response 14

• How could I be a Christian? The things I have done in my life are awful. Jesus might be OK for naïve nice people and little old ladies, but the walls would cave in if I ever stepped foot in a church! I sit in the back if I ever go to a wedding or a funeral.

The very core of relationship with Jesus is he makes it possible through forgiveness of sin. The very last thing that should get in the way of developing that connection with him would be thinking you were unforgivable.

One of the great things about the Bible is tells the story of God’s people in an honest way. The models of faith lifted up are not without their “sorted” past. Far from it.

Take David, for instance. Throughout his life he struggles with egregious sin but his relationship with God remains. What do you have in your past that makes your being forgiven and restored by Jesus impossible? A couple of examples.

David
Adultery
Accessory to murder

You
?

If you are avoiding coming to Jesus because of your sin, then you are not being honest about being open to him, or you are unfamiliar with how it works with him. Forgiveness of sin and new life are the essence of what it means to be a Chirstian.

response 13

• Christians are so wimpy. Turn the other cheek? Love your enemy? If you let people walk all over you then you are not being healthy, you are being codependent.

Let’s think about this carefully. First of all, what do these concepts about “loving your enemy” and “turning the other cheek” mean? Here are the pertinent Bible verses.

Matthew 5:38-39; 43-44 (NLT)  
    "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.' [39] But I say, don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too.

    [43] "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. [44] But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

These verses occur within the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is describing what life looks like for an individual follower of Jesus. It is a process, beginning with dealing with anger. Jesus addresses anger, contempt, lust, divorce, and verbal manipulation before he gets to “turn the other cheek” and “love your enemy.”

These descriptions of life in the Kingdom of God now are in the specific order they are on purpose, according to Dallas Willard. I become the kind of person who can respond to these situations as Jesus would respond if he were me. You don’t just instantly begin to love your enemy until you learn to deal with anger and contempt, for instance.

The Sermon on the Mount deals with the individual Christian. This is not a prescription for how the church community automatically acts, and is certainly not a description of how society is to act. Without the transformational power of Jesus in your life, it is not possible to live like this in a healthy way. God gives government to protect. It is not the Christian’s place to legislate to empty all prisons and to disband the military.

As it is up to me individually, I can become the kind of person who voluntarily will not take revenge or retaliate against someone who has wronged me. To be merciful by choice is not being a wimp, it is being in control of my actions.

As far as when someone else is wronged, I will take the appropriate steps to defend the innocent and seek justice. One can work against the evil actions of others without employing a life of revenge. Justice is not retaliation.

To “love” my enemy is to want what God wants for them. God wants us to repent and take responsibility for our sin. If my enemy is filled with hate, I want them to repent and transformed by Jesus. This has nothing to do with a warm, fuzzy feeling toward them. For instance, when militant Islamists strike out in hatred and kill innocent people on purpose, I may experience a sadness of the type of warped teaching they received from their parents and others as children that would result in such evil behavior. This doesn’t mean I excuse them.  

There isn’t a human being on the planet earth who hasn’t dealt with garbage and injustice in their lives. Yet, the vast majority of us don’t strike out with the evil intent of trying to kill the innocent in order to further our cause. This evil is based on bad thinking and the willingness to act upon the bad thinking.

I am not filled with hatred for the militant Islamist. I pray they will see the error of their ways and be transformed by Jesus. I also pray that  justice will be done.

response 12

• There is so much hatred done in the world in the name of religion. Christianity is no different. Why should I follow any religion that divides people into two groups: those who are in and those who are out? We would be much better off if we all just thought for ourselves. Go with your heart and realize everyone has part of the truth.

There are only two questions you ask of a faith if you are judging it’s comparison to reality and its ethical content.  

1. By what authority?


2. Who is the model?

For example, Islam is to be judged by what the Q’uran says and the model of Muhammad. Muslims are instructed from the Q’uran and called to follow the model of Muhammed. If you want to understand Islam, read the Q’uran and study the history of Muhammed’s life.  

In the Christian faith the authority is the Bible and the model is Jesus. Any actions someone who calls himself a “Christian” takes, must follow these two criteria.

