I am acutely aware of the fact that it doesn’t always add up. That it doesn’t always make sense. That after all of our questions, debates, and investigations we are at about the same place we have always been. A little more enlightened. A lot more confused.
I am aware of the doubts. The skepticism. The disbelief. Those thoughts that haunt the back of the mind. “Do I really believe that?” “Am I sure?” “Where is the evidence?” “What about this objection?” “What about that question?” I’ve gone through all of them. And will again.
I am very aware of the fact that others who claim to believe have offered up spectacular fodder to those who do not. On quite a few occasions Jesus people have been mean, judgmental, hurtful, shameful, _________, etc. Faced with the prospect of claiming these people as part of your camp, why would anybody want to believe?
And I know that making the following claims places me squarely in the camp of the zealot. The radical. The fool…
_There is a God.
_This God created the universe, and every living thing.
_This God exists as Father, Son, and Spirit.
_God the Son, also known as Jesus Christ, came to Earth in flesh.
_Jesus Christ died for my sins.
_If I am to find peace and life, I can find it in Jesus Christ.
_This is important enough to talk about with the people I care about.
The very fact that I believe these things could indicate that there is something mentally wrong with me.
So, why do it? I mean, seriously…why do it? In many ways, life would be easier if I didn’t. Less hassle. Less stress. Less headache. Less heartache. Less mocking.
The fact is this…I believe Jesus is real. And I believe this because I have seen him change a life. Mine. And I see it changing more all the time. And I see other lives changed. I see changes in lives that cannot be attributed to mental energy, or a force of human will. I see things happening that can only be accounted for by something (or someone) not limited by humanity. And I believe God is real.
And so, I am a fool. Because I cannot answer all of the questions. For you. Or for me. Yet I still believe.
And for the record, I am the happiest fool you’ll ever see!
