Answers are one thing the Christian community has no shortage of. So many of my peers have the most matter-of-fact responses to some of the most confounding conundrums within mankind's general understanding of existence. Whether it's why things are the way they are, why they won't be what they can be, or why they may never be; there's always a coyly rattled off explanation. It's as if most believers should just playfully look at the inquisitor and reply, "Well, someone hasn't been reading their Scripture!"
At the deli/wing-joint I work at one of my managers and I frequently talk about religion. He shares a vastly different set of beliefs than I do; yet our conversations are always civil on both of our ends, even with the intensity of the content of our discussions.
"What if you're wrong, Ben?" He asked one day, "What if there is a right religion and you don't believe it, or what if all religions are wrong?" What I appreciated most was that he didn't ask this in malice; this was genuine inquisition.
"Well, I guess the probability that I'm wrong is the same as Buddhists, Muslims, Atheists, Polytheists, Wiccans, etc. are wrong, but for me my faith isn't about being right. I don't have to be right, I just choose to believe because my Christian conception of God has been relevant to me."
I knew this answer would have bothered a ton of my more theologically conservative friends. They probably would've accused me for having a weak faith because I didn't tell my manager that it was impossible that I was wrong. My manager was stunned. He told me he had never heard anybody tell him anything of the sort. All of the responses he ever got back from that question were mainly accusations that maybe he was wrong too, and if he was wrong he would go to hell whereas the believer would just rot in the ground if they were wrong.
It upset me that the only Christians he has asked that question to were too insecure in their beliefs to embrace the true nature of faith; the possibility of being wrong.
Though Jesus did scold the disciples a great deal for being skeptical of Jesus' nature, he also said that those who trust in him who didn't see him are more blessed than those who did see him (John 20:29). Jesus knew that faith wasn't an easy gig, so why have so many Christians made it seem so simple?
Every person has wondered where the world comes from, how it got to be that some people never lack while others live and die in it, and how it will all end. According to many Christians these questions are all answered simply by creation, sin, and ascension (respectively). Hope and faith only comes into the picture when we doubt these explanations simplicity. Unfortunately, some then use "hope" and "faith" to reinforce the simplistic nature of these explanations. It's almost as if a child uses their own foolhardiness to affirm to themselves that their mom didn't buy them the life-sized Optimus Prime because she doesn't love them, but many Christians call this ignorance "hope" or "faith."
There was survey done recently among third-graders which asked them if they thought athletes taking performance enhancing substances were wrong. An overwhelming number of them said it was wrong because it was cheating. Adults didn't quite rival the number of 'nays' towards PED's that the kids did, because as adults, we know there are more angle to approach this issue from than just right of wrong. For example, why is ok to drink coffee on the morning to be more awake for the exam than it is to take a nutrient supplement to enhance a workout? Both are using chemicals to enhance performance, so what's the real difference here?
Those third-graders didn't think of that. Maybe if they did they would have though a bit more about their answers, but being that the world hasn't been fully brought into focus yet for them, it only makes sense that they keep very simple lines of reasoning.
In faith, I find that so many adults still subscribe to this type of simple reasoning in the case of God's existence. Too many people "know" that God exists, and only the faint in heart "believe." The Christians who "know" God exists typically also "know" God's stances on political issues (conservatives and liberals alike), the true nature of morality, and who will be going to heaven. This "knowledge," which is sculpted by the fear of being wrong and ultimately not in control, is enforced by feigning childish ignorance to the validity of opposing worldviews.
I thought Jesus said those who believed without seeing were blessed? These Christians haven't seen and seem afraid.
I believe that being "blessed" in the way Jesus used the term is to enjoy in the risks of living in a genuine relationship with a God who can only continue in your life by faith. If we live by faith, then we know when God is speaking to us, instead of how he speaks to everyone. If we live by hope, we know when God is connected to us, instead of as-a-matter-of-factly blasting those who doubt in the object of our connection.
