CHRISTIANITY - Not what you think

Despite website like this primarily being made up of younger folks, they're a fairly theologically diverse group of people. As the internet has given us access to all the world's information, the new generations tend to rethink everything, and the old generations tend to appear ignorant. In most English speaking countries this makes the old Christian Church look incredibly outdated. 

What I've learned over the years is there is more to Christian theology than the many ignorant takes kids may hear from well intentioned Christian adults. This is because the Christian faith is built upon thousands of years of experiences, while simultaneously in a God who, by definition, is incomprehensible to the human mind. Therefore, God doesn't expect his people to be scholars to be faithful. While this may be great to hear for those seeking a welcoming God, it can lead to the Church looking stupid, blind, and ignorant, if no-one around is continuing to seek the truth/ partake in education, apologetics, and intellectual discussion. 

This is sad, because truth is actually integral to Christianity. Jesus claimed to be the truth (John 14:6), Christians are expected to be able to answer for their faith (1 Peter 3:15), and modern science wouldn't be anywhere without the Abrahamic belief in universal truth. Faith can only be true faith if it is an honest act. If someone is faithful only because of coercion, then they are simply lying to themselves. This is how the discovery of the right to self-propriety, and religious freedom, came to be.

While fear-mongering has always existed, many of the modern views of Satan and a Christian rapture were only popularized in the last century, creating a perception amongst Christians and atheists alike that Christianity only exists out of fear. 

Yes, the outcome of trusting in Jesus is eternal life, but before he came the people of God were still expected to trust in God without knowing what awaited them in eternity. God could have just destroyed the universe and started over. The whole reason for the narrative stretched across the Holy Bible, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the eternal life to come, is that God loves us and wants a relationship with us. This is the Gospel (or Good News), not simply "hell is bad so you better accept my church's doctrine". 

Presenting this Gospel is best done honestly and in truth. This is what Christians are suppose to do. However, we all have seen churches that contradict themselves on just about every issue. This happens when people aren't willing to honestly give the answer "we don't know." Every denomination exists because at some point along the way one group claims to "know" more than another. But if this knowledge was so obvious there wouldn't be dozens of denominations with hundreds of millions of members. 

I saw this be a major stumbling block for many of my friends, and it could have easily been for me had I not decided to take a more inter-denominational approach. Researching the beliefs of different denominations, from the Assyrian Church of the East to the General Baptists, answered so many questions I once had regarding Christian theology. I now know from experience that every denomination has an answer, and if the answer you're getting is contradictory, it isn't God's fault, it's peoples'.

"What is true joy or hope?

Where can it be found?

Is it a promise of golden streets?

Is it in escaping the fires of hell?

No, all things are worthless in view

Of the surpassing value of simply knowing God

And being known by him

Oh, that I may know him

To one day see the savior

Who purchased my life

By his very own blood

To see the king who suffered to die

For a sinner like me." 

-East to West by Wolves at the Gate

(This is mostly a reupload from my SpaceHey Blog late 2024-early 2025)