Q:
Where did religion come from? I'm not sure I even believe in God, and even if I did, I don't know which religion I'd choose.
A:
In college, I majored in anthropology, which is the study of human societies and cultures around the world. One thing that struck me was that anthropologists have never found a culture that doesn’t have some kind of religion.
Why is this? The reason is because down inside, we all yearn for God, even if we don’t realize it. Even atheists seek something to fill the empty place in their souls — a political system, a cause of some sort, even their own egos.
Why do we yearn for God? The reason is because God put that yearning within us, and He did it because He wants us to seek Him and come to know Him. God isn’t a vague, impersonal force (like gravity or electricity). God is a person, and He loves us and wants us to seek Him and know Him personally. The Bible says, “From one man he made all the nations…. so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him” (Acts 17:26-27).
But how can we know — really know — God? The only way is if He reveals Himself to us, and this is what He has done! He did this by becoming a man: Jesus Christ. This is what we celebrated just a few weeks ago at Christmas.
I invite you to discover this Jesus for yourself. His life is recorded in the first four books of the New Testament, and I urge you to read them with an open heart and mind. When you do, you’ll not only realize who Jesus is, but you’ll also want to make Him the center of your life.