There is no hatred in Christian doctrine or the model of Jesus for people who disagree with the message. A faith and leader who says “Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you” isn’t likely to provoke strong action against someone who doesn’t share your faith. Not if you follow Jesus and scripture.  

Only those who follow Jesus are Christian. What is done in the “name of Jesus,” is only valid if it follows scripture and his model. When it comes to dividing people into whose in and whose out, this is God’s domain. Christians are to love all people no matter what. When we share the good news of Jesus and it is rejected we are called to keep loving, but move on to others who may be more receptive with our message of hope.

As far as following your own heart goes, I have seen people who live responding to their own human nature. It can get awfully ugly. I am going to bet on Jesus and the Bible every time.

response 11

• I think it is wonderful that other people are Christian. If their faith helps them get by, that’s great. I have too many questions about the Bible and what Christians believe. I would not be welcome with so much doubt.

Repentance is honestly confessing I turn away from God and his ways. It is acknowledging my way doesn’t work and I am on a path to destruction without Jesus. I desperately need his help.

Who needs to repent? I do, and so do you. As C.S. Lewis once said, (I paraphrase) ‘The average human being can be so godlike that you are tempted to worship him/her, and at other times closer to the Devil of hell.’

It is not just “nice” to follow Jesus, it is absolutely essential.

As far as the questions go, most are just because you have never done a careful, straight forward, deep reading of the Bible and you haven’t examined the evidence concerning Jesus. A thorough understanding of what the various groups of Christians actually think would be helpful, as well. Questions are always welcome, but the Christian community will expect you to do your homework.

• I really do think Jesus could be God. I see how Christians are always the ones trying to help other people. I am not naïve. I know the media bias about Christians is just for effect. I have seen how much Christians can love. My real problem is this. How do I admit that I have been wrong all these years and this Jesus stuff is real?

The first great sin that is overcome when you begin a relationship with Jesus is the sin of pride. To follow Christ is to realize I am wrong about just about everything when I rely on me. It’s OK to admit you are wrong about Jesus. It doesn’t bother him. He is thrilled you have opened yourself to his love. This opening begins with pure honesty.

responnse 10

• I don’t want to open myself up to be changed. My life is fairly comfortable right now. What if I get caught up in the whole Jesus thing? I am frightened of what might become of me. What will my friends think? There are just too many unknowns.

This is a difficult situation to face. It sounds like things are going pretty well for you. You are not like many people who became Christian as the result of some crisis in their lives. At the same time, it sounds like you are leaning toward thinking Jesus might really be Lord. If you are content in your life, though, why add something with the potential of really mixing things up? Two reasons.

First, if Jesus is God, then he deserves your worship and obedience. If he is who he says he is, then the things he says are true. He says you must be in relationship with him in order to live with him forever. You have to trust in him now. There is no getting around this basic fact.

Second, until you open yourself to experience trust in Jesus, you won’t experience him. The joy and full life he has designed you for is not yours unless you want it. Without Jesus, you will never be who you are intended to be. There will be times in your life when you will know to the depths of who you are that there is something missing. That something is Jesus. A “Jesusless” life is the ultimate lost opportunity.

response 9

Now the reasons are not about belief in Jesus as much as trust in Jesus.

• I believe in Jesus, I just don’t think you have to go to church. I pray and I think about Jesus some time. I try to live a good life. I know what I believe. It is between me and God.

Praying, thinking about Jesus, and trying to live a good life can all be done by non-Christians. To be a Christian is to be connected to the Body of Christ, the Church. Why would a Christian not participate in a church community?

If you are agoraphobic, going to church community events might be a challenge. Also if you are homebound due to illness or physical challenge. In these cases, a caring church community will come to you. Stephen Ministry is an excellent example of this.

What about your work schedule. If you can’t come to worship on Sundays because you work, there are plenty of churches who also worship on Wednesday or Saturday evening. There are also other church events during the week.

Why participate? Following Jesus means encouraging others. It is difficult to do this without being in relationships. Following Jesus means serving others. It is difficult to do this without being in relationships. Following Jesus means coming together in worship as a united community with Jesus in the middle. Going it alone is absolutely unheard of in Scripture. There is no precedent.

