Christians...you mean those boaring, honest, soft, hypocritical sods ?!

Click here & read online our monthly newsletter!

Christians…??!!!
...you mean those boaring, honest, soft, hypocritical sods ?!
Why trying to become or be a Christian at all ?! You would end up with a bunch of those hypocritical softies. Besides that: you will probably be a looser as well. Because only loosers, (former) addicts, psychological weaklings and other sad people that can't cope with life are or want to be Christians. Is this opinion based on the truth or is it a shallow and bias remark... Let's find out !

Preconceived opinions about Christians
Are all foreigners thieves ? Are all caribean-people lazy ? Are all Arabs cut-throats or murdering terrorists ? Are all Dutch people thrifty sourfaces or cheese-heads? No, of course not !

Those are only stereotypes people create to judge others. An easy way to give an opinion or to place people or cultures so you do not have to think or waste energy thinking. Easy and away goes the trash !

Maybe you are inclined to say: 'Well, there might be a bit of truth in it!'. Yes, maybe. But in general a bias remark will not be right at all. Still: let us continue to speak about 'those Christian sods'.

The truth -and nothing but the truth- about 'Christians'
You won't believe this, but: they are real human beings ! Just like you and me they have fears, faults, character-flaws, problems, etc. But: there are some differences....

Most Christians realise, that -however they try to do their best- they won't be able to do 'good' and -consequently- they will make numerous mistakes. If they are real Christians that is. There will always be Christians that will think 'they can do it right' and 'that they can do good' and that 'they are better than other people', but hey: doesn't that apply for many people that are not Christian...?!

Being so 'human' and not being so 'nice, honest or soft' and also making all the normal human mistakes (like stealing, using drugs, telling lies, fighting or participating in wars) they are actually just as ordinary and human as you and I, but hey: I wouldnot call myself a sod ! So: Christians are not always that honest, boaring or sweet; they are often making the same mistakes as everyone else... Did you really think they were 'out of space'???

Then what is so different about them ?!
In spite of the many resemblances Christians are in fact different on some points. They tend to look ahead, they tend to look at themselves and they choose for Jesus. What I mean whit all that ?!

They are looking ahead

Though Christian are very common and average as human beings they do realise that their lives were given to them with a purpose; they have to achieve a certain goal . And of course they are trying to reach that goal in a maximal and efficient way. But how to achieve that goal and what does one have to do ? And what shouldnot one be doing ?

They are looking at themselves

Before they are doing anything they realise they are not super-human-beings at all. They know they make mistakes, they doing injustice to others, they can be violent, they tell lies etc. And that is why they try to stop 'being in charge themselves' and trying to live their live from their example: Jesus Christ; the Son of God.

Why they take Jesus as an personal example? Jesus was flawless. He lived from God and Gods Spirit and acted like it as well; without sin, prejudice, mistake or misstep on the way. He treated everbody with respect, justice and dignity. Jesus lived according to His Father's Commandments and...with great consequences !

Jesus heales many ill people from incurable diseases. Jesus revived people from the dead. Jesus helped people in being able to live a descent life again. And Jesus also rose from the dead himself. And all this was observed and written down by his pupils: the disciples or Apostles.

Those pupils saw the miracles Jesus did. They also knew He was the Son of God (though they sometimes found it hard to believe!). The Apostles were persecuted, tortured, imprisoned and killed, but all that didnot stop them from telling about Jesus and what Jesus did and who Jesus is. They really knew who Jesus was and what He had done, so they just had to testify of Him. Still: they were executed.

They choose for Jesus

Those pupils of Jesus choose for Jesus even in spite of the great misery because of torture, imprisonment and certain death. They definately were NO softies !

They only understood they needed another basis than 'the selfish-ego'. By what Jesus has told them and showed them they knew that they needed Jesus in their lives. And God's message to all people that take His Son Jesus as a basis in his or her life (in reading, learning, doing, acting and being) will be given a second- and eternal life.

A choice with enormous consequences
But being a Christian is more than 'the choosing moment'; being a Christian means being a daily Christian. Daily choices will change you and your new basis and choices will change the way you see the world and the people around you. And of course how you treat people and...how you want to be treated yourself...

