Christianity Is Best

If the proverbial "visitor from Mars" came to earth looking for
God, who might have a personal interest in him, he would have
an extremely wide range of choice, taking account of all the
various religions there are in the world. He would, however, surely
be struck by the particular claims of Christianity, for it goes far
beyond any other world religion in its view of the deeply personal
nature of God's involvement with the people he has created.

No other religion comes anywhere near the conception of a
God so intimately involved with his people. Nor one prepared
to offer himself to them at such individual levels and with
such intensely personal relationships. Consider a few:

GOD BECAME ONE OF HIS CREATED BEINGS
Myths abound with gods taking human form. But with Yahweh it
was so different. God actually became one of us in every
respect except sin (2 Corinthians 5. 21) -- and to do it,
he left behind all the power and glory associated with God
(Philippians 2. 6 - 8).

How much more involved can involvement become? Well, quite a lot!
For God then proceeded to live cheek-by-jowl for thirty-three
years with those he had created. Why? Simply to give them an
example they could follow of the kind of life God wanted from
them -- and to show what was possible in their lives.

How much greater personal commitment can there be than that?
Well, in fact, quite a lot! For as King he then subjected
himself to his subjects, allowed them to crucify him -- and
all so that he could save them from their own stupidity and
intransigence! (e.g. Romans 5. 18, 19).

THE GRANT OF HIS OWN POWER
Jesus, as the Christ, having suffered every ignominy possible,
returned in glory to his Father's side -- and mainly so that
the power which had been manifest in his own life on earth could
be made available to his people (e.g. Luke 24. 49; John 16. 7).
So, as God had made spiritual gifting available to a small
selection of his people throughout the period covered by the
Old Testament, now he made that empowering available to every
one of his people, as he had promised. (Joel 2. 28 - 32. See
also our book "The Empowering Of God's People" on our web site,
[address below]).

From the Day of Pentecost onwards that empowering became the
potential inheritance of every Christian disciple. "Potential" because
many would not bother to accept what was offered to them through
a range of charisms which, in principle, is infinite.

THE GRANT OF HIS OWN PRESENCE
The relationship which the God of Christians desires is so
personal that he has promised to continue to live with them
and to be actively a part of their lives in several "unbelievable"
(if the reader will excuse the pun) ways.

He gives himself in the form of the Holy Spirit to dwell within
every baptised Christian (e.g. Mark 1. 8). This is so astounding
a fact that we have a tendency to become blase about it
because, when we consider its reality, it is so difficult to
comprehend a God who would give himself in that way. Oh,
certainly, we accept it as a tenent of our belief, but the
actual reality often escapes us. Or why do so many of us
apparently live such chunks of our lives without reference
to him? To his advice? To his counselling? To his directing?

The "man from Mars" might be able to understand how this
happens. But for us, our excuses are poor.

But there is more. God always continues with us through his
Spirit, but Jesus also promised that he would be with us
whenever and wherever we were prepared to gather together with
other Christians in his name (Matthew 18. 20). Yet another
personal touch.

Is there still more? Well, yes, but more controversially for
Christians. For those who do not run away from the reality
of it, as did many of Jesus' first disciples when he initially
"floated" the idea (John 6, especially vv30 - 65 and then v66
and to the end), he is physically present in the bread and wine
which is consecrated in remembrance of him (e.g. all Last Supper
accounts in the synoptic gospels) and which is something Paul
himself accepted (1 Corinthians 10. 15 - 17;11. 23 - 32).

MARTIAN PERCEPTION
All this would surely present an overwhelming case to the
intelligent Martian looking for evidence of a personal God.
Not a god who has a multiplicity of manifestations, who is
in everything and is everything but is still essentially
impersonal and distant from our lives. Not a god who sends
messages of violence and destruction, nor one who is represented
by a mere man who can never be surpassed.

Rather he would see a God, so perfect in his justice that sin
had to be dealt with, but one so infinite in his mercy that he
dealt with it in the only way possible: through his own
self-sacrifice. And one who loves his people so much that he
cannot but live with them, daily and continuously and who is
prepared to share his power and his nature with them (2 Peter 1. 3,4).

Article Source: http://www.spiritarticles.com

AUTHOR: Anthony Keith Whitehead WEB SITE: www.christianword.co.uk This article is copyright but may be reproduced providing that all this information is included Over twenty-three years in Christian healing teaching writing ministries. Wide range of secular employments before being called by the Lord into full time independent ministry in 1987. With his wife Iris he has ministered both in the UK and USA. Has written several books on healing meditation and various aspects of spirituality. Formal qualifications include: B.A. M.Phil. Cambridge University Certificate in Religious Studies. Post Grad Cert. in Education.

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