Let's abandon our knowledge in our faith, and be blessed.
Ben is a fourth year student at the University of Delaware studying Mathematics Education. He writes as a hobby, and published his first book in December of 2008. You can read his other works, and even purchase his book at http://somedaypublished.com.
My question would be concerning the further implications of a few of the ideas you brought up. In particular, the comment to your friend, that you believe because your conception of God is "relevant" to you.
Where does this put Christians in regards to missions and evangelism? Christ told his disciples to preach the gospel to all nations. But if the truth of the Christian faith rests on its "relevance" to an individual and is not considered true objectively, what is the new motivation for spreading the faith?
On the whole, though, very good article.
I feel as if I should have taken the time to elaborate on the term relevance. The reason Christ is "relevant" to me is because of the drastic change my faith has brought to my person. This change of course, is objectively real yet still personal, making missions all the more important.
I hope this clarifies any confusion.
Ben
I find this problem occurs more often with the children always raised in a Christian background. They have always taken it for granted...and in the meantime, never have actually had a personal experience resulting in the basis of their faith.
I don't know that there is really a solution. Many of these Christians are unaware of their situation; they are unaware of the difference between their "faith" and the faith you speak of, Ben. It saddens me...because they truly are missing out. To have faith in something...and to truly know why...it's quite amazing.
It's also not very hard to distinguish between the people who have a personal faith that is "relevant to them" versus the people who have had a "traditional" faith they have been raised up on. I definitely have my preference of which type of Christian I prefer to spend time with...but that's just me.
It's a problem that I still don't know a solution to. The Bible tells parents to raise their children in the faith, so I definitely don't fault them for it. There comes a time when someone raised in a Christian background has to find a way to step back, so to speak, and evaluate everything. And that's rather difficult to do when your whole mindset has been molded by "traditional" Christianity.
I agree that faith and Christianity in general should be relevant to our lives. So many "Christians" have a type of faith that is only relevant to their deaths. Sometimes I forget that being a follower of Christ is more than just fire insurance and that to be a true Christian I need to live a life that is pleasing to him. If I do live such a life, the works (missions, witnessing, etc.) will go along with the faith that I base my life upon.
Sorry, I kinda forgot where I was going with this one, but if anyone wants to add on, feel free.
Robert, I find this interesting in regards to missions. In my opinion, many missions trips are somewhat contrived and it takes extra work to make them personal (especially if it's in a country whose language and people you aren't familiar with). I think one has to make spreading the gospel personal because handing out gospel tracks and evangelical material to hundreds, thousands, even millions of people may not mean much to the recipients. Rather, finding Christianity's relevance to your life will naturally flow from within you and people around you will hopefully notice that. That's where more faith comes intrusting that the God you believe is in you can speak to others without you being conscious of it.
The matter is that Jesus has made us righteous and justified us- so we don't have to justify ourselves. He already did it. So I don't have to be "right" in talking with people. God appeals to the hearts of men, not to their minds. The mind is the battlefield, it's what needs refreshing daily.
Having grown up Christian and remained that way through life, I understand some of the struggles that Christians raised as such deal with. I think that the matter is that *experience* is what helps us to express faith to others and solidifies it within ourselves. God, after all, desires relationship- and relationship DEMANDS literal experience of the person you are in relationship with. I have several encounters with the Living God that have given my faith a measure of solidarity that normally would be lacking in the life of a person who grew up in a Christian home.
This is something I've noticed/thought of often, too. "What if there is a right religion and you don't believe it, or what if all religions are wrong?" I've experienced simplistic responses similar to those you've written about. I've also felt intimidated at times, like I can't question my faith in hopes of growing in it because I can't quote the Bible verse for verse, and therefore I have no grounds to argue/question/discuss/what have you.
