Why am I a believer? Now more than ever, Christians should be able to articulate why they believe what they believe. My pastor posed this very question to his congregation about two weeks ago and I couldn’t agree more. From stories and articles about Christian revivals to the rise of Christian content creators such as the Perry’s and the seemingly meteoric rise of Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell, Christianity is pouring over into the public eye and spaces unlike ever before. But as the Bible states, as the wheat grows so does the tares. With economic uncertainty, disintegrating foreign relations, fiery race relations and an upcoming election season, questions quickly arose. Why would anyone accept and follow a religion that purports goodness, love, and compassion and most of all to be the truth among so much turmoil.
You can recite the scripture as an explanation to those who question your faith. But I do find that more often than not, those who question and sometimes criticize your faith are typically well versed in the Bible as well. In that case, it does sometimes turn into a debate. However, if you’re able to take the biblical knowledge and pair it with your experiential knowledge to build a comprehensive intellectual argument behind your faith is an approach that I believe could optimize a more fruitful understanding. As a follower of Christ and believer in all of the Bible, Christianity is more than just a religion to me. It is my faith. What is the point of faith when all is well. Which is why, Jesus plainly states, In this world, you will have trouble. (John 16:33). With that God does promise is that He will always be there. The Apostle Paul in the book of Romans puts it like this, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (NIV). Through all the tough times I’ve experienced thus far, I can say, this verse doesn’t simply apply to eternity with our Heavenly Father but has proven to be true on this side of heaven in my own life. Every time God answers a prayer, it has always outweighed the difficult time or path it took to get there. That is why I believe what I believe. How much more glory when we pass from this life into the next where there will be no sickness, no tears, and no death. Just pure joy.
