What about the questions-----

Recently I was asked a question that took me by surprise. “How and why do you believe in God?” It’s not that I don’t know what I believe and why, it’s more an issue of thinking like a seeker of God. I accepted Christ as my personal savior in 1970. There was a time when I, like the prodigal son, went my own way. Since returning to Him in 1980, I have focused on trying to grow in faith, love and peace. Throughout those years, I’ve done the things I’ve known to do. I was involved in the church . . . teaching – both individuals and Sunday school classes, joining the Hospital Ministry Team and visiting the sick, participating in foreign missions, and as we had the ability, giving to the needy. The problem? I had slipped into the “so heavenly minded no earthly good” category of Christendom. I have always believed that if we live our lives as “Christ-followers”, showing his love, concern and compassion we will be asked by those who are watching us “What about this God you serve?”

In 1970 I was stationed on Crete with the US Air Force. I remember a man, who served at the same base, stopped me one day and asked why I was always so happy and friendly. I didn’t know him but it was a small base so we saw each other often in the mess hall, post office and other places around the base. I had the enthusiasm of the new believer and it spilled out over everyone who came near. That’s as it should be. I wasn’t surprised at his question, because the questions were fresh in my memory.

I have lost sight of the questions. I could blame it on the hardships of life I had to endure, or be religious and say it’s because of the “so called” maturity I have attained. Or we could say, like my toddler granddaughter says, “Grandpa’s Old”. How about being honest? I, like a lot Christians, got comfortable in the Church environment. All our activities are at the church. All our friends are at church. Everything we do is centered on the church. I’m not saying that is bad. We need that fellowship and learning. We need to be around those like-minded people, but there comes a time when we need to around “seekers” also. If we believe Jesus is the only one who can love and save us, we should be around folks who need to know that. How will they know to ask if we don’t display His love in their presence?

I’ve started thinking about the questions and the framework again. While I know the questions, since the dawn of man, have been the same, today’s world has a different context, and framework. In his book The Reason for God, Timothy Keller says in part ”…I had never experienced God’s presence personally. This required not so much knowledge of techniques for prayer, but a process in which I came to grips with my own needs, flaws, and problems. It was painful, and was, as is typical, triggered by disappointments and failures. … but it needs to be said that faith-journeys are never simply intellectual exercises.” I think the questions and answers are part of the process. Viva la process!

A few things in closing. Keep the enthusiasm you had as a new believer, you’ll spill over. Don’t get so caught up in “church life” that you don’t rub shoulders with unbelievers. Show the love and compassion of Jesus in your daily life and you will be so refreshingly different that those around you will be compelled to ask, “What about this God you serve?”

Don’t be surprised with the questions, expect them!