Something else I've given thought to: What if there is really only one God, but He(/She) reveals himself to different people in different ways. Meaning, what if our Christian God is really the same as the God of other religions, but He's just choosing to present himself to the people of different cultures in different ways? In ways that are most "relevant" to them? Or, perhaps different cultures have just developed a different view of Him from the start, given that we're all so geographically distant and our lifestyles so different. This isn't a fully developed philosophy, just some thoughts. Why confine God to a box?
Hmm, I guess that's just something to think about...
I think this article is really nice and I enjoyed reading it. Definitely would like to talk about those ideas you have. I would love to share some similar thoughts, especially from my background and the impact that it has had since I got to UD.
Christine, I think many people have the same question regarding the different people, different approaches idea. I've toyed with it myself at times, but realized that if God says in the Bible that Jesus is the ONLY way, that he is the ONLY God, and that people can ONLY come to know God through Jesus, and yet he approached people from another perspective also, than God is a liar and the entire Bible should be thrown away. Its kind of an all-or-nothing kind of thing when you look at what Scripture affirms to be true. If it is true, then it's true and there is only one way to God, if its false, then you can completely throw away Christianity. Why bother with something that is riddled with lies?
14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
Be o so careful in saying "but for me my faith isn't about being right. I don't have to be right, I just choose to believe because my Christian conception of God has been relevant to me." In fact, don't say it at all.
We cannot on one hand say that we don't have to be right, and on the other decry lightly taking to indoctrination. Truth matters, reality is so important, Christ came to testify to the truth. Being right is of utmost importance.
So get angry with those who lightly and confidently take to answers but do not work to make sure they are true. You shall save them from future disaster when they are faced with tragedy and find their reasons for believing in God were weak indeed.
Yes, faith is central to our existence. There is faith in everything I do. I have faith in my teachers; how am I to KNOW that Napoleon lived? But if I can be so sure that the theorems of math hold true, that noncontradiction applies, that tyrants and men existed in the past, I must pursue with a greater ferocity truth about God who is of so much more importance.
If God is relevant because He has brought change to our lives, missions is dead. There are so many other muses, so many other paths to transcendence that people can follow that will change their lives. There are more culturally accepted ways for them to pursue a changed life that will not bring them the persecution of following Christ.
God is relevant to everyone, YHWH is relevant to everyone because he is the only true God. Do not put YHWH in a box by saying he has to take on other forms to be relevant to other people and other cultures. He created them all!
So do not fault someone because they are so certain about God; rather fault them if their reasons for certainty are thin. Lewis warned against historical snobbery, discounting an idea simply because it is old. Do not practice certainty snobbery.
Faith is inescapable and wonderful and brings glory to God. But we have reason for it:
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life." - 1 John 1:1.
Being right maters.
Adam, I respect your strong stand for Jesus, but missions is only dead when we no longer are salty or stop letting Christ be a light or lose love. If Ben and his boss discuss this daily, the reality of Jesus Christ will shine through Ben as a witness through his testimony, not through his anger or his demands, as you suggest. God is love. Not force.
I remember being the non-believer who discredited Christians because they always had to have this agenda of "saving" me. The Holy Spirit called my name, not the Christians. In fact, I was sadly disappointed at the hipocrisy of the "mature" believers. They had so much figured out; it was if God had nothing more to teach them.
Simplicity, honesty, humilty... God defines wisdom and folly, not us. The Holy Spirit pulls the soul as we, Christ's representatives, walk humbly with our God, planting, watering, harvesting, edifying with LOVE. Not human love.
We, in ourselves, cannot love as Christ has loved us. We need Him to give that to us. Our witness, our theology, our missions are nothing without His love through us. The Apostle Paul knew this well.
We can choose the right God, Jesus, and still manage to get so much so wrong. We are all still growing.
And Ben.. keep witnessing as a real person, showing the world around you a real personal impacting relationship with The Living God. The Holy Spirit is working with you on their hearts and yours.
Add Your comments:
Use this form only to comment on the article that you just read.
If you have a question, please click here to use the Contact form instead. Thanks!