You're A Christian?

You’re a Christian?

Yep.

I was on an airplane a couple years ago, flying to Chicago. I usually go with my husband but he was staying home to work and be with our dog. I wasn’t crazy about being away from either of them but my mom had died several months earlier and we just thought a fun trip to see friends would be good for me. So there I was sitting in the same row with a woman and her little black dog, missing my girl.

We were both happy to have an empty seat in between us for some elbow room and relaxed as the plane began to pull away from the gate realizing it was going to stay empty. I was almost too tired to talk but I couldn’t not talk to another dog lover, so I said hi and we began chatting.

She had the dog with her for anxiety, and it must have helped because we talked casually all the way to Chicago. We talked about where we lived and what we did for a living, the usual stuff. Nothing even super memorable, except that she was a dancer and we did have an acquaintance in common. That was cool!

As the plane landed she asked if I was on facebook and could she friend me. I said sure and gave her my full facebook name. She pulled out her phone and looked me up right away. She must have had eagle eyesight because in just the moment it took her to find me she read that I went to Bellevue Christian High School and immediately looked at me and asked if this was me.

Yep. 

“You’re a Christian?”, She seemed surprised.

Yep.

I wasn’t 100% sure why she asked, but we became friends on facebook anyway and have stayed in distant touch ever since. We also follow each other on Instagram.

What I think happened (maybe I’ll check back with her to see if I’m even close) is that she leads a more unconventional life. Sexual identity and gender are more fluid in her life than in mine, but we had a great conversation none the less. That must have surprised her. Maybe her experience with Christians had been different than her experience with me? Maybe she expected a different response to her appearance or point of view from someone who is a Christian?

Christians come in all shapes and sizes, personalities and styles. But there is only one thing that makes them Christians - what they believe.

The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  

Romans 6:23 goes on to tell us that the wages of our sin is death.

That’s terrible news. 

But the good news is Romans 6:23 goes on to say,

But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, shedding His blood and giving his life for our life. He paid our debt. 

A Christian is someone who believes that. It’s just that simple. 

God believes in free will, he gave us a choice.  No one is forced to believe anything. We choose what we believe.  

I personally think that offer is a great deal so when I heard it, I believed it. I wanted my sins to be forgiven, I wanted to be free from the guilt of the bad things I do, I wanted eternal life in my future and peace right now. 

I still sin, I do bad things all the time. Even now as a Christian I sin. Ask anyone close to me, everything from thinking bad thoughts and dropping the F-bomb to cheating, lying and speeding. I could go on and on. 

The idea that I would be punished for doing bad things was not rocket science. But when I heard that those bad things could be forgiven, punishment avoided and it was a free gift, I thought why would I pass that up? 

The bible says there is none righteous, no not one. So we’re all in the same boat. And if you know another human you’ve already experienced sin. It’s even easier to spot in others!

I think being a Christian is a great deal. You don’t have to go to church, you don’t have to change your behavior or be good enough somehow, you don’t have to give up smoking or drinking, you don’t have to give money, in fact you can’t do anything to save yourself.

It sounds to good to be true, I’ve heard people say, and I agree but simple belief is a powerful thing. You can put a gun to someone’s head and scare them into saying anything. But you cannot change their mind that same way. You have to be convinced in your own mind that Jesus died for your sins, salvation is a free gift. Yep, that is what a Christian is.