The Disconnect
Over this last year through Levi's school, and deepening relationships with families we have met there and at the playground I have been struck with a stereotype and prejudice that I seem to have. I have found myself feeling a sense of surprise at the people we know that have zero religious adherence or belief in any God whatsoever but have the same sense of values with regard to marriage, family, work, and community service that I as a religious person has.
Should it surprise me that people are morally centered and selfless without the motivation of faith as the key component for that moral outlook? Faith is at the heart of everything I do. My failures and successes often directly correlate to my spiritual grounding in Christ. I have been thinking a lot about my reactions and assumptions regarding "lost" people, and how I am supposed to "save" them. I mean it's much easier for me to think about a "lost" person as having a life that is totally screwed up rather than a person whose ethics and morals might rival my own.
I have been re-evaluating what it means for a person without faith to come in contact with Jesus through my relationship with them. For the down and out's what Jesus has to offer seems much easier for me to articulate. Forgiveness, love, hope, eternity, moral structure, faithfulness, grace etc. And if I am being honest if that person rejects Jesus it's easier for me to take since their lives are mess up so they haven't hit bottom yet.
But I find it a lot more difficult to articulate the need of Christ to a person who has developed their values and ethics outside of the framework of faith. I wonder if these people might feel the same way about me as I feel about them. I wonder if they think, wow he's a Christian but he seems like a pretty decent, open, and accepting guy.
Being clear, I know Jesus is much much more than just a nice moral or ethical framework for living life. Christ is the embodiment of the word and truth of God. He lived, taught, and showed the breadth and depth of God's love for his children and his longing for them to turn from themselves and turn to Him. But knowing and articulating this is a lot easier than imploring it on other people.
4 comments:
i've found it interesting to discover that not all christians in this world are evangelical christians. it's hard to conceive when one is raised hearing things like "if you don't bring someone with you, you won't be getting into heaven." but a lot of people have a theology that doesn't include "saved" vs "lost". it's more of an ongoing spritual journey, even through the generations. my theory is that the recent (30-40 years) emphasis on evangelism/conversion/lost-to-saved/etc has neglected the value of being raised with faith. but to get to your point...i think a lot of people have been raised in a christian environemnt and have accepted the values of that but have rejected the religious beliefs and faith that has traditionally gone along with the lifestyle. i can't help but wonder if less people would reject christianity if accepting it didn't contradict so much with being raised as a good, christian person. it's like one has to say, "all the good i've known so far in life doesn't matter...i have to convince myself then admit publically that i'm a horrible person if i want to be saved." i think that's a big part of why people don't buy the saved/lost thing. i could be wrong. i think we're at a crossroads. i think a lot of non-religious people now have gotten their morality and values from being raised in a christian atmosphere. but a new generation of parents is going to have to find a new reason to convince their kids to be good. they can't just say, "because this is what god wants you to do." i think they're going to say, and are saying, "because this is the way we all need to be to make the best world possible for everyone in it." which is (perhaps ironically) what was originally appealing to be about christianity in the first place.
Thanks, Jason. As usual- serious words for thought.
I don't believe there is one religion that is "right" above all others. My parents were raised Catholic, but they never pushed it on me and always encouraged me to find my own spirituality within myself. I don't believe there is one cookie-cutter way to navigate through life. I don't believe one book, or one religion is the sole doctrine for life and the only way to connect with God. I've studied many religions and discovered that religion isn't about being right or wrong, it's about guiding oneself through the struggles of life and explaining that which is too much for us to comprehend.
I've always been turned off by Christianity because of the "you're doing it wrong if you're not doing this" attitude. Faith is not a brand name.
We all struggle with who we are and why we are here regardless of our religion or lack thereof. I believe there is a power far greater than ourselves that put us here and it's that feeling within me that allows me to experience God in extraordinary ways. It is that feeling that makes me strive to be a better person and leave this earth a better place.
I'm surprised that you're surprised that people can have strong morals without having been raised within your religious framework. Since you are admitting your biases I will admit mine...
I am always surprised when I meet a cool Christian person who I have things in common with. When I meet someone who I know is a Christian, I automatically assume two things.
A) They are judging me for not being Christian.
B) They are going to try to convert me.
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