How to become a Christian

Here is a little something I posted on a rather secular/liberal (mostly European) forum where I sometimes post. One of the posters announced he had just become a Christian. Reactions were mixed -- no name calling, but alot of embarrassed silence. Someone sincerely asked what's required to be saved, so I answered in two parts (combined here):



Evangelical Christians generally will say something like (off the top of my head)...

1) Recognize that you're a sinner (i.e. that you aren't morally perfect).

2) Repent (be sincerely sorry) of your sins.

3) Acknowledge Jesus Christ as the son of God and savior of Christians (i.e. humble yourself).

4) Accept the free gift of Grace (absolute forgiveness) provided by Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross (humbling, again).

There are more watered down versions of this, but this is the more conventional/orthodox view. Pretty simple, all of them, when you think about it.



So then the same person asked what happens to people who haven't heard the Gospel (in isolated lands), and then: "if someone is a very good, charitable, person, the "model Christian" but just not Christian, do they still go to hell?"

I answered:



Second question first... According to the Bible, that's a matter of pride, which is one of the worst sins. Someone can think they can earn their way to Heaven, but that's a rejection of Biblical statements, as well as a rejection of the free gift of Grace -- "I don't need you, Jesus, I'll make it there on my own by doing what you say but without really acknowledging your authority." Hubris.

As for those in far off lands (who are dwindling in number, now), there are various beliefs. But my opinion is that there is an inherent, God-given sense of morality in every person. Though there's also an inherent sense of rebellion, by dint of the free will we have as human beings. Those who've never heard the Gospel, but who sincerely follow their moral senses anyway may possibly be saved. I don't know.

But, once heard, if someone rejects the most compelling story in history -- the idea that God so loved the people He'd created, and wished well for them, that He humbled Himself and came to Earth in the flesh to not only learn to empathize with humans, but also to be an unblemished, living sacrifice (a world-spanning equivalent to the sacrifices of an unblemished animal that were required for salvation in the Old Testament)... If, even then, a person cannot be humble enough to say thank you, then what do you think?




I'm hoping to post my testimony here, soon. Just need to get it written first.

Ed