The Great Idea of our Faith

I've been watching Make me a Christian on 4OD with interest, especially after Make me a Muslim was on not so long ago. The concept is to get a group of people to live like Christians for three weeks in the hope that they will experience God and maybe convert.

I think the programme causes more questions than it answers. It seems a pretty backwards way to explore Christianity. The people seem to be expected to give up some entrenched habits immediately, like Kevin who has slept with loads of girls behind his girlfiend's back. It emphasises the stereotypical view of Christians as people who don't do certain things, rather than using their experience as an opportunity to delve into why they feel drawn to finding out about Christianity.

For some, like lap dancer Faye, stripping away the ungodly habits seemed a good way for her to reassess her life and think about her self-image etc, but it seemed to leave more dispair and emptiness than joy and completeness. I can't see the sense in asking people to give up things when they haven't yet asked God to help them. I think faith leads to actions, actions don't necessarily lead to faith.

Make me a Muslim was insteresting (although you have to wonder how accurate these reality things are!) There are similarities which always make me think maye the two religions aren't so different in essentials after all. But I wonder if this is because people will always find at least a degree of peace when they actually make the effort to seek something and find meaning in it. Taking timeout to pray/meditate in whatever form is probably always going to strengthen the soul in some way because it encourages you to be still and silent and practise things like forgiveness and humility. Sharpening the saw is one of the Seven Habits!

This bit of an article I read in Relevant Magazine today sums it up:

Imagine for a moment that you have no recollection of the life and message of Jesus Christ. And imagine that someone who knows this message well comes to tell you about the Christian faith. They say to you:

Jesus came to earth and died so that you could attend weekly meetings and give Him a slice of your income. You should, therefore, modify your behavior so as to fit in and believe exactly like we tell you to believe and resist getting too excited, for that would be in bad taste. Then you will fulfill your duty and rid yourself of guilt.

Would that be something you would accept? Probably not. Would those sentiments be true to the life and message of Jesus Christ? No, they wouldn’t. And yet that is where many of us find ourselves today.

Now imagine again that you know nothing of the life and message of Jesus Christ, and someone who knows this message well comes to share it with you. Their life is compelling and authentic. Perhaps they don’t fit all the Christian stereotypes, but they are driven by an otherworldly passion and commitment. They say to you:

The reason we don’t do things so well and there exists so much sorrow, death and injustice is that our sin permeates this world. Yet, this great God became like us because of His great love and, amazing as it seems, sacrificed our sin and guilt on the cross. If only we will accept his gift of salvation and surrender to His leadership, God will ignite a new passion inside of you.

Would you be more likely to connect with that message? Probably. Would those sentiments be truer to the life and message of Jesus Christ? Yes, they would. They comprise the great idea of our faith.