I feel like I'm about to open a can of worms, but then not really, depending on who you ask. In all my 21 years I've been a Catholic, and in 20 of those years I've lived in a country with citizens who all identify with either Christianity, Islam or some form of religion. Fast forward to 2014, I'm transplanted to a country that is all about individualism and their rights and all that good stuff. Prior to coming here, I'd been forewarned about culture shock, and I'd been actively waiting for it to happen. I've grown up watching a lot of American shows, and surprisingly the reality wasn't all that different so for the most part what they did didn't phase me. Four months in, I was convinced that I'd dodged that bullet, but in the recent past I realized that I am living it, right now.
Like I said, I grew up in a mostly religious community. Prayers and Bible verses being read in schools and national functions, plenty of churches everywhere and generally people being open about their religion because for the most part it was a common factor among them. That being said, I've always been, I guess somewhat secure in my faith, in that spiritually I was in my comfort zone. I was firm in my beliefs in the sense that I didn't question them, but I had never been in a position whereby someone else questioned them. As a Christian I never really took time to think of the whys, always being content with Christianity simply being my reality. But in an environment where I relatively often come across a nonbeliever, I've had to do some soul searching.
These past few months have been somewhat of a struggle for me, acclimatizing to a place where a good number of people don't relate to my beliefs, and who, for them, science holds more weight. I struggled with the ability to proudly identify with Catholicism, having an underlying fear of being treated differently, because as a Christian, it's not uncommon that I'll be assumed to be pre-conditioned to be a gay bashing, narrow-minded prude, and all the other typical labels Christians are subject to. It's definitely a struggle hearing and reading demeaning things people have to say about my faith, taking jabs, and I get that the extremist Christians are the ones people associate the Christian faith with, and the bad experiences said people have had with these Christians tarnish their view on Christianity and give the rest of us a bad name (We're pretty decent, me thinks).
This has been my contemplation for Holy Week. When I hear or read about the bad things Christians have said and done, and the backlash that follows, and I feel like I'm reaching the point of tearing my hair out in frustration, I remember the song 'And They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love'. I realize I can only do so much, but if I live my life in a way that my words and actions portray me as the kind of Christian I'd like a nonbeliever to know, and give them the kind of experience I'd want them to associate Christianity with, that's something. So the plan is, smother them with love and affection. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ who lives in me." (Galatians 2:20)
To answer the question: why am I a Christian? Because it makes sense to me. Because it feels right. Because I believe it and I live it. Because I belong to Christ.
