I was reading over some of my past writings to ensure I have not covered this coming topic fully or not to repeat what I have said before. I am too young to already be repeating stories already. I was thinking about some of the students I encountered in Slovakia that I hope to see again next month in Italy (the military students) as well as the close proximity to people in the field. What kind of faith do people live?
What a person lives is too often so far from what they claim to believe. I have had so much more understanding of St. Francis' quote I have in my headline, "Share the gospel always, when necessary use words." Without getting on too much of a rabbit trail I find it important to point out that everyone lives out their faith. Whether that faith can be recognized with any specific organized religion or not doesn't matter. Faith as Hebrews 11:1 states it is what we cannot see but put our hope towards. Even the denial of faith is faith that there is none.
As I mentioned in the Slovakia Blog, that I am not interested in convincing people to say a prayer that means something at the moment but will not likely last beyond the week. I also must be careful not to underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit working in someone from a week in God's presence. As I mentioned in the first part the majority of Americans believe themselves to be Christians, but so few know what it means to be a Christian.
Haunting over me I have Matthew 7:15-23 scrolling across my thoughts like a teleprompter. If people can prophesy, cast out demons and perform other miracles but not know Christ what about the rest of us? I have been far from ever able to perform a miracle, so for Jesus to have such harsh words about focusing on the acts and not on him is quite the stern warning. On one side it is comforting because it shows how much Christ cares about the personal relationship he seeks with us, our salvation is not based by our works. On the other side, when it comes to my daily failings in the Christian life, my will departing from Christ's it is the same kind of fear that would be instilled in a Hellfire and Brimstone sermon.
I recall a talk by Darin McWatters at Hume, he was described the individuality of Christianity. He said it would be great if all we needed to do to be set for eternity was to inform someone about Christ, or know Jesus name. The hurdle that someone must believe is so much further it is often frustrating. It is very easy to inform someone of some random fact or an important detail. To introduce someone to God on a personal level is difficult because we are so unfamiliar as a society with anyone taking a genuine interest in another person for non-selfish reasons.
For cabin time in Slovakia I would have one question that we would all go around in a the circle to answer, not so much as an icebreaker but it added a touch of personal investment into each member. I constantly emphasized to give a real answer to whatever the answer would be. As I phrased it, “be real, not like you're writing an essay or up for a pageant.” We have such common speech that to describe an active faith by speech alone is very difficult. I think the only thing that truly separated what I had to say was me being on the brink of tears trying to describe my relationship with Christ. Hopefully the guys could see my genuine sincerity about the discussions. I often find myself trying to be too intellectual about my faith when sharing it through conversation.
As other blogs have easily noted, I take a great appreciation being knowledgeable about my faith and issues of faith through apologetics and empirical knowledge. I have spent more time lately focusing on the importance of the heart within that faith. I cannot let one side take over so as I become a heartless Christian or a faithful buffoon. Looking at John 14:20-21 I read it that God requires our heart first and our minds will be answered in time.
How then do we be authentic in our faith enough to share it when asked, in accordance with 1 Peter 3:14-17? Is the gentleness and respect all that we must do when giving our reasons for our hope? I think not, if I had a well written essay about why I believe and carried it with me everywhere I went just in case someone asked me I would not think that to be what God demands of us. The personal aspect of sharing our testimony with someone adds what words often cannot describe. I think it is called authenticity.
I can write about the awesome sights I have seen in my travels, or my passions I pursue with my time, or even the euphoria I get from a good workout, but none of those are remotely close to feel if I could tell you about those things in person. That happens with things we care about. I am constantly told when I get talking about something I care about I get loud and very excited. Isn't that how we should be about things we care about? That is where there is so much more value in what we say and do than in what we claim.
Epilogue: Due to some travel difficulties on another weekend, as a form of punishment I was tasked to go on a field exercise instead of go to Italy. Sometimes that is how the cookie crumbles..
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