Why am I a Christian?

Well, hello there, beautiful.
Someone said that "Christian" is actually derogatory, and I think that's quite true. Saying instead that you are a "follower of Christ" is more descriptive and doesn't have the bad connotations that "Christian" does. I always forget, though, so...
You write good stuff about your faith, I've found. It's refreshing.
I can't say I've ever been where you are in my faith; I'm more of a curl-up-in-a-ball-and-cry sorta guy and while I've heard of people having visions I've not put much into it. That being said, I'm sure there are people who have visions, and I'm definitely certain there are demons about.
I can attest to having people tell me things that apply directly to what I'm going through, I am never short of tissues, either, for some reason.
Anyway, I liked this. It was hard to read, but part of that's because I'm still lying to myself.
Keep it up.

Great piece! I enjoyed reading it! I don't know if anyone caught this because I didn't read their reviews, but anyway, Morning afters should say Mornings After. I know how confusing it can be for things like that, but you make the object plural.

Okay so when I read the title I was totally ready for something for anti-Christian and anti-religion, so I was pleasantly surprised. While I myself am not overly religious I do have faith and beliefs. Basically: Your title draws people in. Kudos!

First my little literary tips!

"Because Christians are people who intentionally search out the worst part of their city they can find, and they walk down streets that have been deserted for fear of murder and rape and hospital visits, and they are not harmed, because they see the gang walking towards them and they don't run in fear, but walk forward saying "I love you. Can we pray together?""

To make this flow better you could break it up into more than one sentence, I stumbled over this part

Also the part about the bird and the black and white really threw me off and confused me. Maybe you could re-word it or go a little more in depth.

Anywho!
I totally agree with you about the "Christianese" thing. There are a lot of people who have mad hate and claim to be Christian (ex. groups who say God hates gays or the groups that protest soldier's funerals-it's more than just Christians I know) I'm always hearing about the Christians who hate, which is backwards to me because God loves everyone so why would followers of Christ hate anyone? Being a Christian myself-for the most part at least, I was raised Mormon actually-I'm used to getting weird looks or comments when I tell people my faith-ESPECIALLY in college.

I like that you wrote this because it made me think "THAT is what faith is about, people who love each other and love God and just LOVE."

Snaps for you:)

I liked the rhythm you had going with the "Why am I a Christian?" followed by a paragraph or a few sentences. This almost felt like a free style poem to me just because it lacks the tradition story elements of a character, setting, beginning, middle, end, blah blah blah. But writing is whatever you want it to be so it doesn't really matter. I guess my point is it was somewhat poetic, which I liked!

I think if you just clean up some of the confusing parts it would help. And you can tell it is very stream-of-consiouness because it all seems to be in one breath and almost rambling. It's not bad, just somewhat overwhelming when reading. When you edit try slowing it down, imagine how you would read it out loud, what parts of the sentence you want to have impact. Pick out the main point of the paragraph and emphasize it.

Swell job!

-RL

I like it. This shows the better side of religion.

This is a good piece, don't get me wrong. But I have to say that it's absurd to me. I mean, I spent 12 years believing in god. I spent 12 years reading the bible over and over, always trying to be better, always trying to reach out to a god I couldn't see. Not once did I ever feel like I was enough. I always felt like my sins were so overwhelming. Each time I lied, or did somethng I shouldn't, I felt terrible. And even though I knew I was doing good at times, I always had this nagging feeling that I could never say, stand up to a gang, or really "give myself" to god the way I was supposed to. Now, I am an athiest. and I have never felt like a better person before. I feel like I can do good. I feel so much less selfish, and I trust myself to do the right thing. there were alot of good morals in Christianity, and they certianly had a lasting effect on me, but there was always too much pressure of being perfect. there was always what we could and could not do. now I am free to do whatevr I want. and in that freedom, I can Choose good, and not feel like I have to do it. I feel like I'm doing it because I am a good person, not because some man who created the earth told me I should be.

"It is ironic how we spend our entire life hating what we are forced to do, but when given a choice to be free, we choose what we have known all our lives."

another thing.... I don't think that anyone in thier right mind would go up to a gang and say "I love you. Let's pray."

miracles happen everywhere, that doesn't mean that God was the one who had to have made them happen. My father died three times. his heart literally stopped beating. and he came back, each time. You mean to tell me it was God's will that he survived? do you mean that it was also God's will that he nearly died in the first place?

a friend once said to me, "IS it God who made the gangs?" is it god who made guns? it was not god, you will say. you will say that these people lost thier way from the word of god. but, God supposedly created us. he knew very well that giving us intelligence would lead us to things he did not want. maybe he believed he had enough influence to keep everyone in the right place. well, he didn't. he Couldn't stop Osama Bin Laden, he couldn't stop Hitler, he couldn't stop every single rapist and murderer and every single insane person who raged and hurt and engulfed themselves in vanity and greed.

this is mostly just a personal rant. I do thin that the way you set this up is good, and I can tell you strongly believe in what you say. all i can say is make sure you dont say that is for everyone. because it's not. some people just don't have the will to believe. the will to have faith.

great job on being featured, and Im glad you can put YOUR belief out there without having your head ripped off about it. Congrats, honestly.

