Why Christ?

I don't 100% know why I want to be Christian. I know that at other times, I don't want to be Christian, but just as often I do.

I suppose the major reason why Christianity exerts a call on me even when I'm in a non-christian phase is heritage. I was brought up vaguely Christian (see About Me) and its the religion of my ancestry. To look or read about Mediaeval Christianity, or Anglo-Saxon or Celtic Christianity makes me feel like I'm in an historical continuum. It just feels right. Of course I know logically that a religion does not have to be old or followed consistently to be true, but it feels stronger. There have been so many wonderful people who have been Christian - one of my most-admired people is Thomas Aquinas, and part of me says, they were Christian, aren't you just a little arrogant to choose another way?

Then, there's the Bible. While there are plenty of bits of the bible I don't like, there are plenty which are among the best words ever written. The Psalms, and John's Gospel are my favourites. In fact Christian literature (at least the older stuff) is wonderful. Christians have been very creative! I love beautiful things, and there are so many beautiful artworks and writing about Christ, works which work far better as evangelistic tools than quoting or bashing people.

And then, there is Christ himself. The message, the honed-down, one-word message of Christ, is love. And that message is incredible. Fully realised, it could and should change the world. The idea of a cycle of love - God and man, man and man, man and God is a beautiful one. Not all the "you are evil, you are Satan's tool" type of pseudo-love fundamentalists are so fond of, but a real heart for others, is devastating. Christ is a radically different type of God to any other religion. All religions teach charity to the poor, but how many say God is the poor? That if you help a homeless person, you have helped Christ? Regardless of whether that person is a Christian or not? That is an awesome teaching, but its not one you hear very often. The idea of loving everyone else like you love your wife/husband, with that same intensity, would mean the end of hate and of fear. Yes, few Christians attain that (I have never met one) but that doesn't mean you can't try.

I suppose the love-teaching is the most attractive part. That nothing else is as important - knowledge, prophecy, tongues, everything else is nothing compared to it, as Paul says.

When I feel scared, or lonely, or sad, it is Christ who seems closest. The Incarnation means a God who has been scared and lonely and sad, and more so than anyone else. A God who fully knows us, and whom we are promised to fully know. A God with a sense of humour (it is there, in the Bible, obscured by over-reverence, but still there), who isn't forceful.

Its a beautiful picture, and one I'm drawn to. I can overcome my problems with Christianity by just concentrating on Christ. The trouble is my mood swings, which change all my decisions. Then the problems I see overwhelm me. I can only hope that the God of forgiveness and love will understand.

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