A: The word "Christian" literally means "Christ-follower". And since "Christ" means "Messiah" or "Chosen One" or "Saviour" or "Deliverer" or "Rescuer", then to be a Christian is really to be someone who follows Jesus because they acknowledge that he is the Saviour. Jesus said it himself in John 14:6 when he said bluntly, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." So, on the one hand a Christian is someone who goes to church because they have a genuine relationship with Jesus as their Saviour and they want to be encouraged in their faith. But on the other hand, just going to church without a relationship with Christ won't make someone a true Christian any more than walking in the woods makes you a tree, or standing in a parking lot makes you a car. It's not just a matter of where you go, but Who you know that makes you a Christian, a Christ-follower.

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Q: How do I become, as you say, a "Christ Follower"?

A: Well, to become a 'Christian' you need to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship begins by coming to him and acknowledging our failure and asking for his forgiveness. Obviously, we have something we need to be "saved" from if Jesus came to be our "Saviour", right? Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard." Are you ready to admit your failure to live up to God's ideal? He is ready to forgive you and cleanse you from all your guilt. Next comes our whole-hearted commitment to following him, which simply means to do whatever he would want us to do. Of course, if we're going to learn about what his will is for our lives, this will mean that we become students of the Bible and study it for ourselves as well as learn what we can at church. So becoming and being a Christian is not really about being "Catholic" or "Protestant" or "Baptist" or "Brethren In Christ". Joining one church or another is not the issue, but committing to Christ is. In fact, it seems quite possible that there are all kinds of people who call themselves "Christians", both Catholics and Protestants, who may think they are Christians because they go to church and do other good things, but who don't really know Jesus. That seems to be the message Jesus gives in Matthew 7:21-23. He says, "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord', but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus goes on in those verses to describe that it is not enough to talk the talk, but what's important is our relationship with him displayed in obedience to his teachings that makes the difference. The Bible uses a word for that - "faith", which simply means "active trust", believing in someone or something enough to act upon that belief. Are you ready to commit your life to following Jesus as his disciple? He's ready to lead you into new and deeper life (John 10:10).

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Q: Do I have to become a goof if I become a Christian?

A: You know, sometime people assume that God wants them to become some 1950's version of themselves, but that is not what it is all about. Christ loves you as YOU. Your personality, your likes, your style. If he wanted only a bunch of Jerry Fallwells for his followers he would have cloned him! So, baby, if you're cool, you can still be cool, but if you're not, well then I'm not sure we can help you....(just kidding). Christ has called us to freedom, that means there can be diversity of expression among his followers from Skaters to CEOs from Activists to Academics, from Country Music's Good Ole' Boys to Dance House Rockers and Techno Boys.
However, I would not be completely honest if I didn't give you a few of Christ's thoughts on the matter. In the gospels, Jesus makes it plain that we need to make a radical change in our lives and go against some of the negative trends, systems, values, and assumptions, which he calls "the world". This, at times, may not be popular with those around you who may be offended by your chosen path, even to the point of antagonism. In the book of John, chapter 15, Jesus says to his followers: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." So be prepared and count the cost. Some may see your pursuit of Christ as the first steps down the path toward ultimate Goofdome - but ultimately, does it really matter what people think?

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Q: Is there any proof that God exists?

