If You're Not a Christian
I will not tell you to be a Christian. I will not manipulate you. I will not "use" you. I will not judge you. I will not preach at you.
I will respect you. I will show you love. I will listen to you.
And when I've listened to you, you may . . . just maybe . . . want to listen to me. And if you ask me why I follow Jesus of Nazareth, I will tell you.
Grace: I have not found a religion, philosophy, person, or idea that has such a concept as grace. Grace means than God shows favor even when it is not deserved (and precisely when it is not deserved). Grace means that God loves even when you are unlovable. I have yet to find this anywhere else. Christianity allows me to speak two truths: 1.) The ugly truth about myself that I don't want to admit to myself. 2.) The truth of what God says about me, in spite of the first truth. That is grace.
Sensibility: Christianity makes sense. It is grounded in an "earthy" understanding of creation. It is grounded in history. It is grounded in moral and natural law. Only two things don't make sense: Why God continues to love rebellious people (see grace). And the fact that a man physically rose from the dead (Jesus of Nazareth).
Meaning: Christianity offers me an urgently important sense of meaning. First, I find my identity in the cross of Jesus Christ (see grace). I am confident and grounded in who I am - not fearful, anxious, or insecure. Second, I now find that God calls me to do incredibly meaningful and absolutely vital work in the world. I don't have a job, a duty, or an obligation. I have callings from God - husband, father, pastor, neighbor, friend, citizen . . . Seeing these as God-given callings allows me to go about them with God-given power.
Stories: I will not share them publicly, but if you ask, I will tell you stories. Personal stories about how God has acted upon me. How he has ruined me, and restored me. Life stories about why I'm a sold out, all in, fully-devoted follower of the Crucified and Risen Jesus.
I will not tell you to be a Christian. I will not manipulate you. I will not "use" you. I will not judge you. I will not preach at you.
I will respect you. I will show you love. I will listen to you.
And when I've listened to you, you may . . . just maybe . . . want to listen to me. And if you ask me why I follow Jesus of Nazareth, I will tell you.
Grace: I have not found a religion, philosophy, person, or idea that has such a concept as grace. Grace means than God shows favor even when it is not deserved (and precisely when it is not deserved). Grace means that God loves even when you are unlovable. I have yet to find this anywhere else. Christianity allows me to speak two truths: 1.) The ugly truth about myself that I don't want to admit to myself. 2.) The truth of what God says about me, in spite of the first truth. That is grace.
Sensibility: Christianity makes sense. It is grounded in an "earthy" understanding of creation. It is grounded in history. It is grounded in moral and natural law. Only two things don't make sense: Why God continues to love rebellious people (see grace). And the fact that a man physically rose from the dead (Jesus of Nazareth).
Meaning: Christianity offers me an urgently important sense of meaning. First, I find my identity in the cross of Jesus Christ (see grace). I am confident and grounded in who I am - not fearful, anxious, or insecure. Second, I now find that God calls me to do incredibly meaningful and absolutely vital work in the world. I don't have a job, a duty, or an obligation. I have callings from God - husband, father, pastor, neighbor, friend, citizen . . . Seeing these as God-given callings allows me to go about them with God-given power.
Stories: I will not share them publicly, but if you ask, I will tell you stories. Personal stories about how God has acted upon me. How he has ruined me, and restored me. Life stories about why I'm a sold out, all in, fully-devoted follower of the Crucified and Risen Jesus.
