My View of Christianity

My view of the Christian faith may vary somewhat from most people’s views. I have made a lifetime of studying what people believe and the ways they practice their religion. I speak of the religion of Christianity. I have reached the conclusion that most people I’ve known approach their religion in one of three different ways. These are not the only ways but the three main ways which I have observed. They are:

1. The grace/faith only way
2. The works only way
3. The legalistic way

First, the grace/faith way: This group of people maintains that their righteousness is strictly by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ; and that accompanied by a few good works, secures their salvation for all eternity. This group believes that the grace of God has covered everything for them and no further efforts, on their part, is necessary for salvation. Their good works are expressed mainly by their financial support of their church and social and charitable causes.

Second, the works only way: This group believes their salvation comes from their good works alone. Some of them never make any profession of faith. They have an attitude that they believe they are as good as the person who does profess faith in Christ. They also believe that God will overlook all the bad they have done in their lives because they have done a lot of good also; and the good they have done will outweigh the bad. This group rarely attends church and is often critical of Christians but they contribute well to charitable causes and volunteer work.

Third, the legalistic way: This group believes righteousness is obtained by the strict observance of the religious rules of their church dogma or discipline. This may include such things as abstaining from certain foods, observing religious customs or even wearing a particular type of clothing. This group is usually more faithful in their church attendance but they are strong in their criticism and judgment of those who do not agree with them.

A fourth approach to obtaining righteousness would be some combination of all the above. A great many people tend to have their own personal way of interpreting the Bible or their church’s theology.

The Christian faith, when viewed as a whole, is just that, a faith. It is not just another religion like many other religions. Christianity is a faith, a way of living that is guided by a Christian’s strong faith in the supreme God and his Son, Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. Christianity is people who are citizens of an eternal heavenly kingdom but are living their lives as sojourners in this world. We strive to live as kingdom citizens in a paganistic world; representing our King and his kingdom well as its citizens while we are here; knowing that soon he will call us to be with him in our eternal home. Without this faith and this hope, life in this present world makes little sense.

Kingdom citizens don’t live by the world’s interpretation of the Bible but we seek our King’s interpretation of his word. We live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. We don’t sink our roots too deeply into the world because we know this world is not our permanent home. Instead, we follow him by faith, being led by his Spirit; dutifully going about witnessing of his saving grace and persuading others to come and follow him too. This is our task which he has given us and we derive great pleasure out of doing his will.

This is true Christianity. James called it pure religion. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27) True Christians are loving and caring people, always reaching out to the afflicted. Not only to those afflicted by the hurts and misfortunes of life but also to those enslaved by the sins of this world. We are to be the good Samaritans and the deliverer of good tidings to the people of this world. We are to do this while keeping ourselves unspotted from the world.

We walk daily in the power of the Spirit, claiming personal victory over sin while telling others about the glorious kingdom of heaven. Our God gives us the power to be his sons and daughters and to carry out the mission which he gave us. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)

Christianity is all about God, reaching out to the lost and needy, and about his Son, Jesus, who has bought our salvation with his own blood. It is all about Christians who are living godly and holy lives, doing his will and looking for his glorious appearing and his soon coming kingdom.

My views of the Bible and Christianity are fundamentalist and are fully supported by the Scriptures. Any person who has a lesser view of Christianity, has not yet seen the whole picture and is living far below their privileges.