A faith renewed

Faith. Religion. Christianity.

It has never been easy for me. Having grown up in a mostly-secular household, I lack the foundation of faith in Christ that seems to come so easily to many of my peers. Do they not have doubts? Did they already pass through this phase? Or do they just hide their doubts better than I do?

I never doubted the existence of a higher power, and once I started believing in God, I did not doubt His existence either. Rather, the concept of Jesus Christ, God and the Holy Spirit as a three-in-one package deal seems to be the concept I can’t wrap my head around. Maybe that’s the point. The concept is so divine and miraculous that it is not meant to be understood by mere mortal beings.

Still, this is where my frustration lies. That, and I have some issues with the Bible, but those issues do not affect my trust in God.

Regardless of my beliefs and my doubts, I have found inspiration to revisit my faith, which has become a deserted aspect of my life.

During my last year of college, I stopped going to church. While I can’t imagine finding a church on my own, I hope to pick up on my religious education by reading more books, speaking with friends and family members and studying the Bible.

What inspired such revelations and resolutions, you ask? It was a film. Tonight I went to the movies to see Fireproof starring Kirk Cameron, of Growing Pains fame. (Yes, I must admit that my school girl, celebrity crush on the actor still remains fully in tact. I’m sure I’m committing a sin of some sort, as he is a married man now. Adultery? Impure thoughts?)

The film has such a touching story, much like Nicholas Sparks’ novel The Wedding. A firefighter, Caleb Holt, never leaves his partner behind, except for his partner in life. As Caleb’s marriage crumbles, heading toward divorce, his dad offers him a gift, a challenge to love his wife unconditionally for 40 days.

The premise of the film reminded me of a Christian retreat I had once attended. In fact, it was at that very retreat that I was baptized in ice cold Lake Michigan by my best friend and my college minister at age 19. The retreat focused on love and relationships, which really is the foundation of Christianity.

God loves us unconditionally, which is why he sent his only son, Jesus, to die for my sins and yours too. We don’t necessarily deserve His love or meet His ultra high standards, and certainly there are times when we ignore that love and don’t return it. But tonight I remembered to know love is to know God.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:18

To find out more about the film Fireproof, check out the official website at www.fireproofthemovie.com.