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?
That's a convicting truth you've hit upon there, my friend.
ReplyDeleteI've never been able to so succinctly and clearly state why apologetics bothers me so much. You definetely hit it here. Bravo for thinking on it and coming to some conclusions and some meaningful questions/food for thought.
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