Christianity

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else.

—C.S. Lewis, "Is Theology Poetry?"

I'm a Christian because Christianity paints a vision of the world that rings unmistakeably true. Christianity describes a good world gone bad, a world broken and groaning under evil. There may be many ideas about how to fix the world, but few people won't agree that our world is broken and suffering under evil and injustice. Christianity describes a world of purpose, that each one of us is here on this earth with a purpose and goal---to glorify God. Perhaps no desire is more fundamental to humanity than a desire for purpose and meaning. We want our lives to mean something.

Further, consider the remarkable account at the center of Christianity. No reputable historian argues that Jesus didn't live and die. Yet somehow a group of 11 men from working class occupations in a provincial backwater became convinced that he didn't stay dead. They gave up their livelihood for persecution. Early converts were the poor and outcast; this was not a way to make good money. Of those 11, 10 would be killed for their faith and the last would be exiled. Yet somehow, despite the persecution and obstacles this story spread across the entire Roman empire.

When I say I'm a Christian, I mean that I believe that there is a God who created the world and everything in it, including humanity. However, all people, including me, have rejected his commands and chosen to follow our own selfish, evil desires. We told God we didn't need or want Him anymore. Christianity calls this sin. A quick look around our world today reveals the terrible results: Injustice, Hatred, War, Famine, Oppression. The Bible describes the whole earth as growning in pain because of this evil (Romans 8:22). God is a God of Justice and cannot overlook evil, nor would we want him too. One of the strongest cries of humanity is that of the Oppressed for justice. What is the penalty for this evil, this rebellion against God? Death and eternal separation from God.

Yet God is also merciful (Ephesians 2) and loved us enough that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth as a man 2,000 years ago. Why did Jesus have to come? Because we are completely unable to save ourselves. In the Bible's language, we are dead in our sins. Jesus lived a perfect life and died a criminal's death: a brutal death by asphyxiation as a result of exhaustion on a cross, a method of torture perfected by the Romans.

In doing so, Jesus took upon himself our evil and paid the penalty in full. You could think of it like a debt. Debt doesn't just get canceled. When someone agrees to cancel a debt, it means they either take the financal loss themselves or agree to pay the debt. The same with Jesus, because he alone lived a perfect life, he alone is able to pay the penalty for others. When Jesus Christ rose again, three days after his death, he confirmed that he really did have the power he claimed to ahve. Many crackpots have claimed incredible things, but Jesus proved His claim by demonstrating His power over death itself. Because of Christ's sacrfice, the penalty for our sins has been paid. All we have to do is admit that we can't save ourselves from our evil and ask for Christ's sacrifice to cover us.

The story doesn't end here, however. Christ didn't die simply to make humanity better. He died to give make dead people alive again. Christianity is not like fire insurance. It doesn't just save us; it calls us to a transformed life. God has a plan for each person (Ephesians 2:10), a plan that is so much greater than anything that you could ever imagine. This plan isn't easy, its a call to die to your self and your desires day-after-day, but it is good, joyful, and satisfying.

If what I've said resonates with you, or you would like to discuss or debate (in a civil manner) these ideas, I would love to talk with you. Please send me an email. There is no discussion or question or challenge that will offend me.

Seven Mile Road Church

I currently help pastor Seven Mile Road Church Waltham in Waltham, MA as a lay elder (aka volanteer pastor). My wife and I found the church in 2017 when we moved to the greater Boston area. We were drawn to the excellent expository preaching and deep, real community. If you are ever in the area, we would love to have you stop by on a Sunday morning.

As part of my work as a lay elder helping to pastor this church, I have had the opportunity to preach a few times. You can find those sermons below:

• 2025-07-13, "The Way of Wisdom: The Truth about Money", Proverbs [MP3]
• 2024-07-07, "Portraits of Jesus: Responding to Jesus Walking on Water", Matthew 14:22-33 [MP3]