2/18/14 Bob about 25
As
part of a coffeeshop conversation with Elias, a brother in Christ, we decided
to put our faith into action and initiate a missional conversation with someone
around us. A man named Bob not only
agreed to speak to my main question about eternity but to allow me to
video-record the conversation, so in this video Elias is my cameraman as I talk
with Bob. I ask some essential questions
and one of his answers stood out to me.
I ask "Do you have a particular purpose in life?" At first Bob isn't sure, but then says he
would like to be like his two grandmothers whom he describes as strong
believers, one Catholic, one Protestant.
The interesting thing to me, though, is that although his role models
are believers, Bob is not. Bob describes
himself as an agnostic who leans towards atheism. What impresses Bob about his two grandmothers
is their ability to be strong believers and yet not impose their beliefs on
others. They are the most loving and
kind people he knows, and he believes he can strive to be the same way only
without their belief in God. The weird
thing is, I think he is right is one sense.
Some of the friendliest, most outgoing and generous people are
atheists. We Christians have a lot of
competition if we are trying to win the world over simply by being
"nice". Very likely, Bob's
grandmothers were trying to do just that.
I believe this is misguided, because their silence on matters of faith
also sends a message. It says that they
must not really believe what they profess to believe, and therefore Bob need
not believe it either. If they do truly believe one is condemned outside of
faith in Christ, than not sharing that message would not be loving at all. I talk to Bob about the need for "tough
love". This is the kind of love
that is willing to risk short-term rejection for the long-term good of
another. Sometimes grandparents believe
they have the luxury of just loving on their grandchildren and leaving all the
discipline to the parents. But if they
truly love their grandchildren, especially when it comes to eternal truths,
they need to be willing to love even when that means they have to be
tough. (note - because of some
copywritten background music at the coffeeshop, this video won't play on some
cell phones) http://youtu.be/HzO7zS60djM
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