Probably the most important reason to be involved in a church community is you have no accountability on your own. You develop a faith based on your own thinking and desires. It is easy to stray from a normal, straightforward biblical view of living out your faith when there is no teaching to call you into question. Participating in worship and study with other Christians can keep you honest.  

response 8

• 
  I know Christians. They go to church on Sunday, but they don’t live like they believe it on Monday. They gossip and curse. I have seen Christians get wasted at parties. They fight with their spouse and kids. I thought you were supposed to be different if you are a Christian? They act like everybody else if you ask me. At least I don’t pretend like I am something I am not.
  
  Growing as a disciple is a process. You don't instantly become a completely together person once you become a Christian. Most Christians don't try to pretend we are something we are not. We realize we are sinful people in need of forgiveness. The Christian life is a constant challenge to yield more and more of ourselves and our choices to God's way.
  
  The more "holier than thou" attitude a Christian has the less likely they have their act together. Connecting with Jesus brings about life transformation and at the heart of transformation is humility.
  I do think it is fair to compare people's behavior to the faith they claim to follow. Yet, don't use some people's behavior as a sole reason not to explore the Christian faith. Jesus and the Bible do not make claims that we are better than other people. In fact, the Bible says directly,
  
  Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. (Philippians 2:3)
  
  Another fair question to ask is, "Why are so many Christians so caring and gracious?"

response 7

• Related to expectations, I like to think for myself. Christians are not very bright. They think the universe was created in 6 days and is only 10,000 years old. How could I have intellectual integrity and believe in something like that?Christians follow the Bible like it’s, well, the Bible or something. I would have to say I believe in a book that is full of contradictions. A book that is filled with violence and hatred towards anyone who is not a Christian.We have evolved so far as human beings that what they wrote thousands of years ago can’t have any real relevance today. They don’t know what we know now.

The idea of a 6- 24 hour day creation is not the center of the Christian faith. The physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the central event. There are plenty of Christians who are PHD scientists who make connections between the biblical creation accounts and use accurate scientific method. Probably the most prominent organization is Reasons to Believe. Most Christians who are scientists would have a modified view of creation called “theistic evolution.” They claim God created the universe and he set within it the natural means to continue the creation. Neither viewpoint has a “6-day” creation theory in place.

Whether the Bible has contradictions or not, it is not the main claim of the Christian faith. Jesus is God and he was physically resurrected from the dead is the absolute. Now, I don’t find contradictions in the Bible if you actually mean “contradiction.”

Contradiction- Two statements are given in the same context.
One is true and the other is false.

There are differences expressed by different authors reporting on events, but these are not contradictions. Yet, even if the Bible were filled with contradictions, Christian faith is based on the resurrection, not the veracity of the rest of scripture, and so these so called “contradictions” would be meaningless to the central tenant of the faith.

If you think God commands believers to kill unbelievers you simply haven’t actually read the book. It is quite the opposite. From the Old Testament caring for the alien in your midst to the New Testament’s “love your enemy,” the message of the Bible is to reach out to those who disagree with you.

If the Christian claim that Jesus is the source of inspiration behind the writing of the Bible is accurate, then one who is not limited to our space/ time dimensions is quite capable of making sure that everything he desires to be accomplished by his Word will be, regardless of the generation reading it. A simple, but thorough, reading of the Bible will reveal the remarkable consistency of insight into human thought and actions which is not limited by time.  

response 6

Responses to people’s objections for being a Christian

• Expectations. I don’t want anyone to expect anything from me. If I was a Christian, then other people would expect me to act a certain way or think a certain way. I don’t want to be placed in any category. I am a complex person.Also, I don’t want to be expected to give money to a church. If I am supposed to give, what is it, 10% of my income to the church, what am I going to be left with? I already give a ton of money to taxes. How do I know what they are going to do with my money anyway?

This is more an objection to being part of a Christian community. If I join a church there will be things people expect from me. What does this mean? If it means I am expected to trust in certain basic teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Bible and follow them then that is a reality. If it means we all have to try to think the same thoughts, that is not possible and our goal is to have the mind of Christ, anyway. Would that we would grow to think more and more as he would think if he were us.

