What Does it Mean to be a Christian?

"Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as  a believer, always be ready to explain it." 1Peter 3:15

original art by Ruthie Robbins

As the team of leaders I partner with at Hope Church prepares for our Sunday night youth group I ponder the question and a proper response to the question, what does it mean to be a Christian. The answer is not supposed to be a philosophical answer or a 10 page college essay, but a personal response to a real person with serious interest or even mild curiosity. So I got to thinking what would I say, what's my short honest answer?

To me being a Christian means that I believe that there is one God, creator of all life including mine. When I look around me I see a lot of brokenness in the world He made and in my own life. BUT I still have HOPE. I have HOPE that God will set things right. I have HOPE that there is more to life than what I can see. I have HOPE that God keeps all the promises He made in the Bible. And because of Jesus's {who is God's perfect son} life, death and resurrection I trust all of this to be true.

So that is my short version. I can practice it. Memorize it even. I can have it handy. I can remind myself when I am struggling to find hope. I can teach it to my children. I can wear it on my sleeve. I can anchor my life on it. I can be ready to give an answer to whoever might be asking or watching because you see if you believe those things and you HOPE those things then I will bet that your life will look a little curious to a watching world. You will live a little different. You will act a little different. You will HOPE a little different than those around you. And maybe, just maybe someone will ask why.

With love,