What is Christianity and What Does it Mean to Me?
A Spiritual Meditation
by Eric
At the heart of Christianity is the conscious effort on the individual's part to make the correct choices that lead to spiritual life. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the light," and his example was a life of selfless living. He lived to die so we could live, though we deserve death and he didn't. But God returned his life to him, because of the way Jesus lived (always doing what God told him to do), and not only that, but God allowed for ANY person to be granted salvation (eternal life in heaven) simply by believing in Jesus and believing Jesus is your savior.
What can we learn from Jesus' example? We learn (by doing, not reading) that when we put God and other people before our own needs or desires, we are earning our right to eternal life...we are earning spiritual life. Those choices that put our own desires and needs first lead to spiritual death.
So what does that mean to me, or you, or anybody? I think what it means simply is this: the choices God wants us to make in our everyday lives is not always pleasant, it's not always fun, and sometimes, other people involved don't deserve the kindness you are duty-bound to give; but, if you live for God (by loving others the way Jesus loved us...dying for us without us knowing him) first, and put other people ahead of you in the line of importance: hold back a criticism (man do I fall short here, and give criticism when I deserve to receive it); let people cut in front of you in traffic; say "you're right, I made the mistake" even when you didn't; put a homeless person on your grocery list for a few items; don't talk back to someone criticizing you; say hello to someone who nobody seems to notice), when you do these things, God will bless you...you'll notice certain things begin to go your way, things you thought impossible become possible, etc...all visible when you open your eyes and let yourself believe that what you are witnessing is God's work in your life, not anything of your own doing alone.
Keep in mind that life is not always good times. Bad things do happen, and it is our duty as Christians to just grin and bear it. Anyone who has studied Zen, aikido, judo, Taoism, or Buddhism would best understand this as the balance of Yin and Yang, or following the path of least resistance, or going with the flow of the universe (or the flow of the energy). Jesus did just this as he was flogged, beaten, and made to carry the very cross he would be nailed to and left to die on from asphyxiation (suffocation). Remember, vengeance belongs to God alone. God takes note EVERY time you are afflicted with ANYTHING in life that robs you of a pleasant and peaceful life. God remembers it, and He will render judgment and punishment (probably more severe-seeming than we ourselves would dish out) on those responsible for taking those things from your life, IF you react accordingly (by trusting God to get you through it in every way you need...financially, physically, mentally, etc) and not lashing out in revenge or at the slightest provocation. Instead we are instructed to give to those who would take from us and bless them in the process. God looks favorably on this method, and I know I fall short at this end. Because I have martial arts training, my reflex has been to defend, but my Peaceful Warrior side had me seek styles that focused on deflecting people's kicks and punches, and also on joint locks and body blocks which stressed moving an opponent away from one's self, rather than on destroying the opponent's body. I did let a past girlfriend slap, punch and hit me when found out I cheated on her. I only protected my balls and told her that's family jewels, and they were off limits. I was surprised at how little it hurt...wherever I was hit I went a little numb, there was just the jolt of impact, but not the bone cracking pain (thank God) I had imagined it would feel like. I think that's the only time I held back, but big friggin' deal! I deserved worse than what she gave.