My experience as a Christian

by Nate

If you were to ask 100 different Christians what affect Christianity had on them, you would get 100 different answers, but here is my story. I became a Christian through a family decision in the second grade to be baptized in Saint Jude church. As far back as I can remember, I went to church every Sunday until third grade when my favorite priest was fired. Because of family reasons, I didn't go to church again until the summer of 7th grade. The only reason I decided to give Christianity another try was because I was influenced by a Christian camp, Camp Gilead. As of the beginning of 8th grade, I have gone with my grandmother to Sunday church at Saint Louise as often as possible. She has had a major positive influence on reviving my will to go to church and stay a Christian.

Something I have learned as a Christian is treat others the way you want to be treated; which is the Golden Rule as stated by Jesus:

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7.12 ESV)

I have also learned (the hard way) that violence is never the answer. In fact, I stumbled upon a bible verse that struck me as shockingly true:

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (Matthew 26:52)

Lastly, the reason I am alive is purely because I am a Christian. Yes, this means exactly what you think it means. Since early seventh grade to the beginning of the ninth grade I had more family conflict than I want to admit. I wanted an easy way out and suicide radiated the most selfish and easy way out of them all. I was talking to one of my friends about it and he told me that to commit suicide was like buying an express ticket to Hell. I believe Hell, and for this reason I decided to flip through my bible until I found my truth, twice:

1. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (Corinthians 1:8-11)

2. Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. (Corinthians 3:16-17)

In summary, Christianity has played a huge part of my life.