Micah 6:8

Evangelism

There is a very thought provoking essay over on the Internet Monk's blog about non-Christians and how Christians typically respond to them. I appreciated this appraisal of the non-Christians:

The people I know are consumers, not seekers. They consume entertainment, movies, personal events, possessions, experiences and relationships. The idea that God has a claim on them is comprehensible, but virtually meaningless. What they want and what they need is in this world, and is not on the other side of a prayer.

I also agreed with him here:

Today's young people are bored with God. They are not "seeking" God at all, but are living on the hardened surface of a fallen human experience, seeking to make sense of what is incomprehensible apart from Christ. We cannot "create" interest apart from the work of the Spirit. Our calling to be witnesses is not to approach the world like cattle to be herded, but as persons to be loved in the way God loves this fallen world through Jesus Christ.

The first thing that this essay got me thinking about was how I need to be more involved with evangelism. I think that the gimmicky evangelism that he talks about is easier then real relationship based evangelism because then people have less fear of being criticized. Let me explain. If you have a real relationship with someone then telling them that you think that their whole life is headed in the wrong direction takes courage and firm faith that your position is correct. If on the other hand you herd some people into your building for a harvest festival and then put tracts in the goody bags you've expended no risk. If someone doesn't like the tract then they just won't come back the next year. I think that my lack of courage has to do with the fact that I lack strong faith. If I really deeply believed that I held the key information that could change a person's life and eternity then I would have no shame in or problem letting everybody know.

Another thing that I thought about was how too often my spirituality is selfishly motivated. I seek personal transformation so that I can get along better with others. I continue believing in God and the hope that he gives because if I didn't then I would fall into a horrible depression that would likely end in suicide. Once in a while I actually do something just for God but frankly this is rare. My faith is too consumeristic. I guess that this is just a part of the fall and shows yet again how desperately I depend on God's forgiveness and mercy.

I suspect that a lot of other people in the church are involved because it at the moment that is what is the most satisfying thing to do. Once something better comes along they will move on. I think that this is probably why people who seem to be super committed Christians can walk away. Their faith was never truly faith but being a Christian was pragmatic in a worldly sense for a time and then it became pragmatic to leave it behind. I wonder how many people would continue to self-identify as Christian if there was serious persecution in our countries. I bet that that would drive out out the uncommitted. Maybe we should pray that it would come.

It's Easier for a Rich Man...

There is a good post on Under the Acacias about how our perception of God is warped by our level of awareness of the suffering in the world. I've recently realized that the typical things that we call blessings—like food, water, clothing, a parking space, etc.—are not really blessings. Jesus says, "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already. Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep." Obviously, to some extent, having our needs met is a blessing but the over abundance is definitely not. This is also in line with proverbs 30 when the speaker says, "Two things I ask from you; do not refuse me before I die: Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread, lest I become satisfied and act deceptively and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God." I think that our wealth and isolation is a disease that is corrupting the church.

I think that the disconnect between the rich Christian view of God and reality is part of the reason that I feel really unsettled in a traditional church. So much time and energy is poured into aesthetic or silly things like the bulletin layout or the pew alignment. When the church here is so spoiled with luxury and so removed from pain how are they really expected to continue focusing on what is important. I crave a church that keeps focus of the kingdom of God.

I certainly haven't figured out exactly what it means to do justice, love mercy or to walk humbly with my God. I hope that my complaints about the church don't sound like I'm saying that. Part of the reason that I crave a better church is because I need it. I long for fellow Christians that can help show me where I've wandered away from holy living. I long for a community to work with. I get bits of it here and there from friends but nothing like what I know that I need.

Why I am a Pro-life Activist

I thought that it wouldn't be a bad idea to do a post on this subject as I had a comment posted asking for a defense of the pro-life position. It makes sense that people would wonder why I would be willing to go out on the street and risk my personal safety and comfort for this position.

What it all boils down to is that the fetus is a human being that deserves the full protection of the law. I do not think that a fetus should have any different status then a newborn. Medical textbooks will even tell you that a fetus is a human being. We know from history that creating two classes of human beings with different levels of protection is a set-up for human rights violations. For example, woman, Jews, blacks and children were all once not considered people and consequently were denied justice. If you consider the situation this way then all reasons in defense of abortion become irrelevant. If your argument can only be applied to a unborn person but not to a newborn then your argument is a based on the premise that the unborn are not people. If this hasn't convinced that your argument is irrelevant then try checking out the Centre for Bioethical Reform's faq page. They do a very good job at logically address different common pro-choice arguments. I'll also answer any questions that you leave as comments or that you email to me.

The reason that I'm willing to do so much for this cause is again because I believe that the unborn are people that deserve a right to life. If we were to regularly kill infants whenever they were inconvenient I would become a part of a movement to protect them. If we regularly subjected people to slavery then I would speak out for them. Basically, I care about justice for all people regardless of their race, age, cognitive ability, gender or social status and I'm willing to put myself on the line to help them. I'm trying to take Jesus' command to love others as you love yourself seriously. If I were being oppressed I would certainly want others to speak up on my behalf. This is enough to motivate me to activism.

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality."
- Desmond Tutu, activist