Why I Believe
Hi everyone!
My name is Emi, and I’m currently in the 3rd year of my bachelor’s degree in theology (majoring in youth ministry). I’m so grateful to be given this opportunity and platform to share my testimony!
I won’t bore you with the long-winded details of how I grew up in the Christian faith and attended church twice a week. Nah. Instead, here’s a very abbreviated version:
Although I grew up going to church, I have a relatively short (but wild) faith heritage. My parents became Christians in 1990, after a friend of theirs shared his story of how he turned away from Satanism after encountering the saving grace of Jesus. I love to think about how the reason my family and I are Christians is because Jesus revealed Himself to my parents through an ex-Satanist who was bold enough to share his testimony. I am so grateful that God had this plan for my family and I!
I’ve been through many ups and downs throughout my life, with many of them having one thing in common: my faith. I’ve had terrible things done to me in the name of the Bible, and I’ve encountered many difficult situations because I was a Christian. In theory, I have every intellectual and emotional reason to turn away from my Christian faith. So, why haven’t I?
Because I know that Jesus’ love for me, and the entirety of who God is, far exceeds my own (and that of everybody in my life) interpretation of faith, Scripture, and who God is. I know that God is beyond what I know or think of Him. I know that God’s character, power, and abilities are far greater than I could ever imagine. Jesus, in all of His radicality and perfect fulfillment of God’s love, salvation, and care for the entire world, is not seen anywhere else than in the Bible and in the work of the Holy Spirit. I have not turned away from my Christian faith, even though I’ve been given every reason to, because I’ve felt a peace in my troubles that is unexplainable. I’ve been loved like no human, deity, or fiction of my imagination could love me. I’ve been cared for, seen, and sought after passionately like no one else could do. It’s only been, and forever will be, Jesus.
The trouble I’ve faced because of my faith pales in comparison to the love I’ve experienced because of my faith. The pain I’ve felt “in the name of the Bible” pales in comparison to the love and kindness I’ve seen be shown and done in the name of Jesus. The transforming power of the Holy Spirit in my life and in the lives of people close to me far outweighs any acts of misguided theology.
The light far outweighs the darkness. Any deeds of darkness done in the name of God is not from God, because in God there is no darkness (Matthew 5:14-16; 1 John 1:5).
In your darkest moments, I hope you remember that God is, and will always be, love (1 John 4:7-21).
Thank you so much for reading!
You can find me at:
http://emihabel.com
https://www.instagram.com/emi_habel/