Why I'm a Christian

Niblo said:
I am no longer a Christian, but permit me to tell you of my Paternal Grandfather, who lived in Treherbert – Rhondda Valley; South Wales.

He was taken out of school at the age of ten, and set to work in one of the local coal-mines (this was unlawful at that time, but who cared?).

Using the local Miners’ Institute – these were centres of learning in those days – he studied (among many other things) both Hebrew and Greek. He was a polymath.

His second great passion – Faith and Family together being his first – was music. Able to play both violin and piano – and to transpose written music into tonic-solfa for those who could not read music – he was appointed Musical Director of the local Amateur Operatic Society. His favourite work was Handel’s Messiah. I can see him now, dressed in his black evening suit, white shirt, black dickie-bow, conducting a full chorus and orchestra, with his white baton; every word, every note engraved in his heart. I have his baton, but none of his talent!

In the 1920’s, a number of Italian families moved into Glamorgan and set up shops and cafes. One of these families (the Bassini’s) settled in Treherbert.

When Italy declared war, and joined with Germany, the UK government issued an internment order against those it deemed to be ‘enemy civilians.’ This included the Bassini’s. The husband (I knew him as Jack) was taken away, but his wife and three children were allowed to remain in their home (they had a café and a fish and chip shop, located side-by-side).

One day, my grandfather – returning from work – discovered a mob, hurling abuse (and stones) at the Bassini’s and their home; at people they had once called friends. My grandfather stood between the mob and their target, and told them to stop, and to go home. They did.

Many years later, the family’s eldest daughter (Maria) was accepted as a Carmelite nun; and my grandfather and grandmother were invited to attend the investiture ceremony. A great honour.

My grandfather was an Elder at Blaencwm Chapel. The Elders employed the Minister.

When I was a teenager, one Minister visited my grandfather’s house. He was treated like royalty. My grandfather called him ‘Sir’. Later, I asked my grandfather why he had called this man ‘Sir’ after all, he was the Minister’s boss!

My grandfather smiled, and said: ‘I’m just an Elder. The Minister speaks the Word!’

When my grandfather died, several hundred men – of all ages – attended his funeral (women did not attend funerals in those days). They filled the cemetery chapel, and many were weeping openly.

My grandfather was able to calm a howling mob – and move the hearts of many – not because of any legal authority (he had none), but because of his character; because of the person he was. He lived his Faith as it was meant to be lived. A Christian would say that he reflected the love of Jesus; and that it was this that made him a shining beacon to others.

He led by example rather than by argument. My greatest regret is that I was too young – and, when old enough, too immature – to hold long conversations with him, and to fully appreciate the kind of man he was.

He is, by far, the finest man I ever knew.

Blessings.
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I've read that and re-read and then re-read it again. Wonderful. It sounds as if your grandfather was a great man.
 
Toneboy said:
I've read that and re-read and then re-read it again. Wonderful. It sounds as if your grandfather was a great man.
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Thank you.

Yes. He was something else. Never raised his voice; never abused.

There's the time when he was working underground, drilling holes in the coalface. He had to hold the drill-bar (heavy) while his partner struck the end of the bar with a sledge hammer. My grandfather would then have to twist the bar after every strike, to break the bit, and extend the hole. Hard work.

On this particular day, the striker (name of Alan) missed the bar, and struck my grandfather's hand...breaking his thumb.

Later, my dad spoke to Alan, who burst into tears: 'It wouldn't have been so bad if he had sworn at me' sobbed Alan. 'But all he said was: Oh dear, Alan...what have you done!'

His was a Welsh-speaking chapel. About a year before he died - when chapel attendance was in decline - I asked how things were at his chapel: 'Not too good', he replied. 'We're even having to hold services in English now!' .

One of a kind. A far better man than I, that's for sure.

Blessings.
 
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Some years ago it occurred to me that it's very easy for me to live in this world, but
Heaven would require a level of piety and self control that I was pretty sure I
couldn't keep up forever. Sooner or later I'd mess up and get thrown out. But if it
were just as easy for me to live in Heaven as it is for me to live in this world, then
for sure I'd never get thrown out of Heaven.

In other words: if only thinking, feeling, and acting like God came just as natural to
me as thinking, feeling, and acting like a man; then that would be the cat's meow.

I was very surprised, and excited, upon discovering that something very similar to
the very thing I wished for is contained in a promise that God made to Moses'
people.

"I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be
washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart
with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your
stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put My spirit in
you so you will obey My laws and do whatever I command." (Ezek 36:24-27)
_
 
My journey to faith began in a subtle way. I wasn’t raised in a particularly religious household, though I was baptised as a baby. My grandmother was a Christian, and she once gave me a Bible as a gift. I treasured that Bible deeply, and it always felt significant to me, even though I didn’t fully understand why.

As I grew older, I considered myself agnostic and didn’t think much about religion. I went on to marry and have a son. My husband has always been Christian, though he wasn’t practicing. Then, a few years ago, I had a moment of wonder watching a nature documentary with my son. The beauty and complexity of the natural world moved me, and it stirred something within me that made me begin to wonder about the existence of God.

Shortly after, my son brought home a leaflet from school advertising Christmas services at a local church. I remember feeling a strong urge to go, though life got busy, and I put it off. But the thought of attending church kept returning. One day, while on the school run and thinking again about making time for church, I noticed a piece of paper on the ground. On it was a Bible verse: “Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” It felt like more than coincidence. When I got home, I looked up the verse and found myself curious about its meaning. This curiosity grew, and I began reading the Bible.

Since then, my husband and I have become regular churchgoers, and I’ve come to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. Embracing the Christian faith has brought a depth of joy and fulfillment to my life that I never anticipated. I feel more at peace and fulfilled than I ever have before, and I am grateful for the journey that led me here.
 
I was born into a Christian family who toured the world in a Christian ministry band for 10 years. Needless to say I was taught that Jesus is real in the same breath that I was taught anything else factual. I wonder today whether this was a good thing or a disservice as it set me up to believe in Christ automatically rather than as a personal realisation. Luckily (or maybe not!) I did come to the faith on my own after years of questioning and I'm still working out the kinks of what that means to me, but it's a journey I'm enjoying and well worth embarking on. I met my wife on a Christian Dating app and I have a lovely little one year old boy, and I hope to raise him to find Jesus on his own terms.
 
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Really when you become a Christian, it is just only the beginning in your Christian walk with Christ. It is about growing as a believer. Sadly I didn't know that until ten years after becoming a believer for real. It is about prayer, Bible reading, fellowship with other believers, and church to make your faith grow stronger.
 
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