This was a question asked in the book we are focused on for our Adult Education Unbinding The Gospel.
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| Really? For Everyone? |
Our devoted group tentatively offered answers to this question but there was a discernible discomfort. We are used to coming up with reasonable answers. This implies any reasonable person should, through our witness of why we are Christian, reach the conclusion that they should be Christian. I did not reason my way into being a Christian so that is most likely not my storing suit evangelism. We have lived in a multicultural culture where our politics are so polarized we don't seem to be able to agree upon facts and logic.
The reason I start with the Adult Education session rather than worship today is that they seemed very much of the same cloth and Pastor Michelle inspired my current answer to the inquiry, Why be a Christian?
She had returned from Synod Assembly in Eugene and gave us news about the outcome of resolutions that had been voted on. She also reported being moved by a prayer Bishop Dave Brauer-Rieke gave, thanking the Lord for giving us spiritual security in the midst of spiritual insecurity. For her, this deeply captured the spirit of the heart of the Gospel Reading Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
It is at the heart of my answer to the question Why be a Christian? Personally, following Jesus provides something the world cannot give. This is not something that can be described as a worldly benefit. At times I glimpse a kingdom of heaven and at other times I only see foolishness in all of this when what the world values overwhelms me..
My wife Mary is listening to old lectures and reading the books of Huston Smith He grew up in China and, because of that, could make this observation: Traditionally, every Chinese was Confucian in ethics and public life, Taoist in private life and hygiene, and Buddhist at the time of death, with a healthy dash of shamanistic folk religion thrown in along the way. As someone has put the point: Every Chinese wears a Confucian hat, Taoist robes, and Buddhist sandals. In Japan Shinto was added to the mix.
To the western mind this seems to be contradictory. This was the answer to what I posted in last week's blog entry about being simultaneously too hard and too easy on what it is to have a Christ-centered life.
My life is divided into what I wear in the different spheres of life. Sometimes inspiration happens and I realize I am always wearing the different pieces of clothing, wherever I am.
Those times are, probably for good reason, not as often as I would prefer.
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