If this means we have to act the same would that it were more so. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we acted identically in areas such as (all biblical examples):

1. “outdo one another in honoring the other”


2. “think of others as better than yourself”


3. “as it possible for you, live in peace”


4. “tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

As far as tithing goes, it is a spiritual growth tool, not some kind of money making scam. If God wants his mission funded, he gets it funded. He doesn’t need a dime from us. He calls on Christians to tithe to teach them about getting too obsessed about something that is not theirs in the first place. People worry about money. Worry is a lack of trust. God wants trust. He builds in a mechanism to help us make progress in trust.

response 5

Another response

• Being Christian isn’t cool. The Dali Lama is cool and so Buddhism is definitely an option. Madonna is cool and so I might dabble in the Kabala. Anything Native American is cool so vision quests and dances and those awesome flute CD’s may be just the ticket.

There are two things you will notice about the various spiritual practices which appear to attract many (especially young people) today. One is they are very mystical and mysterious. They deal with lots of time of quiet and meditation. There is an emphasis on gaining wisdom in a secret way.

The second thing you will notice is the spiritual practices are highly individual. There is no one calling you into question or holding you accountable to reach out and give your life for the sake of others. When you dabble in these “cool” spiritualities what ends up happening is you just design your own faith around your own desires. It isn’t how they are actually meant to be practiced; it just becomes the way they are practiced.

With Christians, a relationship with Jesus is always formed under the authority of the Bible. Healthy Christians live out their faith life from within Christian communities and the faith itself is not following what we want but what Jesus wants. This is not mysterious. What he wants is quite clear from the Bible.

It is also important to know that there is a rich tradition of mysticism within the Christian tradition. For example, the practices of silence and solitude can be crucial to developing as a disciple of Jesus. One of the common mistakes that people make is to talk about “Eastern” religions and not realize the Christian faith is “Eastern,” as well. Meditative prayer, fasting, going off for times of renewal and retreat have all been around in the Christian camp since the beginning.

Even mystical writings by such Christians as Madam Guyon provide a rich background for those who are fed spiritually in contemplative ways. There is also a long a long history in contemplative worship such as Taize.

There is no lack of mystical elements to the Christian faith. However this is coupled with a reasonability based upon evidence that makes trusting in Jesus and his mission so compelling.
  

response to why I wouldn't be a Christian 4

Another response to reasons people give for not being a Christian.

• I don’t want to appear politically incorrect. How can I say Jesus is the way to salvation when there are so many other good people who don’t believe this? It is easier for me to just not deal with the whole “Jesus saves” thing and have a salad bar instead.I can have a little Jesus, a little Buddhism, maybe some Hinduism on the side. I can make sure I keep my no-God options open with some statements about Darwinian evolution mechanisms. If I can get a pair of Vans custom made, why not religion?The great thing about this potpourri is I don’t have anyone calling me into question. I am on my own. There is nothing better in an independent culture like ours.

You can’t actually follow Jesus and follow other religious practices. There are basics that contradict.  

Either there is a God or there is not. There goes many forms of Buddhism which have no God at all.

Either Jesus is God or he is not. There goes Hinduism with its endless lineup of gods, and Islam which says it is blasphemy to say, “Jesus is God.”  

Either we are restored in our relationship to God through Jesus or we are not. There goes Judaism where we are restored through the law and Jesus is not the Messiah.

Either God created the universe or not. There goes Darwinian evolution which has no working model for the origin of the universe or the origin of life, but either says, “We just don’t know, yet,” or posits unsupported philosophies about these basic foundations.

The list goes on. If I say, “Jesus is the way,” and you say, “Jesus is not the way,” then the issue is not sensitivity, it is making competing truth claims. Either Jesus is God or he is not. I can’t pretend that he isn’t. I can just invite you to honestly examine the evidence along with me.

responses to why I wouldn't be a Christian 3

More responses to reasons someone might give for not being a Christian

• This one is pure and simple. I don’t want to be embarrassed. If I am not a Christian, then chances are neither are most of my friends. If I become a Christian, I get lumped in with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, which would be a kiss of death in my social circles. Even if I am intrigued by this Jesus stuff, I am automatically assumed to be a right wing Republican clone.

