Have you found yourself asking, “What is the point of Christianity?”. To sum up the basic idea of what the point of Christianity is, it means to have a restored relationship with God through Jesus Christ. However, if you ask 100 different Christians, “What is the point of Christianity?” you are likely to receive 100 different answers. To many Christians, it is a surprising question when they are asked about something that seems as though it should go without being questioned. Let me give you an example, did anyone ever ask you why you mow the grass around your house? In my culture, this is very important, and it should be “obvious” to everyone why you would do it. However, this is not so in many cultures around the world.To ask a Christian, “What is the point of Christianity?” is like asking a person why they are mowing their lawn. To me, it would be obvious: it needs mowing. But why? Because it is too tall. Why does it matter how tall your lawn is? And so would go the conversation. Your desire to know “What is the point of Christianity?” is what we want to help you understand. To do this, we have come up with 5 main points. For each point, you will be able to find a more in-depth answer as we go deeper into this series of “What is the Point of Christianity?”
The Point Of Christianity | Reality
The first answer you are going to get in “What is the point of Christianity?” is that Christianity is based on reality. This idea may be difficult to understand if you do not believe in some kind of Supreme Being or Ruler. Christianity hinges on the belief that there really is a Supreme Being. Stick with me here, and let me give you a clearer picture of what I mean by that.
We desire to see reality and have it explained in a way that is understandable to us. Christianity brings this point home by helping us to understand the supernatural. It also helps us understand the origin of life and the meaning of life. These concepts are reality and we long to find answers to them.
Another point is that the events surrounding Jesus, His death, and His resurrection are well documented in the Bible and in other writings. We can research and establish the facts that these events really did happen. They are not fanciful writings of the past.
The Point Of Christianity | Not Simply Religion
“What is the point of Christianity?” if being a Christian isn’t even about religion? The biggest point of Christianity is that it isn’t a religion. Christianity does have aspects that may feel religious to you such as basic beliefs, practices and attitudes yet it offers much more than just that. The point of Christianity is to be in a relationship with the God who lives in reality. You have probably heard about how many religions are connected to wars for something as simple as a “our god is stronger” match (the Bible records this in Judges 11). And many times these gods are tied to a specific culture, or geographical location. However, one of the main points is that Christianity spans the differences of religion by being for all cultures, in all places and, in all times. In so doing, Christianity is a new culture of people knowing they have broken relationships with God and looking to have a restored relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus.
The Point Of Christianity | Broken Relationships
You’re probably wondering, “What is the point of Christianity?” if every Christian I know only tells me that I have a broken relationship with God? What does it even mean to have a broken relationship with God anyway? Think about a strained relationship that you have. What feelings do you associate with that relationship? Guilt? Shame? Fear? Depending what culture you find yourself in, it may have been one of these emotions at the forefront of a strained relationship. These emotions point us to the real issue, the broken relationship. According to the Bible, the Christian’s scriptures, the act of breaking the relationship with God is referred to as “sin.”
The sin issues that we have, separate us from the relationship with God, and because of that separation, we see the effects that it plays on this world. We see the killings that happen around the world and want them to stop. We see the pain that people are in, and we want it to stop. We want peace in this world and want to see it happen. But these things can only happen when a relationship is restored, which brings us to a major component of “What is the point of Christianty?’ A personally restored relationship with God.
The Point Of Christianity | Relationships Restored
Having a restored relationship is the main point to Christianity. And how do you have a restored relationship to an invisible God? I am so glad you asked!
The only way to have a restored relationship with God is to have the penalty of sin paid. This happens through Jesus, His death, burial, and resurrection. Not only can we have a restored relationship with God, but we can learn to restore relationships with other people.
How does this explain the point of Christianity? You and I can be free from guilt and shame of the wrongs (sins) committed.
The Point Of Christianity | Resurrection
The point of Christianity is to worship this resurrected Savior. Jesus promises that we too will be resurrected like He was. Here is a quote from the Bible, John 3:14-16:
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
You may say that the most audacious claim of Christianity is that Jesus came back to life after being crucified, dead, wrapped up in a burial shroud, sealed in a tomb, and guarded by a squad of Roman soldiers. It is on this fact that hangs everything Jesus did or said. If He is still dead (did not rise from the dead) then Jesus was just another prophet among many. If He did miracles or taught well, Christianity is meaningless if Jesus is dead. However, if Jesus did indeed rise from the dead, and was not stolen by His followers, not swooned and revived, then there is a significant point that must be considered. Jesus really is special; deity, in fact.
So What Is The Point Of Christianity?
The ultimate point of Christianity is to have our broken relationships restored through Jesus. This is based on a reality that we cannot ignore. Our relationships are broken but can be restored through Jesus’ sacrifice of death and in His glorious resurrection.