Unlike my entire life, this last semester I've pondered the legitimacy of Christianity more than ever. I've learned the perspective of the 'other side' and can see how Christianity can come across as less than convincing.
I've made a lot of asumptions... [which I'm sure the saying about 'asumptions' will prove true here somewhat as well]. What this really means is I judge people all the time and I'm not always right.
I assume that lots of people are in Christianity for reasons other than that they believe in God and want to give their lives to Him. I can see why unbelieving people call the church a feel-good 'crutch'. Why wouldn't people be drawn to a place where they are told constantly that someone loves them, will unconditionally forgive them, and allow them to think that everything they do is important because this God has a special plan for their life. [Since no person does this for them-- why not make up an invisible being that does? This way they wont get hurt or dissapointed.]
Then there are those that go through the Christian routine with no real signifigance that there is a God in their lifes at all. They are the ones that eat up the attention and praise they get for living the Christian life style and look down on those who don't. Christian activities become purpose for having a social circle where they belong and can stay busy and where they get their pats on the back for doing what's right. Christianity is nothing more than good PR for some and it sure doesn't sell God for an unbeliever or for anyone for that matter.
Sometimes my personal doubts come when I see the lack of initive in my life and the Christians around me. If God is legit, and His Words are true- then why can it be like pulling teath to get people to actually do something with what they say they believe? If God is real, why is it so hard to find people, especially guys to stand up and be bold in what they know about God or take any kind of spiritual risk? What we know about God sometimes doesn't seem to be enough to persuade us to make it a priority to tell unbeliving people about Him or to live our lives any differently than someone that doesn't know God. We are telling the world that we'll talk about how we believe in God, but we don't really believe it enough for it to significantly change our lives.
The seemingly ignorant and nieve Christian sayings are another thing that just sends me over the edge. Nothing screems ignorance like cliche, fairy tale type, cutsie sayings. Ignornace means to an unbeliever (and any sceptical mind, including myself) that you have been brainwashed into what you think, and you are just repeating what you've been spoon fed.
Examples that I can laugh at now, but at the time I was so annoyed...
- At CRU we had a speaker this semester that claimed it obviously wasn't God's will for her to go to Grad. School because she didn't pass the GRE. "Everything happens for a reason" right? It was just a minor detail that she didn't put any effort into studying for it. Ahh! Dumb!! Don't blame your bad decision on God.
- I was telling a pastor that I really admire recently how I was discouraged and struggling with logically dealing with things about Christianity. His advice for me was to, 'be encouraged'. I knew what he ment by that, but in my sceptical and sarcastic mind all I could think was, "Wow, that was deep. I'm totally encouraged now, that did the trick, thanks."
- The idea of blind faith is ironic to me too. 'Just believe.' I'm sure the people that flew the planes into the Twin Towers on 9/11 were completely motivated by blind faith too.
I'm not saying I think God and Christianity are not legit. I am saying if people arn't really persuing knowing God and what truth is, it sure makes it harder to be convincing.
What are your thoughts?
