Something I've always been fascinated with is what makes a Christian a Christian. I feel like some people have 3 things that are required to be a Christian. Whereas others have a long long list.
For instance: Is it required to be a Christian, that we believe Jesus/God is the only way of faith for anybody? As in, 'my way is the only way'? Or is it ok for me to believe in Jesus and have faith in God and Jesus dying on the cross for our sin, etc, but if you have a different faith, that's ok. I find other religions interesting.
And here's what annoys me about the above. God gave us free will and yes it pains him when his children never come around. But in giving us free will, how does that give us (as Christians) the right to tell others that their faith is wrong? They're exercising free will. I guess this is something that could be argued until time ends. I hope that others respect my faith, and I think for that to happen that means I need to respect theirs. Hate doesn't make the world a more peaceful place and neither does telling someone they're wrong.
What about the people who don't call themselves Christians but have a solid relationship with God? I sometimes wonder what God would tell us about those people. Would he confirm his strong relationship with them? Or would he say 'nah, we're not really that close'?
I really like the comfort of community and the ritual of church, however I don't like the hostility to differences of faith and expression. And I don't like being made to feel unworthy as we're all stumbling down the same path....
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