A helpful and insightful analysis/reminder for those of us who claim the title, Christian. See what you think.
Despite the title this isn’t a post about the current US presidential election – although I hope it gets people thinking about how they frame their position, whatever that may be. In fact, the title may distract from the theme of the post. But it is an attention grabber.
“They,” that is the non-Christians in our increasingly diverse and secular culture, will not know we are Christians by our political affiliation. They will not know we are Christians by the logic of our words, by our fancy buildings, popular orators, rules, or philosophical arguments.
They will know we are Christians by the way we live. Christianity will also be defined (in their minds at least) by the way we live. Try asking people some time “What is the first word that comes to mind when I say Christian?”
It goes beyond this though. They will know that Christianity is true (or not) by the way Christians live.
One of the commenters on Tuesday’s post Testable Faith made a point worth a good deal of consideration.
Should our views be verifiable or at the very least subject to falsification on matters of faith?
…
I think yes. And can give you some examples of how that could work.
If the claims of Scripture are true, we should see a qualitative difference between Christians filled with the spirit and non-Christians in the “world.” We should see “fruits” of the spirit. Light and salt. In a way that is striking by way of comparison. And this should be even more pronounced the more devout one is in their faith. In a way that does not compare with how devout one is in another non-Christian faith.
Subjectively, one ought be able to say something qualitatively more compelling in their Christian “testimony” than the sincere “testimonies” of those from other faiths.
We should see greater wisdom and discernment in devout Christian communities than those of other faiths or non-faith.
Read it all and think it through during this tumultuous election season.