The case for compelling christianity?
30 Apr 2009
Paul writes… my soul has been searched. The itch has been scratched. The questions aired if not always fully answered. Acceptance has been obtained, a normal level of anxiety and stress achieved.
I have come to a place in myself where, for the moment, I am happy to be a christian.
I sort of have my head around a few issues that really used to bug me and others I can now shrug at knowing that some mystery and suspense is ok.
Really I’m ok, i’m happy with having a common tradition, i’m happy seeing myself as much part of the problem of why christians are so annoying at times and can also see that owning up to this goes along way to start joining the solution.
There’s just one slight fly in the oitment, i have no idea anymore why anyone who isn’t a christian would want to be one. I can think of some possbily platitudinous and what seem potentially patronising answers to that question but nothing that really sticks.
I once was a compulsion christian, now I just want to know what you think is compelling for other people to want to be one?
19 comments
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Comment by Rick Cruse
3.31 pm on 30 Apr 2009
At one level, I find myself in full agreement with your quandary. My wife and I ask ourselves on many Sunday mornings: “Why are we here? Why in the world–especially on a not-so-often-in-this-part-of-the-world–sunny Sunday morning is anybody here?” And I’m the pastor! Then, by extension, comes your own question: why would a nonChristian want to become one? I’ve come to a place of greater understanding of and contentment in the fact that this is not a question I need to ask any more. It really and truly is (and needs to be) an act of God.
Whether it be in the life of a Musl*m I’ve heard about from a friend who came to Christ through a dream (and was baptized, as God told him he would be, by a fluke thunderstorm in the middle of the desert), or
Whether it’s God at work in a little 7-year-old boy who’s family is falling apart and who’s developmentally challenged as a reader and who’s teacher asked him what he’d like to read for practice said, “I’ve started reading the Bible at home. Could we read that together?” Or,
Whether it’s a young mom who has been searching for God since she was a little girl and just recently found him in Jesus.
So, I work on my message for this week, starting with a kindergarten “show and tell” illustration that simply encourages us to show the gospel and, as witnesses of God at work in us, tell others only what’s happening in our lives. God then does his only-God-can-do things, whatever they are.
Comment by Paul
8.46 pm on 1 May 2009
Thanks Rick, so it’s a sovereign God doing his thang. Which is cool, God looking out for people and people stopping long enough to look out for God and them hooking up.
Which makes me think the only reason for being a christian is so that when God makes other people christian they have folk to hook up with and learn and journey with?
Comment by Alan Mann
3.55 pm on 30 Apr 2009
What genuinely ‘compelling’ reasons do you think there are why people wouldn’t want to be Christian that aren’t ‘platitudinous and . . . potentially patronising answers?
Comment by Paul
8.47 pm on 1 May 2009
That’s the question Alan, got any suggestions?
Comment by brett jordan
8.01 pm on 30 Apr 2009
i’m with rick…
Comment by Jason
7.44 am on 1 May 2009
I’m more with Alan.
How about:
1. Living a deep life connected to God and others
2. Helping transform ourselves and the world, for the common good
3. Having a common good, instead of the social contract of consumerism that pits us against each other in scarcity
4. To enjoy God, his people and creation
5. Living with the consequences of what we do now lasting for eternity
6. Knowing, and being known by Jesus, loved by Jesus
7. Something to invest life in that will last for eternity
Just a few for starters.
Comment by Paul
8.51 pm on 1 May 2009
Greeat suggestions Jase and a lot of them make sense to me. I’m just wondering though, with the exception of answer 6, why they make a particularly compelling case for christianity as opposed to any of the other faith positions which could also argue along similar lines?
Comment by brett
8.13 am on 1 May 2009
i’m with jason…
Comment by Jason Clark
3.50 pm on 1 May 2009
I’m with me too
Comment by Paul
8.48 pm on 1 May 2009
ah an ecumenical matter
Comment by brett jordan
10.49 am on 2 May 2009
re: “I’m just wondering though, with the exception of answer 6, why they make a particularly compelling case for christianity as opposed to any of the other faith positions which could also argue along similar lines?”