It takes ten seconds to realize that Christians come in all varieties. A Christian is someone who trusts in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and follows him in their lives. Within this group of people there are those from all political persuasions. Yes, it is true that currently in America there is a larger percentage of active Christians who tend to vote Republican, but this is certainly not automatic.

Wise Christians focus on what we hold in common. For example, disciples of Jesus have a strong desire to reach out and care for those who are in need. The work done in the name of Jesus to address issues of poverty, “at risk” youth, and so forth, is significant by Christians of all political persuasions. When it comes to specific government response, Christians may simply disagree on strategies to address those needs, not that there is a need itself.

  

responses to why I wouldn't be a Christian 2

Another response to why someone would not be a Christian.

• The world of media and entertainment doesn’t know Jesus that well. The percentage of journalists and entertainment industry executives, directors, writers, and so forth that live an active faith life is miniscule. In the 1990’s I remember seeing a statistic of less than 5% for journalists and reporters.Can you see where this is challenging? The perception of what it means to be a Christian, or what following Jesus is like, is given most to society by people who are the least likely to understand what they are talking about….

On this reason, you have one thing going for you. Any reasonable person is going to be aware that there is an overall bias about the Christian faith in the media anyway. Looking for the sensational is a normal and necessary ploy to gain readership/ viewership. The overwhelming and continuing response of Christians to help those in need in the Gulf region after the hurricanes could fill newscasts every night, but that is not as interesting as scandal.

It is not the media’s business to promote the Christian faith, anyway. We are to carry the message of Jesus. That’s what we can focus on. What Christians are doing or not doing as portrayed in news, TV, and film can be a great starting off point for a conversation about what Jesus actually does teach.

For instance, the book The Da Vinci Code is simply making stuff up about the Bible and how it was compiled. This is actually a good thing. It has done more to cause people to study how overwhelming the evidence is for the accuracy of the Bible than anything I can imagine. When people started questioning the validity of The Da Vinci Code they began to read church history and found out how the Bible was really put together. I dare say that most Christians would not be taking a lot of church history or history of the scriptures courses, but they would read articles about the actual evidence of the Bible. Thank you, Dan Brown.

responses to why I wouldn't be a Christian 1

Let’s look at some possible responses to reasons I have raised as to why some people might not be Christian.

• Faith in Jesus is a relationship more than a worldview. Personally, I don’t spend as much time dealing with core teachings of the Christian faith and figuring out how to filter my “thoughts, words, and deeds” through those teachings, as I do simply connecting to Jesus through prayer, reading the Bible, and thinking about him, and responding out of that relationship.If someone doesn’t have a relationship with Jesus like this, you don’t get motivated simply by the teachings. Jesus offers the means to come to him, but you have to be open to seeking him. It is like playing a computer game and needing certain keys to get to the next level. To get to the level of faith there is the primary key of openness to discovering Jesus. There is no shortcut. There is no “cheat codes” book you can use.

This can seem a classic “Catch 22” situation. Once you start living a relationship with Jesus, he has the opportunity to guide you and influence you. Yet, if you don’t start “checking him out,” you won’t be open to that influence in the first place.

This is why it is difficult to explain what Jesus means to me, as in some real sense you have to know him, too, to know why I think and feel the way I do about him. A person needs an openness to experience the presence of Jesus in the first place. If you give him any tiny crack in your resistance to a relationship with him, he will move in and begin to more and more hang out with you.

John 14:23 (NLT)  
    Jesus replied, "All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them.

Respect any one teaching of Jesus and consciously attempt to live it out in your life for a set period of time. If you authentically honor him in this way, you will learn to love him and want what he wants. Try it for a day, a week, a month.

