Dear Josh,

I used to be just a Christian, but now I'm in love with Jesus Christ. I remember those days. They weren't that long ago actually. Then I started wrestling with real life. I started asking the big questions: Why does a loving God allow suffering? What is the real difference between those who call themselves Christians and those who don't? What does a true Christian look like?

You see, Josh, your questions are not new or original. People have been asking these same questions for as long as anyone can remember. Even the Bible contains these questions.

God is not scared of your questions. He's not sitting in heaven worrying about if he exists or if he loves you. He welcomes your questions, and he's waiting to answer them, because doubt is the starting point for faith. He is more worried about people who blindly follow without ever thinking to ask questions.

I thought about answering all of your statements and questions on an individual basis, but there are people much smarter and more eloquent than me who have already done that. If you are at all serious about finding answers, then I suggest you check out the following books as a starting place for your study: The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel, Evidence That Demands a Verdict  by Josh McDowell, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and The God who is There by Francis Schaeffer. These are men who were once at exactly the same place in life that you are in. They set out to prove the Bible and Christianity wrong but became Christians because they were convinced by the sheer amount of evidence.

There are two issues that I will address specifically, and then you can find more details if you want to study it thoroughly. You said that the Bible could not be historically accurate because it was handed down by oral tradition. You should have done a little more research before you made that statement. The Bible was passed down in written form, and there are more, and older copies of it than any other book in existence. There are literally tens of thousands of manuscripts that show that the Bible has not changed in its thousands of years of existence. The Bible has never been proved wrong on any point. If there seems to be a discrepancy, it is always because of a lack of information on our part.

The most important question you raised was this: "Define a true Christian for me, please." I will tell you what a true Christian is. A true Christian is someone who gives up their right to themselves, and allows Jesus to be in control. A Christian is someone who is not self-centered but others-centered. True Christianity is not about a list of do's and don'ts; it is about an ongoing relationship with the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Jesus Christ. It is not about living a good life, because there will be many good people in hell. It's about seeking and chasing hard after the knowledge of Christ. It's about becoming more and more like Jesus.

I am truly sorry that you have had the experiences and disappointments that you seem to have had, but you cannot base your personal relationship with Jesus Christ on other people. Christians are still human, and we make mistakes. Becoming like Christ is a growth process. No one is perfect just because they wear the name "Christian." I am not a football player simply because I wear the uniform. I must go through the physical and mental training: learning the play book, understanding the rules, getting my body in the proper physical condition. Just because other players on the team don't get it right every time doesn't mean that I don't still try to do my job right and be the best player I can be.

If you really want to know what a true Christian should look like, read the New Testament, especially the gospel of John. Study the life of Jesus. Discover who he was, and then, when you meet someone who says they are a Christian, you can judge that by whether or not they act like him.

I am apologizing now for the letters you will receive from those who call themselves Christians that may not accurately reflect the love that Jesus has for you. Jesus never got angry at sinners; he loved them. He got angry at those who were  religious  but didn t understand the true heart of God.

I also apologize to you for myself. I have never taken the time to share the love of Jesus with you personally. That is my fault, and I ask your forgiveness. The worst thing I can think of is that you would not be in heaven with me. I hope that you will take the time to really look into the claims of Christ and study them openly and honestly, because there is nothing to lose with Jesus and everything to gain.

Nathan Horton

Senior English major