I have no idea why people like Charlie Brown. You know, the cartoon character with one silly strand of hair and the yellow and black t-shirt. I just don’t get why people go crazy about Charlie Brown, and his Christmas special, Halloween special (I can’t even remember what it’s called…great pumpkin something?) and all of the other specials the little guy has. What’s the big deal?
This is how I feel about Charlie Brown.
This is exactly how some of my friends and co-workers feel about the myself and the World Race. I just know it. They haven’t told it to my face, but you can tell what someone’s thinking when you say “Yeah, I’m leaving my job and going on an 11 month mission trip,” and they respond with “….Uh, wow. Okay, neat?”
So, in a similar way to how I need someone to explain to me why a young kid dominates so many holiday seasons with stories in which nothing happens (seriously, nothing happens in the Christmas special. Boring.), I will try to explain to you why I believe what I believe (that Jesus existed, was God in the form of man, died for my sins on a cross and rose to life).
Reason #1: The first reason is the biggest reason, and the one that I continually come back to. You ready for it? I believe because I’ve been changed. Many, I’d say most, people change, but I can GUARANTEE you that my change came from outside of myself, and goes deeper within myself that I could possibly go on my own. I know who I was, and who I am now, and the difference between those two people is Jesus.
Reason #2: The Bible is 100% true. It’s the most widely copied, most accurately copied and most studied book in the history of the world. (Click here for more.) It’s writers had no reason to lie, fabricate or embellish, as doing so meant certain exile, torture or death. Why would the first Christians die for a known lie? It has not been changed, mistranslated (we get our translations from the original languages) or been tampered with to meet an agenda. It’s truth, and my life must yield to that truth.
Reason #3: Christianity is not just an American ideology. I read recently that, if recent trends continue, Asia could soon be the world center of Christianity. Christianity is not limited to America, or an American institution. The gospel has traversed continents, outlasted every regime, empire or kingdom since its creation, and today digs deep into the soul of every single people group it comes across. The gospel knows no borders.
Reason #4: I trust my friends and my family. I trust that when they say they have been moved by God, experienced God or been touched by God, they are telling the truth. They are claiming to have been in contact with the God who condemns dishonesty and deception. It makes no sense for someone to lie about experiencing God when they are claiming to experience a God who so fiercely condemns lying. I trust that my friends and family are not that kind of person.
Reason #5: I believe because inside me, no matter what I did, do or do not do, no matter what I think, say, or feel, there is a constant whisper in my ear, constant bundle of emotion in my chest, constant thought in my mind, pointing me to the One True God. I cannot describe it, but it cannot come from myself. I cannot grasp it, but I cannot live without it, and that is why I believe.
I believe because I’ve investigated, questioned, researched, prayed about, asked about, talked about, searched for and doubted my faith. I believe because my faith does no earn me one dollar, one minute of fame, or one ounce of glory, yet I cannot imagine living without it.
So, why do you believe what you believe?
Why do you like Charlie Brown?
