What beliefs identify your denomination?

The pastor of my church is starting a fifteen week informational course for some prospective members -- also inviting current members and the curious. As I was reading the list of his questions to give focus to the sessions, I thought: those questions might be a way to start a conversation about what different Christians believe. Here are the questions. Readers please feel free to cut and paste them into the comments (or your own blog) and give your own answers, to some or to all, as seems best to you.

1. Why do I exist?
2. Why does death exist?
3. Is death something to be afraid of?
4. Do I have a free will?
5. How does a person get faith?
6. What is predestination?
7. How do I converse with God?
8. Why do we baptize and celebrate communion?
9. How important is the Bible?
10. Haven't I kept the Ten Commandments pretty well?
11. Why is the church after my money?
12. How am I to interact with other Christians?
13. What does the Bible say about the roles of men and women?
14. Will people actually be "left behind"?
15. Who is the Antichrist?


My own take on them, briefly:

1. Why do I exist? 
At the simplest level, because my parents had me. In a Bible class I expect he's looking for the answer with a religious significance, so: Because God is good, and we are here to rejoice in the goodness of what he has made, and to enjoy fellowship with other people.

2. Why does death exist? 
God alone is immortal; we lack divine perfection.

3. Is death something to be afraid of? 
From an animal point of view: of course it is. Possibly also the pain, depending on how we go. Notice Jesus praying in Gethsemane when he knew what the next day would bring. Still, God through Jesus promises resurrection.

4. Do I have a free will? 
Yes, though it has limited scope. Our will seeks our own well-being, generally, and sometimes seeks our self-promotion, prestige, or status.

5. How does a person get faith? 
By hearing the message of God's goodness in Christ.

6. What is predestination? 
God's decree, especially about salvation to those in Christ Jesus.

7. How do I converse with God? 
Speaking: By prayer. Listening: By Bible study. In other moments: through fellowship, when through the Holy Spirit we are God's message to each other.

8. Why do we baptize and celebrate communion? 
To proclaim God's forgiveness and show God's goodness through cleansing us, making us his children, feeding us, and uniting us in fellowship with each other.

9. How important is the Bible? 
Less important than God, more important than our self-centered or self-justifying thoughts.

10. Haven't I kept the Ten Commandments pretty well? 
I'd hope so, and I hope that we continue getting better as time goes by. Still, usually in a context like this, the implied question is: "Isn't that good enough to go to heaven?" where I'd answer that eternal life is a gift.

11. Why is the church after my money? 
I'd hope it's not. Still, for any money the church does receive, I'd hope that it's managed with accountability, that it is well-spent to care for the sick, hungry, or otherwise needy, or for giving people hope through the message of God's faithfulness to us through Christ.

12. How am I to interact with other Christians? 
With brotherly love, patience, gentleness, and respect.

13. What does the Bible say about the roles of men and women? 
In Genesis 3, Eve is made subject to Adam as part of her punishment. (It may have been seen as poetic justice, since she distrusted what Adam had said and led him into wrong, among other things). Paul argues from Eve's punishment to set standards for male/female relations. Still, we are encouraged to treat each other with respect and honor. Paul urges men to lead with Christ-like love and service.

14. Will people actually be "left behind"? 
According to Jesus: Yes, though it may not look exactly like modern authors portray it.

15. Who is the Antichrist? 

That will be known with certainty on the Last Day. Until then, there is a chance that worse will come along than we know now. So until the Last Day, accusations that someone is the Antichrist have the risk of bearing false witness against our neighbors, or even against our brothers in Christ.