this one moves towards the arena of apologetics… of which the arguments would include…
1. history and evidence
2. jesus’ claims & proofs that he was God
3. coherence of scriptures/belief structure
i have increasingly come to see these arguments as ‘important but secondary’… they help christianity to be seen as something more than just superstition, but, like rick cruse, i believe the real proof of christianity is in the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit convicting us of our need for forgiveness, and providing us with evidence of it, in an ongoing salvation…
Comment by Nick Charalambous
2.59 pm on 2 May 2009
I’m not sure that Christians should be about finding compelling reasons to be a Christian, as though we’re trying to persuade or argue people into faith. Christianity lived by the power of God doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to “natural” people, and I don’t think Jesus would like us soft-peddling the truth to make it easier to grasp. I think the whole point of our faith is to put people in a situation where they are are able to recognize the truth for themselves, and mostly, that’s removing obstacles to seeing our faith and Jesus for what they are. The message of Jesus, sensibly and clearly articulated allows the Holy Spirit to do its work of compelling hearts to repentence of sin. Praise be to God. Amen.
Comment by bev
9.33 am on 4 May 2009
Hmmm.. it is a quandry.
I’m with all of you
I guess for me, I would rather have a purpose bigger then me in my life and whether it is true or not, I haven’t found peace or adventure looking for it elsewhere. I have no idea why someone who isn’t a follower of Jesus would want to be one , though.
So doesn’t that come down to how we “do” evangelism? (I hate that word- too many negative memories)
I will look forward to Jason’s talks on this later in the year- I certainly don’t think people care about consequences or Eternity..
Thanks for the post, Paul…and more so that you are fiding answers on other areas, and coming to a place of peace
Bev
Comment by David
9.34 am on 5 May 2009
Perhaps choosing following Jesus only makes sense to those who know that they’re ‘lost’ – that their lives are in a mess. Freedom, forgiveness and the Father’s favour are of great value (Matt 13:46) to the forlorn, frustrated and forgotten.
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Comment by Rick Cruse
2.06 pm on 5 May 2009
I was caught off guard by this comment, and more than a little chagrined. Although my earlier comments may (or may not) be spot on, your insight cut through a lot of my own BS and pierced my heart. Thanks.
Comment by Jenny
2.04 pm on 5 May 2009
I’m with Nick. As Christians, we are an inclusive community with an exclusive message. For me, that’s the only way it works. Seek ye first. I guess I’m fortunate since I’ve seen it working since I was small; I’ve never really had to be convinced. Of course, I’ve suffered, despaired and wondered, Surely a loving God . . . But there’s nothing that comes close, in my experience, so I’m def happy to keep going.
If people don’t want to become Christians, perhaps it’s because they are also blinded by the spirit of the age and the deceitfulness of sin . . .?
Comment by Becky
9.53 pm on 5 May 2009
Only slightly related, but interesting:-
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1177585/Men-want-macho-hymns-fewer-flowers-dancing-church.html
Comment by Scott White
5.47 pm on 15 May 2009
Paul,
I’ve become convinced that Jesus was profoundly brilliant. He wasn’t some disconnected, head-in-the-clouds rabbi that said heavenly things which sounded good but really had little practical value for our earthly, fallen existence. He was a realist. He lived real life, hurt, cried, got hungry, had enemies, had to discover his purpose, and figure out how to live what he taught.
As the most brilliant of all men, however, he saw real things that we fail to see. He saw how God’s world actually does work–that worry really sucks the life out of you, that retaliation just begets more pain, that all of our hearts are desperately sick, that divine favor is the way out of it all and is actually available to the lowly, not the powerful.
Lo and behold, through eyes baptized into this Kingdom he spoke of, we find that we and all of humanity have simply taken as a ‘given’ a life which actually is a deception. Without the proper instruments to guide us through the thick clouds we’ve simply been flying upside down without knowing it. At first blush Jesus looks out of touch, and the life he promotes appears unachievable. But for those who ACTUALLY FOLLOW they find that their lives this month are a little different than they were last month. They discover that a compelling, unseen force is at work in them. Eventually their lives prove that doing what he said is the hardest thing that they’ve ever done, but the only thing that holds the promise of that for which they’ve always hoped.
Look far and wide fellow sojourner. If you find someone else who has lived the daily existence in this messed up world, but more clearly seen the Truth this world is actually built upon, then follow that one. For me I’ve found nothing and no one more compelling than Jesus.
Comment by David
9.22 pm on 18 May 2009
I think on some level there has to be a sense that you have a relationship with the living God in a way that you haven’t found in any other way/faith. In that sense I suppose its quite a personal/subjective thing. Although in our lives there should be evidence of this for others to see. Thats probably (speaking for myself at least) the bit thats often missing in terms of Christianty really being compelling.
David
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