I've never had what people would call a conventional strong faith. I haven't been to church in years because my parents speak "Christianese" and my mom has been critized many times by churches and people claiming to be true "Christians".
But I've been through so much in my life I have to believe in God. I believe in Heaven, and in miracles (My sisters and I are called "the miracle babies"). I love that I'll never be expected to bite off more than I can chew, and that there is someone always looking out for me. I've read this several times and I like it more each time. It's different and refreshing. Good for you! You're starting to change my view of church.

Grabbed me. Amazing.

YES.

This is what it's all about.

*sigh*....I really hate these pieces...I really do. For two reasons. One they generally use EXTREMELY simple language and require EXTREMELY little thought to write. Second it implies that Christians are somehow being attacked. I'm sorry. You're christian and you live in Texas. You are not going to be discriminated against because you are a christian. For god's sake you live in a state where the governor told it's citizens to PRAY for the drought to end. But I can't keep raving on about the absolute ridiculousness of this paper's topic, time to get to business! *cracks knuckles*

First of all in your spoiler, what the hell is christianese? I have never heard that in my life. And as a former christian who went to church every sunday I'm sure I would've heard at least once or twice. You do give a link to it but to be honest i find alot of these sayings spot on. Though I do disagree with some things, I've heard Christians, especially very passionate ones, use phrases like "I need to pray", "I don't mean to judge but...", and several others on the list. Once again you live in Texas so you probably don't realize how limited your worldview is in terms of different kinds of people. Mark Waltz lives in Maine and he gets experience with alot more groups of people then the average white, christian, flag-waving, texan-american does. You also say in the spoiler that

We need real words! We need plain language! We need people looking us in the face and saying things so fiercely and passionately that we can't help but pay attention.

Real words? Did Mark use fake words? Plain language? Were Mark's words too complex? And that last sentence is just stupid. If you look at people like the Westboro Baptist Church, the Tea Party, and other groups of people you find that yelling out for attention does not grant you any credibility.

But even regarding all I said in that large paragraph you don't even make a response to Mark Waltz! All you say is why you're a Christian. Maybe you were saying "Mark Waltz thinks I'm a Christian for x reasons. Well he's wrong because I'm a christian for y reasons (see the math variable thing I did there? )". But all the reasons you list are reasons other people can be other things! And quite honestly some of the reasons you list are just grotesque and downright offensive.

My FIRST of many grievances that I will list is that you tend to say "I'm a christian because blahskadoobydah" and yet the reason you give applies to anything! Watch I'll prove it!

Why am I a Christian?

Because when the music starts playing and people start singing and shouting and dancing I can't help but smile. Because when I let myself go, there is an euphoria waiting that's better than any drug (not that I'd know, because I hate drugs) and there's no worrying about self-harm or memory blanks or morning afters because this is a spiritual high, and because the people around you will catch you if you fall to the ground and cover you with a blanket.

Add some curry and voila!

Why am I a Hindu?

Because when the music starts playing and people start singing and shouting and dancing I can't help but smile. Because when I let myself go, there is an euphoria waiting that's better than any drug (not that I'd know, because I hate drugs) and there's no worrying about self-harm or memory blanks or morning afters because this is a spiritual high, and because the people around you will catch you if you fall to the ground and cover you with a blanket.

Or maybe tone it down a bit. Perhaps some Darwinian formula in the mix?

Why am I a Atheist?

Because when the music starts playing and people start singing and shouting and dancing I can't help but smile. Because when I let myself go, there is an euphoria waiting that's better than any drug (not that I'd know, because I hate drugs) and there's no worrying about self-harm or memory blanks or morning afters because this is a spiritual high, and because the people around you will catch you if you fall to the ground and cover you with a blanket.

I'm sure you realize by now how ridiculous that paragraph is by now and many other stanzas (I call them stanzas because the parts range from like 2-5 paragraphs each.) such as 1, 2, 3, and 6.

As for stanza 5 I'm going to say right here that without a doubt you are a liar. Ever since Jesus no one has risen from the dead and no one's leg has grown back. You get your leg blown off? Too bad you ain't gettin' another one! And I'm not going to get into miracles...

