The time around Easter is interesting.  We see stories and commentaries about religion and God from many sources.  I even saw a poll or two.  I’m sure this is not the first time nor will it be the last that a poll was conducted about Jesus Christ.

According to a poll released on Easter Sunday from Rasmussen Reports about Easter:

Today’s the day Christians believe Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, and 78% of Americans share that belief.

I am one of the 78% – and I am proud to say it.  I am also one of the three in ten in this poll who attends Church at least once per week (Ok, I don’t make it every week, but most weeks I am there).

I did not grow up in an overly religious family.  You might catch us watching the “Billy Graham Crusades” when they were on television, and I attended Vacation Bible School some summers so I could play football with my friends.  I actually memorized a few Bible verses so I could to go outside and play football with my buddies.

As a teenager, Church-sponsored youth groups kept me in line and gave me a place to share my feelings and get advice from youth leaders.  I believe they are much more important for young people today.  Youth leaders are probably the most important people in churches today, in my opinion.

In February of 1978 I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior.  That did not mean that life would be paved with gold streets and that bags of gold would be sitting in my driveway, it just meant that I was forgiven and that I had a new friend who accepted me “just as I am.”

Becoming a Christian does not mean that life gets easier.  I’ve fallen and was helped up more than few times since 1978.  I will probably take a tumble or two again.  But one thing I know is that God is good for me.

I’ve read about religions from all over the world and enjoy studying about how and why they believe the way they do.  I enjoy asking people about their religions in a non-judgmental way.  I stopped trying many years ago to convince people that my religious beliefs were more correct than theirs.  Telling people that they were “bound to damnation” if they did not believe the way that I did was just not my cup of tea.

I guess we’ll all find out who was correct in the end.

I do admire the religions that send people door to door to preach the gospel or tell me about a better way.  As long as they take “no” for an answer from me in a respectful way, I will always respect their work.

I believe that everyone should have a relationship with God and what that relationship entails is completely between God and them.  I believe that when I read the Bible, I may interpret it differently than how my wife or a Pastor or a Priest does.  That is between God and me.  I don’t really believe that just because some Pastor or Priest has a theology degree that this gives them more of a direct line to God, either.

I don’t think you need to wear a suit or a tie to be close to God, and I sure don’t believe that being a man makes me have more of a direct line to God than a woman does.

I’ve also found in my time on earth that Christians and non-Christians can bitterly disappoint me.  I’ve also found that nobody, whether they are a leader in a church or just a person walking down the street, is perfect.  They sin just as I do – although some in church leadership or in the public eye have their sins and short-comings aired for all to see and comment about.

I’ve also found that many Churches are very political in their day to day work.  Some have boards or a chain of command and they vote on the issues coming before the Church.  Some just appoint their friends to manage the Church and have at it.  Some religions have “business meetings” that become about as heated as a democrat holding a  town hall meeting about healthcare.  Of course, anytime there’s a big blow up in a church, all those involved seem to believe that they are doing God’s will.  Isn’t that how some wars started?

I try to remember that every church leader is just a human and they sin and fall short – and many have disappointed me, but I imagine God was more disappointed than me.

But if there’s one thing you should remember after reading this commentary it is that no matter what your views are about a particular religion, you will find that life goes better with God in your life on a daily basis.  I hope you had a Happy Easter.