Taking the First Step
Well, we went to see God's Not Dead, the movie we had heard about at the TBN taping last month.
What I had hoped to experience didn't pan out. The story centers around a college freshman struggling to make a case supporting the existence of God, the kind of challenge that could be a great conversation starter within the church, a way to engage those who are questioning to be open to dialogue.
My disappointment comes from the heavy-handed treatment of the opposition, which grew from atheists and agnostics to include anyone who was not Christian. In other words, I believe it went too far, because it painted all non-believers and all non-Christians with the same brush. They were all nasty, selfish, abusive and evil.
The message? There is no morality without God and there is no life without Christ.
For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? - Mark 8:35-36
Mark makes a similar point in today's reading, with Jesus' words. There is only one path to salvation, and it is Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we are called to share the Gospel, and many find it is easier to do that by example rather than words. Talking to someone about God is hard enough. Explaining why God would choose to become one of us can be so much harder. So, we tend to take the easy road and avoid talking about our faith altogether.
That's why I was so optimistic about this movie. I wanted it to be a conversation starter, a way to jumpstart the discussion that would or could lead to greater dialogue.
One thing I have learned through Bible study, is that understanding and insight take time to develop. Sure, an occasional revelation may take place, but it is usually after years of probing and questioning.
The book behind the movie makes a very good point. Faith is not blind. It comes through clear revelation. But the movie failed to bring that point to the screen. None of the Christians in the movie were strong, self-assured, confident people. They were passive, compliant, tortured and beaten.
On the other hand, all of the non-Christians, even the devout believers in God, the same God, were the opposite, the source of the pain and torture the Christians endured.
Taking us back to the days of Rome, with lions devouring Christians is no way to appeal to the current generation.
I harp on the movie, but there is a deeper problem here. We don't know how to talk about our faith.
We get hung up on the My-Way-or-the-Highway view of Christianity, and that stops us from talking about God altogether.
At the heart of the matter is this question: If Jesus is the Way, is He the only way to salvation?
Mark tells us that is true and he uses Jesus' own words to do it.
Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." - Mark 8:38
The fact remains, though, that many who do not believe Jesus is God Incarnate, believe in God. Should we take the stand that the movie takes and tell them they need to change?
When I meet with Muslims and Jews to share a meal and talk about all that is common and shared in our faith, we tend to agree that any one of us could help someone who is questioning come to a better understanding of God. Knowing that God is real and that He loves us is at the heart of everything, whether we believe it or not, so why not focus on that?
Once someone takes the first step, the choice of paths is open to him. We Christians believe the path is the light of Christ. I can guarantee that the conversation about that is much easier to have when the person is looking for a path to follow. Too many messages at once fail.
Jesus tells us that we can come to know God through him. While we say that in church, we need to know that many Christians continue to struggle.
So, here is a thought. Rather than try to get everyone on the same path, why not start out by helping them believe that God does exist? There are plenty of opportunities to have that discussion, for so many have been born into a religion without any real foundation in faith.
So, let's get back to the title of the movie and start with that. God's Not Dead.
From there, we can go anywhere, and the journey will have real meaning.
More to come...