Who are Christians?

Christians are followers of Jesus Christ who lived over 2000 years ago. Having demonstrated who God is and what God is about – thus bringing new life to some very broken people – he was put to death by the Roman occupiers of his land. However, Christians believe he was raised by God, leaving behind him an empty tomb and some embarrassing questions. So, Christians are those who, individually and together, try to live as Jesus did, bringing hope and healing to a broken world.

Christians fail a million times – something we acknowledge in almost every service of worship. But, we also experience the liberating generosity of God who sets us free to live for him in today’s world. In Jesus God opted into the reality of our complicated and often painful world – he didn’t exempt himself from it. Likewise, those who follow Jesus are called to get stuck into the life of their community and the wider world, thus bringing in small (and often unremarkable) ways the life and liberation of God to all those who wish to receive it.

Becoming a Christian – a follower of Jesus – is the beginning of a journey and not the end of everything. As the first disciples of Jesus discovered, walking with Jesus and his other friends is exhilarating, challenging, frustrating, liberating . . . and opens up the world to a whole new set of questions. Being a Christian should never be boring.

Where can I find out more?

To find out more about Jesus online, you can visit www.rejesus.co.uk and www.christianity.org.uk. But because Christianity is about relationship and community, the best way to find out about faith and prayer, to raise questions and to get help, is to meet some Christians. Why not visit your local Anglican church? (Although the Church of England is just one of the Christian churches in this country.) For details of your parish, use the Find a Church facility on the top of this website's homepage or you can email the Church of England at mission@c-of-e.org.uk. Many churches hold regular Alpha courses to introduce the faith: go to www.alphacourse.org to find where your nearest course is being held.