Conversations of Faith at Common Ground

Have you ever come across a person who is prickly about Christians? What do you do or say when you run into someone like that?

An author I like, Randy Alcorn, gives an example of how we can respond.

On Fox News, Joel Osteen was interviewed by Chris Wallace (12/23), and asked if Osteen thinks Mitt Romney, a Mormon, is a Christian:

WALLACE: And what about Mitt Romney? And I’ve got to ask you the question, because it is a question whether it should be or not in this campaign, is a Mormon a true Christian?

OSTEEN: Well, in my mind they are. Mitt Romney has said that he believes in Christ as his savior, and that’s what I believe, so, you know, I’m not the one to judge the little details of it. So I believe they are.

And so, you know, Mitt Romney seems like a man of character and integrity to me, and I don’t think he would — anything would stop me from voting for him if that’s what I felt like.

WALLACE: So, for instance, when people start talking about Joseph Smith, the founder of the church, and the golden tablets in upstate New York, and God assumes the shape of a man, do you not get hung up in those theological issues?

OSTEEN: I probably don’t get hung up in them because I haven’t really studied them or thought about them. And you know, I just try to let God be the judge of that. I mean, I don’t know.

I certainly can’t say that I agree with everything that I’ve heard about it, but from what I’ve heard from Mitt, when he says that Christ is his savior, to me that’s a common bond.

The question is a good one because it is relevant and one many might be asking in light of the presidential race. Knowing the answer is also important because Mormons are making a case for themselves, and Christians need to know how they’ll respond.

Are you ready to give an answer?

(Something to consider… Why do Mormons call themselves Christians, and actively ‘evangelize’ Christians? If they’re just a denomination, that would be like someone trying to get a southern baptist to become a general baptist.)

Atheism is a hot topic these days, both within Christian circles as well as in the secular media. One needn’t go far to find books or “experts” on the subject (i.e. — on the pro side, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens). Christians can find any number of people willing to rebut their views.

The discussion is a good one and timely because of the rise of people questioning the “relevance” of Christianity or even faith. Books showing up on the New York Times bestsellers lists that espouse an atheistic point-of-view indicate that something is going on with the public in the U.S.

Is the case made against faith, especially Christianity a valid one? Perhaps, but the discussion needs to start with some honest consideration.

What the atheists are saying? Their primary assertion is that God doesn’t exist. While intellectually dishonest and hypocritical, the basis of this statement has merit. Why? Because the argument made ties back to how Christians live — “if how Christians live is proof that God exists, God must not exist”.

The argument for “no God” is logically flawed because of all the things that are not known about the universe, atheists assert that they do know one thing — God is nonexistent.

Consider this… No one, atheists or people of any faith, knows how many gallons of water are frozen in the polar ice cap at the North Pole. How many stars are in the universe? When did the universe begin or how wide is the universe? How many species of animals and plants are there left to discover? How many have died? How many grains of sand are there on the island of Maui? What is the surface temperature of planet 581c?

There are an infinite number of things no one knows nor will they ever find out. BUT atheists assert, of ALL the UNKNOWN things there are in the ENTIRE universe, the one they thing KNOW is that God does NOT exist. Ironically, to say they know this “truth” with such clarity and certainty makes them “God”.

The faith atheists dismiss is just another system of “faith.” The faith of atheists states there is no God.

But what do atheists base their beliefs on? They look at the world and seem to arrive to their worldview, which largely attacks Christianity, based on how Christians live. OUCH!

Atheists don’t believe that there is no God because of the proof intellect and science provide. Rather, it seems to be based on how Christians (and perhaps other religions) live out their faith. Listen to the arguments atheists pose. How much of what they say is a response to what Christians have done and/or are doing? (It’s too easy to dismiss people who don’t do “right” as not really true Christians, but we don’t know the reality of their spiritual condition. Whose to say that these bad representatives of Christianity are not Christians? They certainly could be.)

Those who espouse atheistic views offer us the opportunity to engage them where they’re at. In some cases, they’re mad and want someone to fight with.

The notion of debating someone to convince them that God exists puts the cart before the horse. Just as we once did (and continue to do), atheists have to come to a point where they are broken and are searching for answers — they need God before we can introduce them to Him.

The very last scene in the movie Pursuit of Happyness (true story) is quite good. Will Smith who plays a struggling salesman is seen walking his son across the street. While walking, a well dressed and accomplished business man, suddenly walks past him. At first it seems like nothing; a mere passing of people through city streets. But for a brief second or two, Will Smith looks back over his shoulder and glances at the man that’s just passed him. The scene fades and the movie ends.

What’s interesting is that the true character, Chris Gardner, Will Smith plays happens to be that extra actor who walks by him in the last scene. The symbolism is really powerful. Essentially, Will Smith is staring at the man he is to become but hasn’t realized yet. In other words, he’s transforming into the very thing he was destined to become all along.

I’ve been thinking about people I know that are in process; that is, they have a sense of the truth about Christ but haven’t yet realized that they are to move into his likeness. They haven’t really captured why Paul says they are being transformed by the renewing of their minds, moving from glory to glory, increasing in the very likeness of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). They don’t know or haven’t quite seen the end product of a life found in Christ; they don’t experience the power of the Holy Spirit. And so they live as if they never knew Christ—almost wandering aimlessly in their faith.

Seems to me that until you know and understand the person you were destined to become in Christ—holy and dearly love by Jesus—you’ll never pursue life in the manner you were created for by God. You’ll never encounter the intimacy that a powerful prayer life produces. You’ll never live missionally; you’ll hoard the Gospel and become lazy with your faith, refusing to be the hands and feet of Jesus. You’ll grow tired of Scripture; jaded with your church experience because there never seems to be an end goal in site. The key to spiritual maturity is understand who you are and what God has designed you to become so that when life gets just a tad difficult, you don’t have to even wonder who or what you are in Christ.

If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – Apostle Paul

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