely love Him and want to make Him happy.

I think it is common sense to have to believe in heaven in order to get there. It's not as hard as people think to get in, either. Living with a loving supernatural force within you is a benefit, not a burden. Having God's help and guidance makes life better, more successful and less stressful. Going to heaven in the end is only one of the many benefits to having a friendship with God as Christianity offers.
By Chesley Maldonado