A: Yup... but we prefer to call it "evidence" rather than "proof". Evidence is the objective truth or reason - proof is what it becomes inside a person. What is "proof" for one person may not be for another, but we can all agree that there is a ton of evidence for God's existence. It's like the evidence used in a court trial - it points in one direction or another, but it's up to the jury to decide if a case has been "proven" to them well enough or not. The nice thing is that neither you nor I nor anyone has to "prove" God exists or not. All we have to do is honestly present the evidence and let everyone make up one's own decision. Jesus himself constantly takes that approach in his teaching - he says, "Look at the evidence and decide for yourselves." Jesus encourages all spiritual question askers or "seekers" at our church to take an "evidentialist" approach to the big questions of life. That is, look at the evidence HONESTLY, without bias and bigotry, and then come to your own conclusion. For now, I'll just point out that for me, creatION implies a CreatOR, and design implies a Designer. If I find a beautiful painting, I believe it is reasonable to believe that an artist exists somewhere. I find it less reasonable to believe that is just "happened" to come into being. Likewise, if I find on the beach one day a watch, it makes reasonable sense to me to believe that there is such a thing as a watchMaker. It is less rational for me to believe that it just happened one day as the result of chance and time. Again, the very computer you are using to read this e-mail should suggest that someone exists with intelligent powers of creation and design who built it. It makes less sense to believe that your computer came into being as a result of an explosion in a metal factory one day. You see my point? God is not for wishful thinkers... he just makes sense for the intelligent. There is MUCH more I could say about evidence for God's existence, but I'll move on for now.

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Q: Is there any proof outside of the Bible that Jesus existed?

A: Whoever asked this one is making it too easy for me. Yes, it is an established fact that Jesus of Nazareth existed as an actual historical figure. Josephus, Pliny the Younger, and other historians write of him. Open any encyclopedia and you can easily confirm this. What we know as indisputable FACT is... He taught a radical message of love. He spoke of the importance of a spiritual kingdom in our hearts to setting up an earthly kingdom. He claimed to be the Jewish Messiah. He was put to death by Roman capital punishment - crucifixion. His tomb was empty just days later and no body was ever found. Now, what someone does with these facts is their own business. But these are the facts. For many people, these historical facts are enough to encourage them to read the writings of those who were eyewitnesses to Jesus' life and teachings - found in the Bible. For others, they just dismiss them as coincidence... or a hoax. Your call.

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Q: Why is the Christian God such a hypocrite?

A: I like this one... I like it a lot. Why? Because THAT is exactly what Jesus was most opposed to - hypocrisy. It was religious hypocrites that were Jesus' greatest enemies. Jesus was radically against the empty religious approach many people took to trying to know God. Instead he taught a way of integrity, starting on the inside and working out, rather than just making ourselves look good on the outside and leaving the inside unchanged. Jesus was constantly exposing religious hypocrites and also the subtle hypocrisy in his disciples. One of his favourite ways of responding to stupid questions was to say, "You hypocrite!" and then continue with an answer. No one hates hypocrisy more than the Jesus of the Bible and no one has taken a stronger stand against it. So, I like this question because it says two things to me... a) Whoever asked it must also hate hypocrisy... and that makes them very similar to Jesus on this issue. b) They're misguided in their accusation... and I'm happy to correct that. See, it's people - even followers of Jesus - who are the hypocrites, not God. There have always been hypocrites in the Church, but that is not the same as GOD being a hypocrite. There are always hypocrites in any organization where people exist - there are hypocritical and sincere Buddhists, politicians, Green Peace supporters, Police Officers, Lawyers, as well as hypocritical atheists as well. Christians don't hold the corner market on hypocrisy... but wherever it exists it is specifically the CHRISTIAN God who stands most against it.

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Q: Prove that God is looking down on us. PROVE IT!

A: You "prove" that He isn't. How about we just look at the evidence instead... Rather than just create the world and then leave it to all its problems, the Bible teaches that the real God gave us rules, guidelines, to help us have the healthiest life and planet possible. He also stands opposed to those who would break these rules and hurt other people, themselves, or the planet in the process. Jews, Moslems, & Christians all agree over this point. But here's where the Christian message is specifically beautiful. The New Testament teaches that God loved us so much that, when he saw we couldn't live up to his high standards, he came down to earth, became one of his (Amazing) creations, and died a death that would take all the punishment away from us "law-breakers". How beautiful - CreatOR becomes creatION, and takes all our personal failures and hurts upon himself on the cross. Then he dies the death of a criminal, so we can be filled with new life - minus all the dirt and grime. Wow - The God of the Bible isn't a fat contented man sitting in the lotus position with a grin on his face just watching us. No, he is the twisted, tortured figure left to die on a Roman cross because he loves us so much he was willing to become one of us. That's the God the Bible tells us about... take it or leave it.

