While reading a previous blog post, I was perusing the tags listed on the discussion and found the following: "Is this the Jesus site"?

After reading one post that was somewhat critical of the Bible-quoting that was going on, in light of the fact that America has a multitude of religious affiliations, I have my guess as to who added the tag, but that isn't as important as the question raised. Is Soulcast the "Jesus site"?

Well, I do not see other religions being spoken of as much. However, the point of this post is to put forth the thought that perhaps other religions just aren't as applicable to real-life situations.

I don't say that to be controversial, but it is rare to read a post of someone who is suffering about something, and to hear a comment that shares a religious teaching that actually offers practical help to the person's suffering. When someone talks about keeping an affair secret, or going through a difficult breakup, a failing marriage, a divorce, losing a loved one, etc., we hear things like "good luck", or "I'll be thinking about you", or "let us know what we can do." I'm not saying those are bad things to say, but what if there is more we can actually do?

Here's how I see it: there's a God who is good, created all of us, helped us when we screw up, punished us when we did wrong, and sent His Son Jesus to make things right - knowing full well we would kill Christ. Yet because of that, we have a clean slate. Praying to God for protection and help in suffering doesn't always give us the answer we want, but "those who call upon the Lord will renew their strength." In other words, we can do more than just think about/worry about someone else's problems. We can ask the Creator of everything to personally tend to their situation.

That, I suspect, is the reason behind all the "Bible-quoting" - to remind the suffering that God IS up to bat for you.

If you don't ascribe to that, it's your choice and I don't hate you for it. Honestly, I don't. But for those critical of Christianity - be it a set of rules, a psychosis, having an imaginary friend in God, or what-have-you - consider that if it is true, it's practical help for all your suffering.

I do not see core teachings of Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, Scientology, or anything else, quoted or given to people here who need help. I actually read one comment that encouraged belief in Buddhism, but it was more out of spite of the "Bible-quoting" that happened previously in the discussion.

It's easy to get disillusioned with Christianity just because it's the dominant religion of this nation, and the world (in terms of number of followers). But did you ever consider that maybe nonchristians expect perfection in Christians, and when they fall short, it's just reason to dismiss God or Jesus as made up? It seems nonchristians know just enough about the Bible to condemn Christians for messing up.

The truth is, any Bible-quoting you see here will be quoted by someone who fell short of the Bible's standards. But if the Bible is the truth, they understand something that nonchristians don't: perfect people don't go to Heaven - forgiven people do.

Jesus went through enough suffering here on Earth for one reason: that no matter how much we suffer, He suffered just as much. In other words, He knows what you're going through. He won't appear out of thin air to you because the words are already all there in the Bible. Jesus will return, but we don't know when. It's not the point to try to figure out when, because RIGHT NOW we can follow Him.

The Bible can be quoted for the wrong reasons, but that doesn't make the Bible wrong. Many can quote the Bible to share it with someone who needs to hear it. Just because other religions do not get shared in the same way does not mean Christianity is just a big bully that's pushing its beliefs on others. What it does mean is that some people are so wounded, or wounded from mistaken Christians, that they will be hostile toward it even if it's the one Truth in known existence.

If someone tries to learn calculus in high school, but has difficulty getting a good grade just by putting in a casual effort, they can get pissed off and just give up on it, and declare that calculus not only sucks, but has no practical value to their lives and probably to the lives of others. However, that person's tantrum does not make concepts and formulas of calculus untrue or useless. It's the same thing with the Bible - just because you might think it's downright horse poop, doesn't mean it has no worth to yourself or the human race.

Some dismiss Christianity as unrealistic. And yet, many expect a good, perfect life out of Christianity, even though the world around us is full of imperfection. My friends, expecting an easy life through any religion is TRULY unrealistic. The easiest thing is to serve yourself. Christianity calls you to follow Jesus, and to serve God by doing His will - but that is not popular with many because that might mean doing something you don't want to. But seriously - as a kid we'd want to ride our bike all over the street, but our parents would tell us to stay to one side, or on the sidewalks; we didn't like those rules because it wasn't what we wanted, but in the end we were safer for them, right?

That's why the Bible isn't popular - it's been made out to be a book of rules or fairy tales. But that's neutering it - it's true value is that God left us guidelines to follow to have a meaningful, content life. The commandments and the Gospel of Jesus are to give us abundant life.

And most of us here need abundant life, because we're dying inside.

That is why, even though it's unpopular or seems restrictive, the Bible will continue to be quoted. In previous posts, other religions have not been able to provide practical healing by being shared over comments. We can debate the credibility of every thought that's ever been put forth in human history. But I am saying that although the Truth is honest to the point of being hard to hear, it shows us that we are flawed and NEED a savior - not rules or teachings from a mere man, be it Joseph Smith or Socrates, and certainly not inner truth inside ourselves. Be honest with yourselves and consider there is more to life than just what you can get for yourself.

What is the "more" I'm talking about? It's the comfort of knowing that even though we mess up many times over, we can still know God and live in Heaven with Him forever because Jesus paid the penalty in our place. The Bible will tell you all of it much better than I can, but just know this: Soulcast is not solely a "Jesus site", but you will continue to hear from Him because His message is one we all need to hear. The choice is yours to accept or reject Christianity, but Jesus is the best option.