My Thoughts on Christianity

Now, before you move on, please think about this:

• If there is a God . . .
  • and if He has any control over your future . . .
    • then isn't it in your best interest to find out what He wants from you?

This site isn't perfect, and neither am I.  It is a work in progress.  So am I, but I just want a chance to explain, in my own words, a few things about Christianity, Christians, and why I put the word "Christian" on my home page.  As with my other pages, I will be adding and correcting content from time to time. 

Some of the things I say might surprise you.  If you want to check on the Bible quotations I mention, to make sure I'm not using a passage out of context, look for one of the "Look it up" icons like the one on the right scattered around these pages.  They will take you straight to a Bible search form and a short essay on why the Bible can be trusted.  I've tried to keep the references in this site in a form easy to copy and paste.  If you think I've misused some verse, write me.

What do you think of when you hear the word "Christian?"  There are many reactions, ranging from joy to embarrassment to annoyance to outright hatred.  Here's what some people think of when they think of the word "Christian:"

I will be adding to this list as time permits.  In the mean time, if I missed any good ones, e-mail me.  I won't preach at you.  I won't even keep your e-mail address on file unless you ask me to.

Before I was a Christian, I was annoyed by the cryptic things Christians say or put on signs.  I still am.  If the people they want to reach don't understand them, what's the point?  When I became a Christian, I resolved to find explanations and get them out where everyone could see them.  Here's a few examples:

I waited much too long to begin this, and have forgotten some of the things I wanted to cover.  (Who ever said we were perfect?)  Again, if you know of any good ones I missed, e-mail me.

Hey, turnabout is fair play, right?  Here's a few of the things I've heard Non-Christians say when they find out I'm a Christian:

• I don't believe in a god.
• If you care about such things, that's fine, but they don't interest me.
• Well, that may be true for you, but it isn't true for me.
• What do you mean when you say Christian?  Isn't everyone who goes to church a Christian?
• Why are you Christians so full of hate?
• I don't like religion, it has too many rules.  Your god is just a big cosmic killjoy.
• Are you implying I'm a sinner and you're not?
• What makes you so sure you're going to heaven?
• I don't want to go to church, there's too many hypocrites there.
• If they don't have <insert favorite pastime here> in heaven, I don't want to go.
• Besides, all my friends are going to be in hell.

If I missed your objection, you're welcome to e-mail me.  I don't know all the answers, but because the issue is a serious one, I'd like to do what I can, even if it's to tell you where to look for more answers.  Speaking of which...

I don't expect you to take one person's word on this subject.  If you want to learn what others have to say on the subject, here's a few other sites that may help you get a better idea of what I'm talking about.

When searching these other sites, look for the word "apologetics."  It means "a branch of theology devoted to the defense of the divine origin and authority of Christianity."  Or in other words, why we think Christianity is right.

• Probe Ministries.  A great site for carefully reasoned essays on an amazing variety of subjects, Probe has links for current events, culture, science, theology & apologetics, and links to other good sites.
• Check out this site if you feel like there's something missing in your life.
• Moody Broadcasting Network, from the Moody Bible Institute, lists some Christian radio stations in the U.S. where you can hear the same message from many points of view here.  This is what convinced me that genuine Christians were not phonies or dull-witted milksops all cut from the same cloth.
• Prison Fellowship Ministries run by an ex-con you may have heard of before.
• EveryStudent.com a place to explore issues about college, life, and God.
• Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - practical answers to real-life issues.  I think Ravi Zacharias is also on this site.  I like him because he presents things clearly in an entertaining way.
• Josh McDowell's website which also has lots to offer.
• Family Life.com has tips for singles, couples, and parents.
• Focus on the Family is aimed mostly at Christians, with information about important and urgent matters.
• Truth for Youth addresses some complex issues facing young people.
• American Tract Society  This website is intended for Christians looking for tracts, those little pamphlets that explain things so well.  They are available to read on-line, but if you don't like web sites with music, you may want to turn down the volume before you explore.