We Grasp After Grace

  Recently there was a post in a Facebook group centered on the Christian Faith.  This post was from someone who said they were new to being a Christian. They were troubled because they were seeing a lot of contention between members of the group, all of whom profess to be Christians.  They were wondering if Christianity was really what they were looking for, if there was such discontent.  I would like to add my thoughts for their perusal. 

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You say you are a "new and practicing Christian."

Then say "maybe Christianity is not for me.  Change my mind."

It is not for us to change your mind.  It is your own mind. 

You have come to Christianity.  

Examine, within yourself, what being a Christian means. 

Several months ago I wrote a homily that reminded me that our present family of Christianity are Christians by choice, and by faith. 

The Epistles tell us of unrest and doubt in the Churches established after Christ ascended.  

Those far-flung churches had the constant examples and guidance of those who had known Christ personally, who had heard Christ teach. 

Who had seen his actions. 

We don't. We only have their words, imperfectly recorded, imperfectly translated. 

Yet those imperfect words still speak to us. Still give us guidance. Still give us inspiration. 

But that guidance and inspiration are a grasping towards accepting the Grace offered to all, Christian or not. 

How we accept that Grace is our own decision to make. Not something that someone can "convince" you of. 

There is a vast rainbow of flavors of Christianity.  Some flavors don't recognize the others as valid "Christianity." Some embrace all who profess. 

You have to decide for yourself what flavor suits you, and what it means to you.   And of what value will you afford it. 

In the film _The American President_ there is a phrase that "Democracy is hard. You have to really want it and work for it."  

Being a Christian is similar. It isn't easy. You have to remind yourself constantly of the cost. It's easy to fall into greed, or hate, or jealousies. 

To paraphrase from the Book of Samuel: "We will not offer to God offerings that cost us nothing."