Posting delinquency
Ok, I know it's been a month since I last posted. Sorry to all 3 of you who still stumble by here every now and then.
I've been thinking about a particular issue a lot lately. While on a long drive, a non-Christian friend of mine and I were talking about religious philosophies. During the discussion, he said something to the effect of, "Yeah, I think there's probably a God, but I don't see how he could hold me responsible for what I've done -- I mean, I'm just who I am, and I'm doing the best I can with what I've got." That is a really compelling argument to a lot of people.
Here's how I think a common response would go to the way the gospel is often presented. A Christian would tell someone that they've committed high treason against a king, and that the punishment is death. One might say (and with good reason), "What? I didn't know about any king, or any rules, or any of that!" How can God hold people responsible for breaking rules they didn't know existed?
I think the answer to this response lies somewhere with the theological issue of depravity. To our ears, the charge made above sounds like, "You messed up where you should have (i.e. could have if you would have tried harder or known or whatever) done this." The charge of treason to the human ears needs to also go towards convincing someone they need to be changed. "You're in a state of treason. You can't do better. You are in a state of wanting to choose yourself over God. You are dead and need life." Christianity then becomes about being transformed. Maybe then we would stop trying just to integrate Jesus into our current self. Maybe eventually we could stop underselling the gospel. Of course, what it means to believe then takes on an entirely new depth. It is no longer only about wanting forgiveness. It transforms into seeing the person and character of Jesus as perfect and lovable, and wanting to be transformed into that person. Forgiveness is also important, but I think it is too small to capture the enormity of the process (at least the way we've sold it for so long).
Anyway, please leave comments or questions. I haven't really thought this out entirely, but I think it is of enormous importance. Perhaps more posts to come on this issue.
I've been thinking about a particular issue a lot lately. While on a long drive, a non-Christian friend of mine and I were talking about religious philosophies. During the discussion, he said something to the effect of, "Yeah, I think there's probably a God, but I don't see how he could hold me responsible for what I've done -- I mean, I'm just who I am, and I'm doing the best I can with what I've got." That is a really compelling argument to a lot of people.
Here's how I think a common response would go to the way the gospel is often presented. A Christian would tell someone that they've committed high treason against a king, and that the punishment is death. One might say (and with good reason), "What? I didn't know about any king, or any rules, or any of that!" How can God hold people responsible for breaking rules they didn't know existed?
I think the answer to this response lies somewhere with the theological issue of depravity. To our ears, the charge made above sounds like, "You messed up where you should have (i.e. could have if you would have tried harder or known or whatever) done this." The charge of treason to the human ears needs to also go towards convincing someone they need to be changed. "You're in a state of treason. You can't do better. You are in a state of wanting to choose yourself over God. You are dead and need life." Christianity then becomes about being transformed. Maybe then we would stop trying just to integrate Jesus into our current self. Maybe eventually we could stop underselling the gospel. Of course, what it means to believe then takes on an entirely new depth. It is no longer only about wanting forgiveness. It transforms into seeing the person and character of Jesus as perfect and lovable, and wanting to be transformed into that person. Forgiveness is also important, but I think it is too small to capture the enormity of the process (at least the way we've sold it for so long).
Anyway, please leave comments or questions. I haven't really thought this out entirely, but I think it is of enormous importance. Perhaps more posts to come on this issue.
posted by Abe at 11:50 AM
6 comments
