‘Why do we marry a Christian?’ They have a lot of good friends amongst those who study. Isn’t it good to live? What does religion have to do with it? Some children ask their parents in a similar way. “If we marry someone, why marry a Christian?” Religious teachers also face such questions. What shall we answer to them?
The situation in which our young people live today is very different. For those who have emigrated abroad, it is not the same as living in a foreign land, especially in Europe. There is Living Together. Seeing someone you like to lives with them and marries them. Faith is not a problem for them. The only thing they care about is who they are. It is a naked truth that such thinking is widespread in society.
When we are raising our children in such a situation, we need to be aware of certain things. What is unique about our Christian faith? Or what is the glory of the Christian faith? Yes, we must clearly understand our Christian faith, that is, the glory of being a Christian. There are many religions in the world today. Religions that worship natural forces, or religions that worship epic, or religions that worship gods. Thus there are many religious groups in the world. Our children may ask, “Do they pray? God also hears their prayers. What makes us so special?”
We do not belittle any other religion nor downgrade any other religion. Rather, the depth of the subject is understandable. God, the Creator of heaven and earth, is the Father of all men. When our children do not like us or are not interested in them, we will interfere in their lives when they are in pain or sad. So is the Father in Heaven. When the man who lives on this earth, whatever he is a believer, calls on God in his painful way, he knows that God the Father in heaven is not looking at any god but a blessing in his life. Because the Father in heaven is merciful and gracious, He helps man in his pains.
But God, the Creator of heaven and earth, sent His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth two thousand years ago, through His death on the cross, and established the kingdom of God in this world. Jesus has invited every man into this Kingdom. As Christians, we are all living in this Kingdom of God. God is certainly giving gifts to those who believe in other religions. They love them like their own children. But we do know that Jesus came to earth and opened his lips and spoke to the world first about the kingdom of God.
He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of God has come near.” God has come into the world with the invitation to this kingdom of God. John the Baptist, who went ahead of Jesus, called to the world, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Every Christian is therefore called to dwell in the Kingdom of God. God calls every man to the Kingdom of God established by Jesus Christ, despite the hardships and pains of the world, including earthquakes, natural disasters, and premature deaths.
In some parts of the world, when there is a civil war or civil war, some countries, including the United Kingdom, provide a lot of help. Those who are trapped in this land are living with the aid, but another group of refugees is being brought to this country. It is like an adoption process. The country is giving them a visa, bringing them here, doing what they need. When you arrive in a country you will be provided with medical assistance, language teaching and accommodation It is almost an adoption process. Those who live there live by accepting the gifts this country gives them. But there are other people who come to this country to live and take advantage of it. This is a huge difference between the two.
So is every Christian. The Christian believer has accepted baptism and is living in the Kingdom of God. But those who lack the Christian faith are living outside accepting gifts. Only when we understand this difference can we recognize the greatness of the Christian faith. The Catholic Church’s religious doctrine is divided into four parts. The third part is the life in Christ.
The Catholic Church’s Religious Instruction, 1691, begins with: “O Christian, realize what your glory is. Do not go back to your former state of sin, because you are now partaking of God’s own nature. Remember who your head is, and whose body you are. And remember that you have been brought to it ”.
Many religious founders and world leaders tried to bring people into the world by coming to this world. But Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” Because He is God. Many world leaders have entered the world and tried to guide man to the path of truth. But Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Because He is God. Leaders came to the world and advised them to live a happy life on this earth and prolong life on this earth. But Jesus came into the world and said, “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” Only He can say this. Because He is God. We need to pass this thought on to our children.
In the world today, we see many great tombs. Their tomb that led man to good is beautifully decorated. There is only one tomb in the world today that is the tomb of Jesus Christ. Because He alone resurrected death. Because He is God. Let us try to pass it on to our children so that they can recognize Jesus as Savior and understand the position we have in this great selection. Only then will our special calling to the Kingdom of God be fulfilled.
