Yesterday I had a discussion about God with a colleague at work. He brought it up – I didn’t.
Mike grew up in a Christian home, was educated in Christian schools, and even attended a Christian college. Today he’s agnostic.
He believes there’s a God. He even thinks God probably loves him. He’s just not sure what God is like or what God expects of him. He doesn’t think the Bible is authoritative because it was “written by men with an agenda.” He thinks everyone follows the same God – Christian, Jew, and Muslim. He’s also not sure what to believe about Jesus. He likes his teachings but just doesn’t trust what others have written about him.
If you ask Mike what keeps him from Christianity, he’s quick to respond – it’s Christians.
You see, Mike has a bad history with Christians. It started in his teen years when his sister committed suicide. At the funeral, while trying to share the gospel with those present, the minister made it clear his sister could not be in heaven because of her actions. Mike was incensed. Is this what God was all about? Follow the rules or be on the outside.
Mike’s parents made him go to a Christian college even though he didn’t want to. More rules. Little grace. Mike broke as many rules as he could and got himself kicked out.
He sees all Christians as setting up rules and forcing everyone else to follow. Think Moral Majority. It’s not lost on me that I haven’t been able to change his perception. At least not yet.
The gospel is supposed to be good news. Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28; New Living Translation) We can do nothing to save ourselves. Christ has done it all. And yet, for some reason, we often imply that more needs to be done. When we do this, we add weight to the weary. Instead of rest, we wear them out.
God isn’t finished with Mike. He’s not finished with me either. There’s not a thing either one of us can do to earn God’s favor. This is good news.
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Brian, I loved the post. I've only come to see (with more clarity) that there really is nothing we can do. So easy to say, but I have lived as though my hard work or morality warrants or brings upon God's favor. In the smallest way, I have trusted in God's favor and mercy in Christ and the amount of freedom I've experienced from the smallest taste blows me away. By his grace, I crave it more and more and by his mercy expect that it will be coming. The more that we can embody this unconditional love that is beyond good, will people like your co-worker be intrigued by the uniqueness of the gospel. Love to you and your fam. My wife is so thankful for your wife's investment in her. Take care.
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