This is a common objection about faith in Jesus. Having been involved in many churches and known a lot of people who called themselves Christians throughout my life, I would have to say that the is some measure of truth in this statement. A good percentage of the people that I’ve met who called themselves a Christian had a shallow faith and their lifestyle had no real resemblance to that of Jesus. Yet, this is only part of the answer. There is actually much more to it than that. I qualify to say this because I have been on both sides of this fence. Let me share some of my story as a means of setting the backdrop against which I can discuss some critical issues surrounding this often misunderstood issue. I grew up in a Christian home. My family went to a Christian church my entire life growing up. I did all of the things that I was supposed to do (read my Bible, prayed the prayers, sang the hymns, etc.). I thought that there was real substance to all of these activities. But over time, I began to see holes in them. It began to be apparent to me that many of the people really weren’t like the image that they were projecting at church. It was like they were wearing a superficial mask at church and living a different lifestyle the rest of the week. The core of their value system didn’t come out of love for God and others; rather, it was based on trying to impress people. Although I felt that there was truth to much of what was taught, it didn’t really change my life. I was still a screwed up person in my private life. I lived a shallow life filled with addictions to cheap pleasures and petty comforts. I didn’t really love others unconditionally like Jesus did (I wanted to, but I just didn't have it in me to walk it out). In essence, I was trying to impress others. I covered it all up on Sunday and acted like a good ole boy. I tried to impress everyone with my religious knowledge and the image that I projected on Sundays. I made it look like I had my life together even though I was spiritually suffocating inside Yet, I was hungry for the truth that I found in scripture; it was just that I didn’t find anyone really living it out around me. I eventually decided to become a minister myself. I wanted to find the truth and so I pursued it as a vocation. I graduated from two Christian universities with degrees in theology and religious studies (along with extensive studies in computers and technology). I was searching for truth and felt that the closest thing to it that I had ever experienced was in the teachings of Jesus. But, I wasn’t finding it in the lives of those who claimed to be His followers. I went on to seminary where I spent another four years studying theology, philosophy, and archaeology. Yet, there too, I discovered that many of the students were living lifestyles very different from that of Jesus. During this same time I took a church staff position where I was exposed to the underbelly of church life for the first time. I spent almost two years seeing how some church people really treat each other. I left the church disillusioned and wounded. I decided that I didn’t want anything to do with a vocation in ministry. I ended my seminary studies and decided to pursue a vocation in the technology field. About the same time, my challenging marriage of nine years came to an end. It was a very difficult experience. All of my Christian friends refused to associate with me after that event. The people that I most expected to lend me help and comfort instantly and completely abandoned me. I was left friendless and alone. 
|