True Christianity

By: Laniaya Alesia Hoofatt

Posted: 12/7/06

Christianity, at its core, is described as the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based upon the Bible as its sacred scripture, Christ's teachings, and the examples that he has given for those who claim to be followers of God. There is one thing that can never be forgotten, Christ alone is the ideal truth, and the divine manifestation of God. Jesus, life, death and resurrection is the basis of the Christian value system. Faith Kasper (who?) says true Christianity is "A surrender of one's life to the will of Christ."

Throughout time his message has gotten misconstrued to mean something that it is not. Individuals use the life of Christ for justification of hate, violence, racism, and unjust criminal acts perpetuated in society today. Sarah Hinkley (who?) says Christianity means "Respecting and loving one another as God would." Her words are a refreshing look at what Christ would want everyone to be, in my opinion.
Christianity is genuine, and confirms the standard that believer should exhibit throughout their lifetime. An individual should love someone regardless of who they are, and what they believe. That unconditional love is hard to obtain because of human nature, and of course our God given free will.

Christianity is the confirmation of individual values that a person should demonstrate at all times as often as possible. Christianity is more than what the Bible says. Even in the book of John it states "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written" John 15:25.

I think that it is an obligation to read about what Jesus has done and would want us to do, but to make it a ritualistic activity that has no meaning or basis would be a waste, and disrespectful to Jesus Christ.

Would you want to just read the word of Christ, or would you want to live in his word? Reading his word is so much more than the rules that Christians make it out to be.

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live in Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God" Philippians 1:20-28.

This is what true Christianity can be, living in Christ as an example, and not trying to be content with just the Bible. The saying in Pop Culture is in fact an ever-lasting question "What would Jesus do?"