This is a simple series of simple questions and answers concerning my faith, and why I believe as I do. Do not take them as your proof, but investigate them yourself. Be aware, however, that there are many false doctrines, bibles, and interpretations. This page is meant to help you be still and find God.

"WHEN I SAY I AM A CHRISTIAN"
By Carol Wimmer
When I say.. "I am a Christian", I'm not shouting, "I've been saved!"
I'm whispering "I get lost! That's why I chose this way."


When I say..."I am a Christian", I don't speak of human pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble-needing God to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian", I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak, and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian",I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and connot ever pay the debt.

When I say... "I am a Christian", I don't think I know it all
I submit my confusion asking humbly to be taught.

When I say... "I am a Christian", I'm claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible but God believes I'm worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian", I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartache, which is why I seek His name.

When I say ... "I am a Christian", I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority -- I only know I'm loved.

Carol Wimmer © 1988, 2004
Used by expressed permission. See *note at bottom.


You may wonder what all the fuss is about when you visit a website such as this one. You've heard the word Christian and may think it's a lot of noise and trouble. In the media, Christians are cast as weird, unstable, or obsessed. Many people commit crimes in the name of Christ because they are mis-guided. This adds to the bad image fueled by the media. Why would one desire to be a Christian?
Christ never intended for anyone to break a law or hurt someone in His name. Judgment is His alone.
Here are some **answers from other experts; and, what I believe.

**Links to the history of Christianity.
http://www.geocities.com/iconoclastes.geo/about-ch.html
http://www.baptisthistory.org/baptistbeginnings.htm
http://christiananswers.net/ Mega database search
Acts 11:19-36

Q.Why do I need a friend like Jesus?

A. There is no other friend who would lay His life down to save yours. Jesus did that. There is none other who would go before His omnipotent Father and plead our case, saving us from sure death. We need this friend because the penalty of sin is death, without the sacrifice. Jesus Christ gave that sacrifice of blood, to save us. There is none other who continues to abide with us, guiding and directing our paths and our decisions.
Phillipians 2:5-8, John 3:17, John 15:9, Isaiah 53:3-6, John 14:2,3


Q.How can Jesus be a friend to me?

A. Jesus cares about you, because (1) His Father God loved us so much. He first created us in His image. Then gave us a choice to love and obey Him in return. He gave His only son Jesus, unto death to pay the penalty of sin. Jesus loves as His Father loves. (2) Jesus is able to love you and understand you because he came to earth to live as men do. He did that, and suffered through all of the feelings we all do. He knew pain and sorrow, disappointment, fear and anger. Yet, He is supernatural and had the ability to resist these things, but felt them nonetheless for our sakes.
Isaiah 53:-3-6, Phillipians 2:5-8, John 16:27-28, Matt. 4:3-11


Q.Who are God and Jesus, and why do you speak of them separately?

A.God is our creator, who created a son in our human image and flesh, to experience humanity and to provide redemption from sure judgement. Jesus, His son - is of Him, and has His identical purpose, heart, and mind.

For this reason, they are one. Think of them as a father and son business who cooperate in every decision, and run their business seamlessly.

Jesus returned to His Father to reign, and to intercede for us. God then sent His own Holy Spirit to live within us to encourage, influence and protect us. They three are one. Jesus is a fleshly example that some think of us as a friend who walks and talks with us. He wants to know our problems and joys. God the Father is wise, and rules without fault. We may speak to either God or Jesus, but God cannot hear us when we are in sin except in repentance. He is holy and completely unblemished.

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Galations 3:26
"In the beginning was the word, and the word was God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." John 1:1-4
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of man, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the fashion of man, humbled himself , became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Philipians 2:5-8.


Q.How can I be a friend to Jesus?

A.He asks only that you believe that He did these things for you. Believing, you will trust Him more. Trusting, you will learn to love Him. Loving Him, you will want to obey him and you will want to live as He intended. Living, you will bear witness to this truth. Matt. 11:29, John 15:9, John 3:16, Acts 4:12, John 5:24, John 15:4-5, Luke 9:26, Matt. 5:16


Q.Who says so? Who gets to decide these things?

A. The bible says so, and the Word is God. God is the Word. They are inseparable. God has always been and will always be. The disciples, men made holy by God himself - wrote within the Word, wrote His Words given by Him alone, as with His own finger.
http://www.bible.ca/indexBible.htm
II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:20-21


Q.Why should I believe the bible?

A.Because it is God, and is God's Word. It is infallible. It has never been mis-proven. It stands rock-solid, after years of persecution and darts of doubt. It is a model for many other guide books that have been tried, and failed. Other rule books or ideals were fashioned from the early bible, or mimiced it in the same period of time.

It contains the one standard in all the world that has not changed, will not change, does not waiver, has no other authority or protector than God who created it - it survives.

It is written in love, with love as the motivator. There are no instructions for hating and killing individuals of other beliefs within it's pages as there are in other religious books. There is no authority given to man to rule or judge others; that authority is God's alone.

It states Jesus Christ His son as our only intervention, leaving no infallible human that responsibility. It is written as a promise from God, that eternal life may be given by grace alone; the only hope given to man through any directive. It is an instruction book from which others have been modeled, and it is the same universally. It is a 'Help' and 'How To' guide for every instance in our lives and is proven out in action.

Do you know of any other manual that can make those claims?

