Teen
becoming a
Christian
Our Daily Bread
BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT . . .
becoming a
Christian
"I
f I were to become a Christian, what should I expect?" Maybe you’ve been thinking about Christianity and what it means to follow Jesus. Perhaps you’ve got a
few questions about what life will be like if you become a Christian. Some readers in the Our Daily Bread Ministries family have stepped in to help you out! Here are their answers to some questions about becoming a Christian that you may well have thought about yourself. So get stuck in! And if you want more, check out I’m a new Christian: Why is it so hard? at ourdailybread.org/lookingdeeper
What happens if
I become a Christian?
W
hat happened when you last joined a new school or class? At the start you were probably given a desk to sit at and introduced to your new teacher and classmates. Then you will have been given some of the school rules and a timetable. But did you feel like you were ‘part’ of this new school straightaway? Or did you still feel like you—just in a new place. Then, after a few weeks of getting used to the routine, the break times, the layout, the teachers’ names and your classmates,
you probably started to ‘feel’ more like your place at that school was a big part of your identity. That’s kind of what it’s like to become a Christian. There’s no
lightning bolt or voice from the sky. You’ll probably wake up the next day and feel exactly the same. But, just like starting in a new school, your identity has changed. The Bible tells us that from the moment we choose to
trust Jesus, we belong to God as his children. And his Holy Spirit lives inside us. These are huge changes—even if we don’t fully understand or feel them straightaway.
But, just as with getting into a new school, over time as you read the Bible, talk with God and meet up with other Christians, you’ll find your life becoming more and more about Jesus. You’ll find it more natural to want to spend time with him and tell others about everything he’s done. In fact, the Bible tells us that being a Christian is a life’s work! God will keep changing us and making us more like Jesus right until we die and go to join him in heaven. There may well be moments when God changes us quickly—but most of the time, being a Christian is simply relying on God each day, moment by moment, and slowly getting to know him better throughout it all.
Will I have to
give things up
if I become a Christian? O
ne way the Bible talks about Christians is as “the bride of Christ”. The point is that our relationship with God is compared to a marriage. Do people have to give stuff up when they get married? Yes they do! When a couple join their lives together in marriage, they promise to give up their right to have any other romantic partners as long as they live. They give up their life of doing whatever they want as ‘free agents’. They often leave family, friends, hometowns and many other things. Why would someone give up these good things? Aren’t they making themselves unhappy?
A person gives up these good things because they think their marriage partner is worth it. Why would they choose to sleep around when they can have the comfort and security of being with the one they love? People who want to get married must choose a life with just one partner, giving up anything that might get in the way of that life. Becoming a Christian is a choice: do we want to live for Jesus or live without him? If we choose to be joined to Jesus, we must get rid of anything that gets in the way of that relationship. We must distance ourselves from the things which the Bible says are sinful; things that push God out of our lives and will damage our relationship with him. When we begin to follow Jesus, we must look to please him above pleasing ourselves.
Attempting to simply add Jesus to our lives without making any other changes would be a bit like someone bringing their new husband or wife home only for them to find that there are other lovers there too. That certainly wouldn’t have been the life they had in mind! The relationship will never last. All worthwhile relationships take commitment. And commitment to anything, whether it’s a cause, grade or person, always involves giving other stuff up. The question is, do we think Jesus is worth it?
Will life be
easy if I become a Christian?
T
he short answer is no. Christians still get sick, mess up exams, fall out with people and make mistakes. Life is just as tough. In fact, sometimes it’s harder, as friends and family may not like the fact we’ve decided to follow Jesus. But despite life’s problems we will find our lives change for the better. We will find freedom from things that we may have been trapped in. All Christians have God’s Spirit living in them to help them grow and change to become more like Jesus. But that doesn’t change the fact that we’re in a world full of other stuff trying to pull us away from Jesus and reading the Bible. Jesus never promised his followers that life would be easy. In fact Jesus told them that they would have trouble in this world. But with him, there is a peace and confidence, even when everything seems to be going wrong. Why?
He defeated sin and death when he came back to life. Even on our worst days, we know Jesus is in charge and he will get us to heaven. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33
Do I need to
gochurch to as a Christian?
T
he idea of church is really boring. It’s full of old people, longwinded prayers and people up the front saying big words. Surely we could just do our Christian life on our own or with our friends? Imagine a world without doctors or hospitals. What would we do? Who would help us? We need our doctors! In the same way, church isn’t an option—we need it! It may surprise you, but church isn’t the building where Christians meet together. It is the name given to Christians as a whole.
Church happens most obviously on a Sunday when we meet together: the Bible is taught, we pray and sing songs of praise. But church is more than just that. Church is family. And God tells us to be actively
involved in his family throughout each week.
Why? Just as we need doctors to help us when we’re ill, we need the church family to help us keep living for Jesus. It’s in the church where we find out more about Jesus by listening to the Bible. Through the Bible teaching and learning from other Christians, we can come to know Jesus better and learn how to live for him more and more.
Do I need to
gochurch to as a Christian?
But even though we go to church, we’ll still have struggles and problems that we’ll need help with. And it is in church that we get encouragement and support. God has given us
teachers and leaders to explain the Bible’s teaching. He has given us other Christians to pray for us and encourage us. And he has given us youth groups so we can do this journey with others who are probably asking similar questions to us and going through the same sort of stuff. Together, and with our church and youth
leaders, we can face anything, knowing we have a loving family supporting us.
Church isn’t perfect. People fall out and struggle with each other sometimes. But that’s why it’s so great as well! It’s our spiritual hospital to continue looking out for each other (especially in the difficult times). The Christian life is much better when we realise we’re not alone!
What’s in a name? Acts 11:19-26
N
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (EPHESIANS 4:1).
ames have different meanings around the world. In some places, it doesn’t really matter what you’re called. But my Chinese family name sets me apart in my culture. It also gives me a family responsibility. I am a member of the Hia family. As a member of the family, I am expected to carry on the Hia line by having children and keep the honour of my family line. Anyone who has trusted Jesus to save them now also has a special spiritual family name. We are called “Christians”. But this is more than just a name.
In the New Testament, the name Christian was first given to the church in a place called Antioch by those who saw their changed lives (ACTS 11:26). Two things stood out about these Christians. They talked about the good news of Jesus everywhere they went (V.20). And they were very excited to learn from the Bible, as Barnabas and Saul taught them for a whole year (V.26). The name Christian literally means someone who ‘sticks’ to Jesus Christ. Today many people call themselves Christians. But should they? If you call yourself a Christian, does your life tell others who Jesus is? Do you get excited to hear God speak through the Bible? Do your actions live up to Jesus’ love and the name you now have? What’s in a name? When the name is “Christian”, the answer is: a lot! CPH Father, I have a new name and a new identity because of Jesus. I am a new person. Please help me to live this new life and stick close to Jesus in everything I go through.
A CHRISTIAN SHOWS JESUS TO THE WORLD. This article is from the Our Daily Bread Teen Edition annuals. Fancy getting hold of them? You can ask for your copies and see all our other resources at ourdailybread.org/teen
The Bible tells us that from the moment we choose to trust Jesus, we belong to God as his children. Scripture taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved. © 2019 by Our Daily Bread Ministries. All rights reserved.
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