An example:

• I will not get angry. I will give everyone wide boundaries of grace. When I feel anger at another person coming, I will figure he/she is having a bad day. I will consider what must be happening in his/her life to bring about the behavior that is influencing my anger. I will pray for him/her instead of fuming. I will quietly choose to not allow myself to be drawn in to an angry response.

why I wouldnt be a Christian 5

Why I wouldn’t be a Christian continued

• There is so much hatred done in the world in the name of religion. Christianity is no different. Why should I follow any religion that divides people into two groups: those who are in and those who are out? We would be much better off if we all just thought for ourselves. Go with your heart and realize everyone has part of the truth.


• Christians are so wimpy. Turn the other cheek? Love your enemy? If you let people walk all over you then you are not being healthy, you are being codependent.


• How could I be a Christian? The things I have done in my life are awful. Jesus might be OK for naïve nice people and little old ladies, but the walls would cave in if I ever stepped foot in a church! I sit in the back if I ever go to a wedding or a funeral.


• My family is Jewish (or Moslem). They would disown me and never talk to me again if I ever became a Christian. It would break my grandma’s heart.

I will stop here and tomorrow begin making observations on the objections to being a Christian.

why I wouldn't be a Christian 4

Why I wouldn’t be a Christian continued.

• I believe in Jesus, I just don’t think you have to go to church. I pray and I think about Jesus some time. I try to live a good life. I know what I believe. It is between me and God.


• I don’t want to open myself up to be changed. My life is fairly comfortable right now. What if I get caught up in the whole Jesus thing? I am frightened of what might become of me. What will my friends think? There are just too many unknowns.


• I think it is wonderful that other people are Christian. If their faith helps them get by, that’s great. I have too many questions about the Bible and what Christians believe. I would not be welcome with so much doubt.


• I really do think Jesus could be God. I see how Christians are always the ones trying to help other people. I am not naïve. I know the media bias about Christians is just for effect. I have seen how much Christians can love. My real problem is this. How do I admit that I have been wrong all these years and this Jesus stuff is real?

why I wouldn't be a Christian 3

Still more reasons why a person wouldn’t be a Christian.

• Expectations. I don’t want anyone to expect anything from me. If I was a Christian, then other people would expect me to act a certain way or think a certain way. I don’t want to be placed in any category. I am a complex person.Also, I don’t want to be expected to give money to a church. If I am supposed to give, what is it, 10% of my income to the church, what am I going to be left with? I already give a ton of money to taxes. How do I know what they are going to do with my money anyway?


• Related to expectations, I like to think for myself. Christians are not very bright. They think the universe was created in 6 days and is only 10,000 years old. How could I have intellectual integrity and believe in something like that?Christians follow the Bible like it’s, well, the Bible or something. I would have to say I believe in a book that is full of contradictions. A book that is filled with violence and hatred towards anyone who is not a Christian.We have evolved so far as human beings that what they wrote thousands of years ago can’t have any real relevance today. They don’t know what we know now.


• I know Christians. They go to church on Sunday, but they don’t live like they believe it on Monday. They gossip and curse. I have seen Christians get wasted at parties. They fight with their spouse and kids. I thought you were supposed to be different if you are a Christian? They act like everybody else if you ask me. At least I don’t pretend like I am something I am not.    

why I wouldn't be a Christian 2

More reasons why a person wouldn’t choose to be a Christian.

• This one is pure and simple. I don’t want to be embarrassed. If I am not a Christian, then chances are neither are most of my friends. If I become a Christian, I get lumped in with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, which would be a kiss of death in my social circles. Even if I am intrigued by this Jesus stuff, I am automatically assumed to be a right wing Republican clone.


• I don’t want to appear politically incorrect. How can I say Jesus is the way to salvation when there are so many other good people who don’t believe this? It is easier for me to just not deal with the whole “Jesus saves” thing and have a salad bar instead.I can have a little Jesus, a little Buddhism, maybe some Hinduism on the side. I can make sure I keep my no-God options open with some statements about Darwinian evolution mechanisms. If I can get a pair of Vans custom made, why not religion?The great thing about this potpourri is I don’t have anyone calling me into question. I am on my own. There is nothing better in an independent culture like ours.


