Are You A Christian or Aren't You?

Someone once asked me, "Are you a christian?". This question cut deep into my soul and forced me to take a spiritual inventory. I was raised in a family where we were exposed to all religions. My mother was pagan, my paternal grad-mother was a Christian Scientist, my maternal grand mother was once Shinto and is now baptist. In my home I learn about, Allah, Yaweh, Jehovah, Buddah, and the gods and goddess of roman and Greek mythology. My mother gave me all this knowledge so that I could choose my own religion. To Find the God or Lord that spoke to my soul. Who knows if that was the right way to introduce a child to the world. But I do know it gave me a well round view of the world. I learned so much about different regions and their customs and practices and how religion plays in their day to day activities. I must admit my mother planted a seed that became a great thirst for knowledge and a hunger to learn bout everyone. I believe she gave me the gift of social tolerance and understanding.

But the question still lingers what religion do I identify with. This is a question that I am tossing around as I write this Hub. Well lets start with the basics. I believe there was a man named Jesus. I believe the he may have been the son of God. None the less, he did sacrifice himself for my sins.I do believe in a Heaven and Hell but I think that those people that are borderline sinners for lack of better terms are reincarnated till the reach enlightenment and then proceed to Heaven. Do I believe that Jesus was the messiah that was prophesied about? I don't know.

So what do I identify myself as. Hmm. I guess I am proud to say I identify as a Christan. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. I accept him as my savior. And I accept God into my life. There I said it, that wasn't so hard.

But what does that really mean? What difference does it make? I think we all get caught up on labels. I hate labels. I feel that the context of the written word and the principles of any religion gets lost when people become obsessed with the label. So many folks want to label themselves as Christian,Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist,whatever because they identify with the beliefs. That's great! But, then there are those that take those beliefs and make those beliefs their reasoning for so many crazy actions. Wars, murders, slavery, social injustice, hatred, and so much pain was spearheaded by a religious belief.

Its funny I have read the Torah, The Holy Bible, many of the lost text of the bible, The Book of Mormon and so many more religous text and I have yet to find a text where it is deemed by GOD for man to do such things to their brother. The God I've come to know is a God of love. The same love that a father gives their children. It saddens me to see so many thing done in the name of God. My question to those people is "if God is all powerful, don't you think he can do his own acts in his own name?" God weeps when he sees human beings killed in his name.

Back to me. Yes I am a Christian. And I love you. If you read this I love you. If I don't know you, I love you. If you hate me, I love you more. If I pass you on the street...guess what I love you too. Because each and every person is an amazing miraculous creation that was brought here by the grace of God. I hope that when you leave this Hub you leave in peace. And remember happiness is the best infectious disease. So spread the love and happiness like wild fire. I hope the fire of love forever burns in your soul.