HBO
I read the holiday message from Ricky Gervais published in the Wall Street Journal earlier this week. I am sure that Ricky got a ton of hate mail after that article, mostly from “Christians”, but my response was not one of hate or anger. After all, we live in a country where we are afforded the freedom of speech and religion. Even if that is no religion at all. Although Gervais seems to profess a faith in science, or ‘knowledge’ (from the Latin root word). My response was that of reflection on our task and responsibility as the Church. One part of the article in particular really struck me. Ricky speaks of being a Christian when he was growing up and tells of an encounter with his older brother while drawing a picture of Jesus, who he referred to at the time as “my hero.” Here is the excerpt of the encounter:
But anyway, there I was happily drawing my hero when my big brother Bob asked, “Why do you believe in God?” Just a simple question. But my mum panicked. “Bob,” she said in a tone that I knew meant, “Shut up.” Why was that a bad thing to ask? If there was a God and my faith was strong it didn’t matter what people said.
Oh…hang on. There is no God. He knows it, and she knows it deep down. It was as simple as that. I started thinking about it and asking more questions, and within an hour, I was an atheist.
As I read this, I thought this is the opportunity that we have come to miss in the Church. Rather than creating an environment that allows and even encourages the doubting, questioning skeptic, all too frequently we have suppressed these opportunities with pat answers or an unloving call for more faith. Please do not get me wrong, I do not want pile on the Church. I love the Church. I have seen MANY positive improvements and shifts toward this approach by church communities, embracing this more and more. I offer this challenge and encouragement so that we can more fully be the Church.
In reality the Bible is littered with people questioning, doubting and sometimes even shaking their fists at God. And believe me, God is big enough to handle our doubt and questions. That does not mean, however, that we only believe when all our questions are answered. As the author of Hebrews writes, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 ESV. Matt Chandler has a beautiful way of explaining this process. He refers to the seeds of faith as kindling that is built up around a person until one day, the Holy Spirit sets fire to it and consumes it as a burning desire for Him. Until the moment of faith, we must encourage skeptics to question and seek answers rather than shutting them up. We should not stop there though, we should continue to foster an environment where we welcome the questions, doubts and uncertainties held even after they believe. As the father whose son Jesus had just healed proclaimed, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 ESV.
Luke, the follower of Jesus and author of the gospel bearing his name was a skeptic at heart. He opens his letter with these words: “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” Luke 1:1-4 NIV
May we walk with others through their questions, doubts and skepticism so they may know the same certainty…
