It’s Not About Me
So there’s this lovely book reading program that’s not quite working out in Hosanna. One of the problems is that no one is really reading so the people that do read have read the few books that are still going around which is not many. But, I did manage to snag The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and It’s Not About Me by Max Lucado.
I think that both books are about the same thing, which is why we’re here. The difference is that PDL goes about explaining our purpose through in-depth and practical ways we can live out our purpose. It’s Not About Me just goes through why we’re here. Both books however emphasised one thing: it’s not about us. Life is not about me. It’s not about you. It’s not about getting a crapload of stuff and living comfortably. It’s not about getting your kids a good education. It’s not about helping the poor or stopping war, racism, and other injustices.
It’s about God.
I guess this brings me to something that’s been bugging me for a while now. It’s Christians that don’t really understand what they’re doing sometimes. I realize that that is super extreme hypocrisy but so is a lot of life. Anymoo, one or two years back there was this conversation going on about something but a particular part stuck with me. It went something like:
X – Maybe I’ll (something that has to do with Christianity) to _______________.
Y – No, you shouldn’t do that, he already has something to believe in.
I had an uneasy feeling about that statement about having something to believe in already. I think that it had to do with the fact that they were worried about respecting the person’s culture and whatnot. I wonder whether we really understand the Great Commission. It’s to go and baptize and make disciples of all nations. Then how come we’re worried about offending other people by talking to them about our Best Friend? I’m not saying we should be combative and start a campaign, but we’re not even supposed to have a friendly chat if they already have something to believe?
More recently, there was this debate in some class which had something to do with Christianity. Now then I have friends that go to church and stuff but I don’t really know much about their spiritual life. I assume that’s it’s okay, just like you assume that most people are normal, otherwise you’d be overly paranoid. Anyway, this conversation gets lead to the topic of the validity of Christianity. So this guy is talking about why he thinks Christianity has flaws in it, and goes through the whole ‘anyone can write the Bible’ and the ‘evolution wins’ type arguments.
Now then, two of my friends who went to church started challenging his points. They went on to attempt to prove that the Bible is valid. They tried to convince him that Christianity is completely true. They also start challenging him to read the Bible and go to church for a month.
I have a problem with that. Relative to the average West Hill-ian I know a lot about Christianity, like abstract things and stuff that fits logically together. I think I could beat someone over the head and make a pretty good case for Christianity. Of course, I realize that it wouldn’t work, just like how having heated debates and challenging people to read the bible or go to church just doesn’t work. Trust me, I’ve tried it.
Why? I mean, we do have a lot of proof on our side and the theology works out logically. But for one thing, you really don’t know it all. You’re just as lost as the person you’re trying to convince. How are you completely sure that the Bible is completely true? Chances are, unless you’re at seminary, you don’t. You can’t just say that the Bible was written over 400 years and there are no contradictions and offer that as proof. You haven’t read the entire Bible! I know I haven’t.
Also, what do you gain if you can convince them? A victory? No. Not a victory. You’ve made the person you’re arguing with feel like crap. You’ve turned a chance to get someone to know the King of Kings into a pissing contest of knowledge. No one wants to become a Christian if you feel bad after talking to one.
So what do we do? Listen, listen, listen. So many times, we think we know what we’re doing and what we’re saying. News flash: we don’t. So stop and think for a second. Think. In It’s Not About Me, Max Lucado writes that we’re like the moon and God is the Sun; all we do is reflect the light that the Sun shines on us. We don’t complain. We like it. We like it a lot.