Tell Me What You Believe In.

Christianity stifles individuality.

Sit on that sentence for a while.

Whenever I am asked some of the deeper questions in life, What do you believe in?  What couldn't you live without?  What would you rather die than do?

The easy, obvious answers are, Jesus, Jesus, and deny Jesus.

Of course these are the answers, as a Christian, one should rightfully choose.  You feel guilty if you don't answer in that manner.  Feelings of "denying the faith," and "being ashamed of the Gospel" fill your head as you antagonisingly give whoever it is that's asking your pre-packaged Sunday school response. 

Could this have anything to do with the fact that many people see Christians as close-minded?  Could the root of our "ignorance" start with the fact that we aren't willing to ask ourselves the hard questions, past our religion?  How can we expect to relate to the world and each other and a Deity when we can't even explore ourselves past our faith-label?

I believe the phrases "living the Christian life," and "finding your identity in Christ," have been taken to the extreme, only in the sense that some aren't willing to develop thoughts of morality, virtue, truth, etc., past the Bible-answers.

What would you, Christian, say if someone asked you, "What do you believe in?"

Do so many Bible-virtues swirl in your mind to the point of overload?  Erm... truth, justice, equality, freedom, morality, friendship, love.... 

 Have you ever really thought about what each of those mean?  Which one lights a fire underneath you when challenged?  Which one could you really NOT live without?