• Being Christian isn’t cool. The Dali Lama is cool and so Buddhism is definitely an option. Madonna is cool and so I might dabble in the Kabala. Anything Native American is cool so vision quests and dances and those awesome flute CD’s may be just the ticket.

why I wouldn't be a Christian 1

I realize there are many reasons why someone would choose not to examine becoming a Christian and living the life of Jesus. I am going to post on several.

• 
  
  Faith in Jesus is a relationship more than a worldview. Personally, I don’t spend as much time dealing with core teachings of the Christian faith and figuring out how to filter my “thoughts, words, and deeds” through those teachings, as I do simply connecting to Jesus through prayer, reading the Bible, and thinking about him, and responding out of that relationship.
  
  If someone doesn’t have a relationship with Jesus like this, you don’t get motivated simply by the teachings. Jesus offers the means to come to him, but you have to be open to seeking him. It is like playing a computer game and needing certain keys to get to the next level. To get to the level of faith there is the primary key of openness to discovering Jesus. There is no shortcut. There is no “cheat codes” book you can use.
  
• The world of media and entertainment doesn’t know Jesus that well. The percentage of journalists and entertainment industry executives, directors, writers, and so forth that live an active faith life is miniscule. In the 1990’s I remember seeing a statistic of less than 5% for journalists and reporters.Can you see where this is challenging? The perception of what it means to be a Christian, or what following Jesus is like, is given most to society by people who are the least likely to understand what they are talking about.
  
  Christians can attempt to give a more informative view of our faith, but a public already weaned on a picture developed by the media and entertainment industry makes it less likely that a non-Christian will even pay attention. A good illustration of this is Jerry Falwell. Let’s do some math.
  
  There are about 280 million people in the United States, of which 80%, or 224 million, would identify themselves as Christian. Out of that, those who are actively involved in a Christian church make up about 30%. That is roughly 70 million active Christians. So, if the media wanted to give a picture of a Christian, or interview a Christian about what he/she thinks about an issue, you would have 66,999,999 people to choose from. Yet, Jerry Falwell gets the nod, more often than not.
  
  More tomorrow.
  
  

a few questions after Katrina

Now that we realize how much of the news from New Orleans during those first few days after Hurricane Katrina was made up, what does this mean for us?

Consider a few questions.

• Who is listening anymore? Who is watching? There is so much media input into our daily lives that exaggeration may seem the only way someone thinks they can get anyone’s attention.


• Would a steady stream of the courageous and sacrificial response of citizens of New Orleans be more helpful than such a laser focus on a tiny few who were exploiting the situation?


• What is the responsibility of the news media for accuracy? Did the early reports of mass violence and chaos stop private citizens who lived close enough from coming to help? Would it have mattered either way in the relief efforts?


• Do you remember hearing so much about what the Federal government should or should not do or what a president’s response should or should not be in any other natural disaster? After the Northridge quake of ’94, people would complain about FEMA a bit, criticize the insurance companies and their response, but it was nothing like what we heard a month ago. Also, I don’t recall President Clinton’s name ever being a topic of much conversation at all after the quake.

as simple as the weather

We are just finishing the latest round of fires in my neck of the woods and once again we are reminded of the precarious nature of human habitat. When you build homes in beautiful canyons and hills in fire prone areas, and then you get fires, you are experiencing the outcome of human choice. It is no different than New Orleans. When you live below sea level, surrounded by water, and then suffer a huge hurricane with resulting disaster, it should be no surprise.

Will anything change? I don’t think so. We simply make these choices all the time. Besides fires, I live in earthquake country. The Northridge area. We had our last “big one” back in 1994. When will the next major quake strike? I don’t know, but I do know my family and I will be going about our lives in the same way.

Yes, we have food and water and other supplies stored up just in case. Our home is fairly solid, having survived ’94 with less damage than many. Yet, we had homes destroyed and homes untouched on the same blocks all over our city. You just don’t know.

Why do we stay? One simple reason is the weather. I remember watching the Rose Bowl as a child in the middle of Wisconsin winters. California looked like Eden. That had to have some influence on my moving out here, even if subconscious. Probably the same for my beach-loving spouse. Even today we are still amazed how beautiful the weather is so much of the time. We like hot and so it works for us. It’s no Eden, but it is home.