6.  How Does Someone Explore Christianity?

There is nothing more important than your spiritual search. Christianity, as the world's largest religion, deserves anyone's serious attention. So how do you go about authentically exploring Christianity?

First, decide that you're going to maintain an open mind.
This doesn't mean the blind acceptance of whatever you explore, just an openness to what might be discovered. To authentically seek means that you have a healthy balance between solid investigation and a willingness to accept what you find.

Second, determine what it is you're looking for, and make sure its fair.
Most seekers would say that they are looking for a relationship with God so that they can order their lives accordingly. And that's fair. But we don't always stop there. Sometimes we tack things on to our search that are not fair, such as "I want whatever I find to solve all of my problems-instantly." A relationship with God certainly addresses our problems and helps us with them, but never promises to instantly remove them. Another unfair expectation is to expect what you find to compliment your lifestyle instead of change it. Since our deepest needs and issues are spiritual in nature, we should expect our search to lead us to the deepest corners of our life.

Third, check out the source documents of the Christian faith, which are found within the pages of the Bible.
The Bible is a collection of sixty-six books written by over forty authors over a period of several hundred years. Christians believe that the Bible is God revealing Himself and truth about Himself which could not otherwise be known by ourselves. When you do this, make sure you start off with a modern translation. Also, it is often best to start your reading off with one of the four biographies of the life of Jesus, which would be the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John (named after the men who wrote them). After that, go to a book like James, which will give you a taste of what patterning your life after Christ looks like. Then read the first book, Genesis, and get some answers to some of the foundational questions of human existence in light of what you've learned about Christ. After you get those three read, jump in wherever you want.

Fourth, be sure that you focus on the identity of Jesus.
He really is the heart of the Christian faith. And finally, find a church that will let you start where you are as you explore the Christian faith. In other words, find a church that will let you come as a seeker and will attempt to serve your seeking process. This will let you talk first-hand with folks who are Christians. Listen to their stories, raise your questions, enter into a dialogue with them about their faith. Heartland is that kind of church.

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