What Christians Believe

Adapted from a leaflet distributed at York Minster, in England. I found it to be clear, simple and helpful.

Many people believe in God. Indeed, there are worldwide religions professing such belief that are older than Christianity, and have more adherents. But only Christians believe that God reveals himself in his Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus was born in Palestine nearly two thousand years ago and was crucified when he was just over thirty. God raised him from the dead -- and thus guaranteed for all time that good will triumph over evil, love over hate, and life over death.

Christians believe that the spirit of God is always active in the world, and that the members of God's church can share in Christ's work -- loving, doing good and sacrificing themselves for others.

Sometimes Christians feel confident in their faith. At other times they are full of doubt; life seems futile, cruel and overwhelming. Most of the time, Christians live in an unexciting middle area, neither powerfully convinced nor totally faithless.

Christians know, however, that Christian life is an adventure, a voyage of discovery towards a final and permanent vision of God. Life is a journey to that moment when we will share the life of God forever.