Additional links to the history of the bible:
www.biblehistory.com , www.biblehistory.net , www.americanbible.org
An Understandable history of the Bible - http://www.chick.com/default.asp
Defending your faith through proving the bible- http://www.defendyourfaith.com/defending- bible-main.htm


Q. Why do I choose to be a Christian?

A.I have at least as many reasons not to believe or care what God says, or what Jesus did for me - as I do reasons to want to be counted among God's own. I heard the truth distorted, and saw false doctrine and hopelessness played out in my life. I was at first taught that fathers are the ultimate authority in a home, even if the father is mentally confused, controlling and tyranical. Later, I was taught with confusion, inconsistency, and with no fatherly love or guidance. I saw poor examples of what Christian love should be, and could have become bitter because that Christian compassion seemed to be given to everyone except to our own family members. There was emotional and verbal abuse, drugs and alcohol, obsessive/compulsive behavior and an abuse of sexuality.

My older brother was diagnosed with my father's disease: schizophrenia. He died at a young age. Because of my father's controlling schizophrenia, pastors' counsel was more destructive than helpful, and was a factor in the ending of my parent's marriage. My family was, and are - plagued with battered self esteem, neurosis, one health disorder after another, and financial crisis. Some have left their initial faith, or imposed faith, behind. It may have been because of a false hope they endured, or by the lure of what they believe is better or easier in the world.

I stand alone. Why? See the previous notes above. I chose. I chose to believe that the Word of God is real, that Jesus Christ made that sacrifice to save me from death, and He will share his legacy with me in heaven. I chose to believe in God's unfailing, unconditional love, and in an invariable standard. God's word is a standard one can rely on. It does not sway. It, and God do not change, and God keeps His promises. There is no king, president or friend like Jesus. There is none who can offer what God does. No drug, spiritual practice, relaxation method, motivational technique or human leader proves better.


WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THIS WORLD THAT IS BETTER?

Q.Looking into your inner self for strength?
A. Self fails. It is guided by emotion and lust for what it can do for one self. Outer forces such as weather and global events are beyond our control. We make wrong decisions within our piece of the world. Our goodness cannot save us. The bible tells us this in Romans: "For by grace are ye saved, not of yourself, so that any man can boast."

Q.Motivational leaders, practices and techniques, financial and power controls?
A. These are man made. Man fails. Promises made by man fail.

Q. Whatever is popular? "Worship whatever god, wherever and however it makes you feel good". "God is a loving God and is just a benevolent presence." "Our 'god' is just our inner good."
A. Whatever is popular (name it)does not last. It rises and falls with the events of the day and in the world, with the stock market. 'It' has no interest in you or in your future. "It" is the easy way out, and offers little accountability. The one true God is the creator of all- which gives him a vested interest. He is also the judge of all, but gives us countless chances to turn to Him. He gave us an 'out' by offering His own son made in flesh.

Q. Religions?
A. Examine how different religions are driven. Is it by expecting monetary sacrifice of all you own for the benefit of one, or controlled by one? Is it driven by the worship of other gods, or the inclusion of animals, stars, or things who cannot deliver anything or offer real comfort? Is it driven by strict rules and expectations that guarantee human failure, or offers no redemption from mistakes and no future? Is it driven by promises by men that you will obtain a better life IF you suffer and sacrifice this life, and this one, and this one? Is the leader or self on center stage?

Q.A non-stand?
A. Then we are taking no responsibility for our actions, for the space we inhabit. That's convenient, and comfortable. If we are only here to take up space, why is there a need for humanitarian action? Why does every one always need someone else? Why do we need companions on whom we rely, and who rely on us? We are not meant to be solitary. Love is the driving force behind everything. God's love is the greatest of all. If we have no purpose in serving one another in love, and then we just evaporate as the world collapses, what is the point? If we are only guided by our own actions - we are doomed for certain.

I invite you to know a God who loves us, created us to love, knows all our needs, wants the best for us, but gives us the choice to follow Him, or follow our own selfishness to a fruitless end. He does not ask us to be impoverished, does not ask us to kill those not like us, does not ask us to act as judge, and does not ask us to practice impossible laws to gain approval. I invite you to know a God who does hate sin - not the sinner, who promises to abide with us through whatever pain or suffering the world has caused us. He leads, guides, abides, hears and answers. We need only believe, accept, and follow.


*NOTE: Carol Wimmer, author of "When I say I am a Christian" credits the unknown person who innocently posted her poem on the internet as a means to encourage others. The poem has since been emailed and copied thousands of times, and has reached countries around the world.It has been acredited to other authors, including Dr.Maya Angelou - without their knowledge. The altered version is so widely accepted, that I did not immediately notice that her own poem was much different than the incorrect circulated one. I posted that here for several months, not knowing, even receiving her permission to use her poem! I apologize! Lessons: never assume. Be careful how you use even emailed circulations, never assuming that they are accurate. ALWAYS ask permission to use material and give credit when it is granted. See her story at her website www.Carolwimmer.com and contact her through the form available.

**NOTE: This section is written as a guide for those who are genuinely seeking answers to life's problems or for their own inner turmoil. This outline is not the last answer. It is meant as a step to learning more. My own testimony is for your encouragement. This is not intended as a place for dispute or discussion. Theology or denominational discussions cannot be managed here. You may agree or disagree as it is your right, but volumes of mail sent for that reason will be rejected. If you wish to ask questions regarding God, Jesus, His plan of salvation and promise, or about my personal experience; you are welcome to do so by using the form on my Contact page. Include the nature of your question or comment in the first line. They are welcome within these guidelines.

"Let my words drop as the rain,my speech distill as the dew, as the droplets on the fresh grass and as showers on the herbs" Deuteronomy 32:2,3 "I proclaim the name of the Lord and ascribe greatness to our God!"