A Crumbling Faith

Last Sunday, I referred to a study that shows little difference betweene "churched" and "unchurched" people when it comes to casual ethical behavior. We've been looking at Paul's letter to the Philippians at Hope, and brushed against his portrait of an intimate life with Christ resulting in innocence and righteousness as we "shine like stars" in a dark world.

This morning, I read an article from a Los Angeles Times religion reporter detailing the decay and loss of his own faith as he interacted with the very worst elements of "religious" people -- Catholic priests molesting the children who trust them, sick and dying people being sucked in by televangelists, etc. The article provoked a lot of different responses from me as I read. On the one hand, I felt myself defensive of the Christian faith, especially when it seems the reporter came in contact with moments of truth but didn't seem to experience those transforming truths in his own way of thinking. Was true disciple-making lacking in his life? At the same time, I found myself deeply sympathetic with his crumbling faith; hang around false, shallow, and even evil "religious" group-think for very long and it's easy to become disillusioned. I also found myself feeling irritated with people who claim the name of Christ while tarnishing his reputation, as well as those who are quick to protect the modern-day Pharisees in our midst. How long, O Lord, will you allow you name to be drug through the muck of human failures and moral decay? (I have to be careful asking that question, of course; Habakkuk didn't like the answer he received when he asked it in the Old Testament.) But more than anything I just felt profoundly sad for the reporter. Here's a guy who was honestly looking to connect with God, and now feels isolated and faithless. I think the world is full of people just like him, and it breaks my heart. I can't imagine how God must feel.

Read the story for yourself by clicking here. I hope it's helpful in expanding our minds and perspectives of the people beyond our fellowship. This is the world we need to reach. This is the reason why we can't give up or become selfish. This is why God calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow in his footsteps.