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Q: Why do we have a choice to follow him, but if we don't, we get punished? That is not free choice.

A: Of course it is. All actions bring specific consequences. Some people don't believe their actions should have consequences... we call them psychotic and they can get therapy. But most normal people understand that, just because decisions lead to results, doesn't mean that we have no free choice. God loves us, but he doesn't force his love on us. It makes sense, though, that if there is a God and he knows what's best for us, those who chose that way will have a better life than those who don't. If there is a God, He MUST make a positive difference in our lives. That just makes sense. So, those who choose not to follow him will miss out on that benefit. It's their call. If your school caught fire and someone came to your class and said "All the usual exits are blocked and the smoke is bad - but I know a way out... follow me!" it would be completely up to you to follow that person or not. But if someone decides to stay in the classroom and die or try to find a way out on their own, don't blame the person who offered help.

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Q: Why is Christ the only way?

A: This is the most sensible of all issues to deal with. If God is real, why would he teach mutually conflicting and contradictory ways to find him? Wouldn't ONE God offer ONE plan to have the best life possible? He knows what's best for us... why offer some people second best. You see, no other religion or philosophy offers a plan to deal with our failure. They all teach ways of generating more success, but when we do fail they have no plan for wiping out our "sin". Hinduism & Buddhism say that our sin will affect our karma and we'll just come back as a lower life form. How cruel. Since our memories are wiped clean during this process of reincarnation, how can we ever learn a lesson from our past mistakes? It's just hit and miss each lifetime - being punished for past mistakes that we don't even know about. Islam teaches that we will be allowed into heaven based upon our works. All our deeds will be weighed on a scale and if there are more good than bad then we can go into heaven. If not, too bad for us. BUT... how can a PERFECT God who lives in a PERFECT place let IMPERFECT people in with even, say, 10% sin and selfishness inside them. Wouldn't they just bring in the same "sin virus" and selfishness that we have here on earth? And wouldn't heaven then become corrupted just like earth? And wouldn't it cease to be a PERFECT place to live? How can any God let sin into heaven? No, it just makes reasonable sense that all human failure would have to be eradicated and all people fully purified if they are going to enter this totally pure place without contaminating it. And that's what the cross does for us! The Jews were the only other people who believed that sin had to be done away with if they wanted to go to heaven. This happened in Old Testament days through animal sacrifices. But since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD they have stopped these sacrifices with no satisfactory explanation as to what happens to their sin now. As Christians, we know that the animal sacrifices are no longer necessary, because Jesus was the final infinite sacrifice for all humanity.

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Q: Why is religion so ignorant and unreal?

A: OK - this one is really my FAVOURITE!!! It's the BEST question yet! I'll tell you why all religion is so ignorant and unreal... it's because all religion was created by people to help them try to be good enough to go to heaven - and that's STUPID! No one can be good enough - I know I'm not. But we can receive that goodness as a gift if we allow Jesus to take away our "sin". That's why Jesus was completely anti-religious. Did you know that? It was one of his greatest traits - he stood opposed to the "religious" way of trying to please God. Instead, he said he had come to finally abolish all religion and provide a spiritual way of having intimate, direct relationship with our Creator. No longer, he said, should we have to go through institutions and religious organizations to come to God. Instead we can now "dial direct" and have a relationship with God through Jesus. How wonderful!! That's why we constantly do our best to be as "irreligious" as possible and stress the fact that we support the Christian FAITH, but not the Christian RELIGION. That's what makes the Jesus of history so attractive to me - he never came to start a new religion, but to show us how we can come directly to God through him. It's up to each individual to chose whether or not they want to follow this man. I know he died for me - the least I can do is live for him.

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Q: Where did God come from?

