In hanging out with my non-Christian friends, I have discovered more grace and wisdom than I have in the past. As I shared with them my struggles, all they have to give is love and understanding.
Christians do not have a monopoly over love, grace, or wisdom. There is plenty of all that out there, perhaps even more, in the world than in just the Christian church. I think sometimes Christians are lost in their own theologies that they often overlook the beauty that exists outside of their faith.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
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2 comments:
I don't think Christians ever had or should claim to have a monopoly on love, grace, or wisdom. As we were all created in the image of God, both Christians and non-Christians are capable of this; humanity as a whole has a longing for it. I've been to non-Christian countries and have seen tremendous acts of charity, love, and hospitality that would make us as American Christians blanch in shame. I have a certain sense of admiration for them.
Yet what makes Christians unique is the understanding that despite all our efforts to be good, whether by Christians or non-Christians, we have no hope of saving ourselves or the rest of humanity because of the fundamental taint of sin.
I think the problem is that as Christians, as you say, we sometimes get so wrapped up in the finer details of theology, get so busy playing religion, that as John puts it in Revelations, 'forsake our first love.' This is not to discount theology as it plays a crucial role in understanding the word, but like any other academic discipline (the great Ivory Tower), we cannot allow it to simply blind ourselves to the bigger picture.
Another discussion for another time though.
I agree with Sun Jun, and I would have this to add. One of the few differences I have noted in "non-Christian" company is the issue of how to respond in times of life's troubles. There is something to be said about just being in the company of sympathetic friends which non-Christians can do just as well, but if there is something unique about how Christians deal with their problems it is through dealing with things through prayer. Of course, that's predicated on God's existence (which is another issue altogether), but this certainly is different than trying to block things out, detach emotionally, or finding enough distractions/pleasures (good and bad) to keep oneself occupied for the time being (I believe another phrase for this is often called "finding a balance in one's life"). And then, there's always the last option of accepting that whatever problems we have are part of the process of life (kind of like the stages of grief).
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