Think About It

Are you a Christian? If so what does that mean? Why do you believe what you believe and do you really believe it?

You may think that those are not difficult questions to answer. But are they that simple? Is our faith in Christ and belief in God that simple to answer? Regardless of your ability to answer them is the greater question of can you answer them correctly?

I have become increasingly frustrated with believers who claim the name of Christ and yet years after conversion still know little to nothing about their faith. As humans we take big things and make them small so we can deal with them. Instead of exploring the vastness of God we fit him into a box we can understand. We over simplify.

Why are we not more wise in our faith and what we believe? People look at Christians and say we are ignorant. And we respond with, "I'm not very smart or Christ came to the poor and the weak". True he did. But through his power, those poor and week became strong. Not in a physical sense, although that may be the case sometimes, but mentally. He gives wisdom. We can't understand and know everything, but he gave us minds to think.

I have a growing desire to know more about my God and to take a stand when challenged on what I believe. Because of that I have started reading more and have really been drawn in by Ravi Zacharias who has a program called "Let My People Think". On a recent broadcast of his he had Dr. Peter Berger on his program. Dr Berger was asked, "Is evangelical intellectual an oxymoron?" Berger replied "No it isn't. There is a prejudice, in fact it's one of few prejudices in elite american society that is still permissible. Everything else is racism, sexism, or whatever. I think it is a very unfortunate stereotype which has little to do with reality. It is deplorable that this prejudice exists and it should be counteracted." Counteracted by knowing what you believe. By the way, Dr. Berger is by his own statement not an evangelical.

Why are we considered ignorant? We have not given the world a reason to think otherwise. I believe we have become lazy. We listen to others tell us what to do, what to think and it is often the world dictating these things to us. No wonder only 9% of people who called themselves Christians had a biblical world view. It's a result of watching Oprah all week and listening to the pastor on Sunday. I can assure you those two messages don't jive. We even need study guides to help teach others the Bible. Why is the Bible not enough? I'm not knocking study guides, they are helpful but they are often a crutch. We need to tap into the wisdom God says he will give if we ask for it. (James 1:5)

We have watered down our faith. The Gospel is simple and easy to understand. God made it that way. Praise Him for that. But our faith and knowledge of God is not. We need to be willing to work through difficult issues. Matthew 10:16 says to "Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves". We are do be wise about our faith. As 1 Peter 3:15 says, "...be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear"

Are you ready to give an answer? What will your answer be and will it cause someone to run to God or run away?