Whac-A-Mole: Atheism — Monday
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)
I’ve heard people say that if you can believe the first five words of the Bible, then you can believe every word that follows them. But what about the people who don’t believe those first five words?
Whether someone calls themselves non-religious, spiritual, atheistic, or agnostic, I’d argue that those beliefs come from several different reasons or misunderstandings. This week, I hope to navigate through those reasons, representations, and misunderstandings and reveal where we can gain confidence in our ability to interact with non-believers, and how we can play a pivotal role in their lives.
Plenty of people have been shown exactly why Christianity isn’t for them. Whether it was made clear to them by a guy on a street standing on a milk crate and hollering about Hell and damnation, or the passive soccer mom with the ichthus sticker in the grocery store parking lot yelling at her kids, or the forthcoming Christian who engages in any social media debate in all the worst ways. Oftentimes, “Christianity” is wielded as a sword or used as a crutch and, consequently, doesn’t reflect Christ Jesus in the least.
Thank goodness that isn’t the Christianity we know. Jesus promises that His yolk is easy, and His burden light. Truly representing Jesus to those around us isn’t Bible-thumping or guilt-laced. It’s just as Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:37-40—or put simply, love God and love people. When those two goals are motivating our actions, words, thoughts, and intentions, we can begin to mend perceptions of what a Christian really is, and who Jesus really is.
Tune back in tomorrow as we talk about doubt and how it can actually be helpful.
Monday’s Reflection
Who in your life could use a fresh and honest representation of who Jesus is and what Christianity is about? Pray for opportunities to use what you learn this week to represent Jesus well to those who need it.