Portions of this review have been removed for extreme vulgarity and for threatening physical harm. While we encourage reviewers to be honest in their reviews, even when honest means being harsh, we will not allow someone to engage in ad hominem attacks and death threats. Bullying is a serious problem and YWS will not be used as a vehicle to facilitate it. -- Nate

The thing is, this could apply to any religion. I understand the frustration with the Christian-hating -- I used to be Christian, and felt the same way you do. However, now that I've tried out different religions, I've found that there's love and understanding and companionship in many of them. I'm currently Buddhist, and I believe this is where I will stay. I feel like I could quote most of your piece to my parents, who are not okay with me not being Christian.

This piece can more broadly cover any personal belief -- "This is why I believe what I do." And that is the beautiful thing. Religion is intensely personal, and when you find what fits you, magic occurs.

Hey there, whoever posted this! Nice job; great connection!

Listen up, though. I love the Lord with my whole being, and I love to proclaim his salvation, but I strongly believe that you have done this in the wrong way.

Here it goes-
You described Christianity as being spiritual highs, worshipful singing, and sisterliness/brotherliness between believers, which is great! However, most religions of the world describe this sort of happiness as being their ultimate goal, which takes away from the fact that Christ is the only way to the Father.

RELIGION, as it is, is Man's way of trying to reach God, but Christianity is different. Christianity is God's way of reaching man.

When we leave it up to works and connection and spiritual highs, then we forget Jesus (it becomes about us). Jesus was a human who obeyed in perfect accordance to the moral law, which we could never hope to do through works. You, however, related our following of Christ to community service, which anyone could do:

Why am I a Christian?

Because Christians are people who intentionally search out the worst part of their city they can find, and they walk down streets that have been deserted for fear of murder and rape and hospital visits, and they are not harmed, because they see the gang walking towards them and they don't run in fear, but walk forward saying "I love you. Can we pray together?"

^ Great point, though! Just remember that it is not our love, but Jesus' love pouring out through us. It isn't obligatory or feeling-driven, but Christ working in His perfect plan.

Where you really started straying was when you glorified the human connections between believers and immediately attributed these to Christianity. Like so:

Why am I a Christian?

Because I know people who can look at you and say just what you've been needing to hear, even if you've only known each other for all of five minutes.

^ That's plain old wrong. Profound human connection has nothing to do with Christianity, because everyone does it! I have a non-Christian neighbor who tells me what I want to hear all the stinkin' time!

As for Jesus, though, he was forsaken...
He was accused of heresy by the church at the time, and eventually crucified on a cross- naked and whipped. That's not connection, that's disconnection. The people hated him... In other words, when Jesus said "pick up your cross and follow me", he meant "lose yourself, lose your connection to others, follow me."

This one was the main offender, though. Read:

Why am I a Christian?

Because when the music starts playing and people start singing and shouting and dancing I can't help but smile. Because when I let myself go, there is an euphoria waiting that's better than any drug (not that I'd know, because I hate drugs) and there's no worrying about self-harm or memory blanks or morning afters because this is a spiritual high, and because the people around you will catch you if you fall to the ground and cover you with a blanket.

^ Christ did not have this...........
Take his words, "FATHER, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME!"
There was no spiritual high there. Christ said to follow him with our crosses that we might have eternal life. This wasn't booze-but-not-really, partyhouse, funtimes, go-lucky crap- this was REAL. And I love Him and follow Him for it.

Don't you dare gimmick-ize my Lord and Savior in front of the world.

Everything you said, you spoke from my mouth. Love it.

This just really moved me. I just feel like you've given me a whole new view of the world and our society. Thank you so much for writing this.

This is one of the best piece of writing I've seen today!!! I LOVED IT! There aren't words to describe how true this is. And, the even greater thing, is that there are millions and millions, and an infinite amount of reasons why people are Christians. The list goes on and on, and NEVER EVER stops!!! I really believe, nothing really big that needs changing at all. Although, I do agree with this statement from Formslipper:
"RELIGION, as it is, is Man's way of trying to reach God, but Christianity is different. Christianity is God's way of reaching man."

I think, you maybe should show us how GOD is the one in your heart, He made you like this, and THAT'S why you want to show kindness.
My favorite stanza in this entire thing was when you talked about Christians being fearless to walk down any road, filled with murderers, rapists, gangs, etc. And saying, "I love you." WOW, that describes us perfectly!! Although, I think you should definitely give ALL the credit to Jesus. That's the difference between our religion, (Christianity) and a lot of others!
Don't take it to heart what the other reviewers who can't stand your work have to say. They're just stating their personal opinion......it's different for everyone!
Thank you again for your fabulous work!!

this is pretty amazing. Im not exactly sure what "Christianese" is but i think that i pretty much think that all the "Christians" around me are fluent in it. thanks for this post, you made my day.