I was talking to a couple of friends the other day about growing up in the Church of Christ and questioning whether it really provided any benefits. We agreed that sometimes we feel like those who did not grow up in the COC have stronger faiths and seem to be more on fire for God because it was solely their decision to become a follower, as it should be; but there is that parental influence that a Church of Christer must overcome before they can call their faith their own. And I am not saying that Church of Christ is a bad thing at all. There have just been times that I have wondered that if I didn't have that background if my faith would be stronger than it seems to be at times. I have noticed recently with a good friend of mine, that commited her life to Jesus just this past March, that she seems to be farther along in her walk with Christ than I am at times, and knowing that I have been through church all my life and have been a commited follower for almost three years now, it makes me wonder how much of a difference my background with the church really made. Then my friend Bryan reminded me of the things that having a Christian family and Church of Christ childhood saved me from that in this day so many people have to deal with; i.e. drugs, family problems, violence in the home, abusive parents, and not saying that Christian families can't and don't fall into those things but statistics show that the percentages are in their favor. Also growing up in COC provides good grounding and solid Christian friends in the youth group. And so I must say that I am glad that I was brought up that way, but I think that there is another point that should be made here. One is not a better Christian for having that sort of Church background and should not think of themselves as one. And as Bryan put it, "the beauty of the cross is that is applies to everyone equally." And therefore, those who were not blessed with a good church background can have the same chance to come to Jesus as the rest of us.