How this changing starts and continues ? All starters with Jesus try to establish a relation with God through the new established basis with Jesus. Jesus is called 'the door(way) to God. So what starters with Jesus are actually doing is: talking to Jesus and God and they are telling about their happy things in life and about their sad things in life. Thanking them for the great moments and asking for guidance through the 'down-moments'.

But all starters will also make mistakes towards others or God, so they ask for forgiveness and help from God or Jesus to do it in a better way next time. In a better way, because 'mistakes' cause damage. Damage to others, to the relations with others, to oneself and the established relation with Jesus and God. Being very concrete: with mistakes we can get hurt, we can hurt other people or destroy goods or property. And besides 'the damages' we can also fall ill, we can die, we can start fighting or even start a war or be terrified or psychologically be damaged. These starters realise how enormous the consequences are of the mistakes they make in their everday life.

And that is why they know, that a life with Jesus and God should lead to other results than harm, injury and loss. But not only our mistakes, but also our positive actions have an impact on other people. And that is exactly what God and Jesus want: a positive result you can have on other people with your new basis in life.

Jesus: your personal example in life
Your new basis will change you for the better. You will be able to feel that. According to many people Christians radiate something cheerful. Christians often testify of an enormous feeling of quietness and peace. They also speak of how Jesus helps them in their daily life. Being a Christian is much more than 'believing in God and Jesus'; it is more than 'understanding what you believe in'. Being a Christian means: recognizing Gods hand in your life and consequently being grateful for it.

Try to live a responsible life with the people around you
Of course 'being a Christian' is not only about 'the gifts and the helping hand one can receive'. But it is very great to experience His help in your life. Still your life won't only be about 'roses and sunshine'. Far from that !

Choosing for Jesus also means choosing against other things in life. And you'll have to think hard what you can and cannot do when you take Jesus as an example. In the Bible (Exodus 20) God states what you can and cannot do when you want to belong to his group. And Jesus also has a 'value added set of rules'. These rules are combined in the word 'LOVE'. Love the people around you as you love yourself. And for those that do not love themselves: you should love yourself as well !

So quit doing negative, destructive things. Towards yourself, towards others, towards anyting. Negative things in general can be:

Being egoistic instead of taking God and Jesus as a basis for your life

Being abusive to your parents, family, relatives and all people that are around you

Stealing, murdering, raping, having paid sex, watching porno, beating up people

Saying bad things about other people (gossipping)

Not giving a helping hand to others when you can give a helping hand and make the difference

Only thinking of money, possessions, status and power

There are many more negative things, but lets not focus on that. Know that your choices and actions are very important. The results of your choices will have an huge impact on your life and of that of others. These results will change you and others.

In case you are really trying to leave the negative and destructive path there is always the possibility, that you sometimes 'take a wrong turn'. And you make a mistake and you have to suffer certain consequences.

Whatever you think or do, know that God is always willing to forgive you. When you go to His Son Jesus in prayer and ask Him to forgive you He will forgive you. When you really are sorry of your actions. After your 'talk with Jesus' you can start ' again with a clean slate. But do realise, that God wants you to change and that your intention should be: 'I am not making this mistake again !'. If you don't have this intention it is of no use at all to ask for forgiveness...

Living like Jesus and learning how to do so!?
If you don't know what God considers 'bad' or 'negative, you can read in his book -The Bible- and learn from it what God considers 'bad'. The most important things you should remember however are the things you should be doing, like:

Taking God and Jesus as your personal basis in your life

Try to care and love and help the people around you

Maybe these important things may seem very easy to do, but I can assure you: it is hard!!! I am 'a starter' as well for some 7 years now, but I don't think I'll ever be more than 'a starter...

The first-aid-kit for starters:

Get to know God and Jesus and ask them what it is that they want, so contact them in prayer
Try to help, love and respect the people around you like you love yourself. And yes: try to love and act like you love yourself.

So, now you know about who and what Christians really are. Human Beings, just like you with the same mistakes, same fears and hopes. Still they want Jesus Christ and God to be the fundament of their lives. And that is why they are called 'Christians'.

By: Hein Kuipers dd. 22 October 2003

Back
HOME