Saturday 8 June 2013

"I really can't consider a Christian a good, moral person if he isn't trying to convert me."

Quote taken from a fascinating article about why many young people (in the USA, at least) are embracing atheism.
"I don't respect people who don't proselytize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward.... How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?"
Before going into self-flagellation mode, remember those who walk away have to be able to justify that to their own hearts, they wouldn't be able to live with themselves otherwise. No one in all of history has ever lived out their beliefs perfectly, apart from Jesus.  That's what makes the good news so scandalously good. Nevertheless, there is truth to be heard here, some of it is uncomfortable.

Maybe this is one reason why universalism is so appealing to many who remain in the church - one can absolve one's conscience and remove the fear of all potentially awkward social situations with a single knockout punch.

Full article here.

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