What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors.
Today I have the daily pleasure of walking with my Creator...but, thinking back in my life, I am not really sure where I acquired the religious world view I have today. As far back in my family history as I am aware of, we were Christians. Starting from immigrants with an Amish-Mennonite background, and gradually moving into the Nazarene denomination which I am most familiar with. My grandparents grew up in Nazarene homes, my parents grew up in Nazarene homes, and now I am growing up in a Nazarene home. The influence of my family is immense.
Growing up in a home where prayer before meals, reading the Bible, and going to church were important has definetly played a huge role in the religious views I have today. Growing up with family members who encouraged, made good choices, laughed, and cared and continue to show me how to become the person God wants me to be. Even though I grew up in a Christian home, went to church on Sundays, and sang praise songs, I had yet to fully comprehend what God meant to me. Until the summer of 2007. I finally got to experience the astounding peace that came with having a intimate relationship with the Almighty One.
During July of 2007 I had the amazing opprotunity of attending a Nazarene Youth Conference with 10,000 other teens who were ready to dig deeper. I attended the two-week trip not having any idea how much closer, or how much clearer God would become to me. Driving for four long days in a bus from North Idaho to Missouri, meeting new people, feeling first hand the power of Christians gathered together, and being overwhelmed with an imense joy that swelled from within me...was truly the first time I was certain I had a great God that was looking after my life.
With the religious views that I have acquired and chosen to pursue, I am able to see and experience the glory of God with each breath I take. The beauty and diversity of this universe astounds me day to day. When I look at all of the intricate details in my life...I know that only God is capable of adding so much, so perfectly, to this world. I am aware that there are numerous religious views surrounding me each day, but I think agreeing on the "perfect view" is not as important as believing. Believing in a God who was, who is, and who will always be. Most importantly, I have come to realize that Christianity is not a religion, but an amazing relationship with Him...the Savior who moves mountians!
2 comments:
Brittney,
Nazarene huh? That is very similar to the Wesleyan Holiness (Methodism) denomination of the school that I went to. My best friend is also a Nazarent Missionary Kid. I appreciate your post. Please join the conversation during class!
I identify with the impact of family-I am quite sure that had I not had a family so grounded in faith that my own foundation of faith would not be nearly as solid as it is today. Your story is really encouraging to me because so often I see people who get on a "spiritual high" during conferences, but do not experience a real change in their lifestyle/perception of the world. You changed and it reminds of the value of such camps. I have a tendency to criticize camps because it seems to only be a short-lived effect, but thank you for showing me that even if there was only one person whose life changed, it was still worth time, money and effort. :)
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