Quote:
Originally Posted by Mary Etheldreda
Atheistic claim:
Christianity is just one of thousands of man-made religions created throughout the history of mankind, and like each and every one: Here Today Gone Tomorrow.
Truth:
Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship.[/INDENT][INDENT]To the sinner it appears to be nothing more than a tenuous relationship where you work your whole life to convince Jesus not to burn you for eternity after you die (John 3:18). That’s one way to look at it, but another way is to look at it as a fun challenge! How can you respond to a loving outreach from someone whose face you cannot see, whose voice you cannot hear, whose touch you cannot feel? How can you make sure your response will please Him? It’s like a lover’s game, where He leaves clues for you and you must get them right to avoid HIs Wrath (Matthew 10:28).
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I have a personal relationship with Jesus. I speak to Him in prayer. He speaks back to me through His Word (2 Tim 3:16). I seek to please Him, as I would a friend. He loves me, and I love Him in return (1 Jn 4:19). He let's me know if I'm on the wrong track by making things go wrong in my life (Heb 12:5-8). He let's me know if I'm on the right track by making things go right (Pro 16:7). He lives inside me, transforming me, 2,000 years after He died (Gal 2:20). He has given me spiritual gifts (Rom 12:6-8). And I am in the privileged position of knowing His mind (1 Cor 2:16).
It's rather rich that the people who brought us "Buddhism isn't a religion; it's a philosophy" can't see that Christianity is not some garden-variety religion but a real reciprocal relationship with the Creator. I mean, who do they think I've been speaking to for the last 25 years? Whose voice have I been listening to and obeying? Who has been loving me? Where did my spiritual gifts come from? Whose mind have I gotten to know?
