Written by Calvin Chan,
Growing up, I was raised by a Buddhist family, I went to Chinese schools for my early education. Malaysia, the country I live in, is muslim dominated with 63.5% of its citizens being muslim. And so when I bring up the fact that I am a Christian especially to friends “assuming they know my background” I always get the exact same question. “Why are you a Christian?”
Perhaps I wouldn’t have gotten that question if I was raised by Christians, or went to Sunday school, or was born in Romania where 98% of its citizens are professed Christians. But even if I was, would any of these circumstances be a valid reason to be a Christian?
To the reader, I would like to ask a question. Why are you a Christian? Or if you aren’t one, Why should you consider being a Christian? Maybe you have an answer, or maybe you don’t but are searching for one. In this article, I will share my answer to this question. The answer that convicts me to be a Christian, to believe what I believe in.
- The Bible is the truth, not a fairytale
We all have studied history in school. When we read something in a history textbook, we naturally accept it as true. Why? Because it is supported by eyewitness accounts, documented in multiple sources, and sometimes confirmed by archaeological evidence or preserved artifacts. In 1 John 1:1, the apostle writes, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes…” The Bible presents itself not as legend, but as testimony both seen and heard. Like any historical document, it should be examined carefully. Across ancient manuscripts, while minor copying variations exist, its core message has remained the same.
- Jesus is the only way!
If the Bible is true, Jesus was no ordinary man. A person born of a virgin and was raised from the dead is a person whose words I would pay very close attention to. In John 14:6, Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He did not claim to be a way, but the way. That means if I truly desire to live righteously and follow God, I cannot approach Him apart from Christ.
- Jesus loves me
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:13). It is a privilege to serve God; yet it becomes even more precious knowing that the God I serve loves me so dearly until the point where He is willing to die on a cross. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8). In many belief systems, the focus is on humanity striving to reach God through effort or moral achievement. Christianity, however, tells a different story. It is not about humanity reaching up to God, but about God reaching down to us.
As we consider these points today, perhaps the real question is this: Is our faith something we inherited, or something we are personally convinced of?