A: God, by definition, is the "uncreated One". If he "came" from anywhere, if he had a beginning, whoever or whatever created him would be considered the real God. Then one would have to ask who created THAT God, etc. At some point we have to end at an eternal being that did not have a beginning and that is whom we call God. Note: If people have a problem believing that someone or something could always exist without having a beginning, then God makes even MORE sense... because if you don't believe that HE existed forever, then you are left having to believe that the material, physical universe just existed forever and had no beginning. I know people will point to the "big bang", but then we still have to ask who or what started that? And who or what created the giant mass of stuff that went "bang" in the first place? God? If not God, then you have to believe that material matter has God-like ability to exist forever and/or self-generate. Seems more reasonable to just believe in God at that point.

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Q: If we believe...

...that many different prophets have found "The Way" throughout the ages, and that the similarities between the different prophets of all religions far outweigh their dis-similarities, then we would have faith that "The Way" to live one's life is clear. Is it necessary to make the "leap of faith" and believe in the stories / legends / myths / dogma of the existence of a "Higher Being" and a "thereafter"? For example, we believe in Ten Commandments, Sermon on the Mount, The Dao, etc., why would we need to believe in the Parting of the Red Sea, Jesus' resurrection, etc...?

A: Here's some thoughts about your question. Your first paragraph lays out the conditions for the question and you're right - there are a lot of "IF's" that need to be in place for the question to fall into place. In fact it is debatable that the similarities outweigh the differences in the ways taught by different prophets, philosophers, sages, and religious teachers, so the premise of the question has to be questioned first. For instance, on the issue of peace, Jesus alone taught radical non-violent resolution of conduct. Buddhists could also be warriors. The Bagavad Gita record that Krishna called Arjuna to war, to fulfill his karma, to fight and slay the enemy because that is what his destiny was, since Arjuna was born into the warrior caste. Mohammed taught and modeled violent resolution of conflict on behalf of Allah.

My point is that it is not just the metaphysical belief systems of world religions that differ, but also "the way" they teach, the path they offer, the lifestyle they call us to. Jesus teaches an inside-out spirituality. The Judaism of his day taught an outside-in approach to change. Buddhism teaches an inside-in spirituality, whereas Islam teaches an outside-out religion. So yes, if mysteriously, magically, we observed that all the major world religions and spiritualities ended up teaching the exact same way of life, we might wonder if it matters which metaphysical explanation we choose behind the lifestyle teaching.

But I would argue that there is tremendous difference. Having said that, let's look at the second paragraph to the question... Who says you need to believe in Jesus, in the resurrection, or in the parting of the Red Sea? In other words, what would happen if you don't? If you don't believe in God, then it would make sense that it doesn't matter what you believe about how God has interacted with humankind throughout history.

What we believe about God's work in the world only matters if we believe in a God in the first place. Of course, at some point I would want to ask that person who doesn't believe in God but does believe in the 10 Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount why they believe in that stuff. The first 3 of the 10 commandments are about how we relate to that God that they say they don't believe in. So I guess they don't mean they really believe in the 10 Commandments. And large portions of the Sermon on the Mount are about how we relate to God as our caring Father.

So, I don't think this person could really be saying that they believe in the Sermon on the Mount, since following its teaching would just lead them to massive intentional hypocrisy - living like they have a loving relationship with God as their Father, when really they don't believe in God in the first place. You see, it is hard to separate ethics from one's idea of ultimate reality. If there is no God, then why believe the 10 Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount? At some point, what sounds very accommodating and fairly politically correct eventually breaks down into non-functional hypocrisy - and who wants that. I would encourage this person to lay aside the 10 Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount and first investigate whether or not they are willing to consider the possibility that at the core of our universe is Divine Personhood rather than impersonal matter and/or energy. That, according to Romans 1, is the first hurdle a person needs to confront. Let me also recommend C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity on this topic. He has a chapter about ethics and religion that is very wise and the whole book is a good read. I hope these thoughts are helpful.

WELCOME