God Doesn't Need a Debate Team

Tonight I watched a movie called Lord Save Us From Your Followers. It's subtitled "Why the Gospel of Love is Dividing America" and tied into several things I've been thinking about.

When I was a teenager I went to a Christian apologetics camp and learned how to "defend" my belief in God, the Bible, etc. As part of the camp we'd talk to people on the street about religion. It was pretty much about convincing people that Christianity was a more valid worldview than whatever they believed in.

I'm all about conversations and intelligent dialogue--that's why I want to go into publishing, because ideas MATTER and impact people's lives. But, as quoted in the Lord Save Us movie, "No one ever converted to Christianity because they lost the argument."

In John 15 Jesus says, "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love."

When I read that, my mind immediately jumped to moral codes. Don't get drunk, swear, or have sex outside marriage. But he didn't say that. He didn't even say to practice apologetics on people until they convert. He said, "this is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

Was Jesus about defending doctrine? Or about love? About rules? Or about love?

Now how exactly I'm supposed to love others like he did I don't know. The embarassing thing is I don't really try. But has anyone come up with anything better to strive for in life?

Lame

You'd think a person interested in publishing would actually devote time to something important, like, keeping up a regular blog. But no.

All this England/Europe stuff is getting a tad overwhelming. I'll be submitting my visa application in the next few days--it'll be a relief when all that is over. I have to go downtown to get my "biometrics" taken--a laser scan of my fingers and face (not smiling!) as part of the UK's anti-terrorism methods.

I'm also trying to figure out where and when to visit in Europe. France, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, and Scotland are on the must-see list. I'm not so sure about Germany, Spain, and eastern Europe though. My great-grandparents came from Romania, so maybe I'll try to dig up my ancestral hometown.

All this and I'm trying soak in these months at home. Oxford will be great, but I have to admit part of me dreads leaving.