A black preacher had a friend whose son went off to college. The student came home for a visit and declared to his dad, “I’m not sure I believe in the things you believe anymore, like this simple, child-like faith in the Bible”. The father seemed dumbfounded. After a few moments he replied to his son, “that is your freedom – your terrible freedom”. Welcome to the harsh adult world of “enlightenment.” In our careening historical venture of change in society and knowledge, we are leaning into postmodernity. Everything now is subject to scrutiny. Even (and especially), it has impacted the church. It has become increasingly difficult – some would say impossible – to transmit our faith to future generations based on blind faith and attrition alone. It shouldn’t have to be so hard to get people to accept the factual truth of Christ’s saving act on the cross. Thankfully, we still have the words and stories of converted atheists who have put Christianity under the intellectual microscope and come away convinced. Lee Strobel is the most recent one, a journalist who employed all of his investigative energy and resources into making “The Case For God”, “The Case For Creation”, “The Case For Christ”.

Some Americans think we are in a “Cold Civil War.” Division is the worst that many of us have seen in our nation. The devil loves it. If you haven’t read C.S. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters”, you should. He is another converted atheist, by the way! The late Rev. Billy Graham and others have been painting a picture of the warning signs. I will just leave it there. I do not want to engage in doomsday predictions and politics. It resonates; my “lead story” of the father and son. Ours is a “terrible freedom”. God in His infinite love gave us freedom to choose. The U.S.A., the “grand experiment”, has given wings to that flight. Choices always have consequences. Who we elect, which laws we choose to ignore or bend, what occupations and lifestyles we choose – all bear the cost of the outcome. The freedom of choosing not to believe in God, creation and Christ comes at a terrible price. It cannot be seen now, most of the time. Non-believers seem to live free, happy lives. People seem to function quite well without a steady dose of church. As a pastor, I dearly wish more people yearned for, longed for a faith community. At least admitting they are open to the possibility. Why don’t they get it? It is a terrible freedom indeed.

It is tragic that we shun the opportunity, the calling of our vocation in baptismal ministry, to urge repentance and reception of Jesus into the heart. What is even more tragic is our reality as Americans: freedom of worship! We do not have to fear a death sentence if we witness and worship! The irony: to NOT believe is ultimately fatal! Dare I say that these times call for urgency? Not conspiracy theories meant to further divide and frighten, but the loving invitation to a true freedom that is anything but terrible. Please, dear blog readers, engage in that conversation. Cultivate relationships with agnostics and skeptics, seekers and hardened post-moderns. Lead them to dare the blind faith of believing in an unconditional love

Pastor Art.