Don't ask questions about Christianity

You can't be talked into believing. Just try it!

An old friend reached out to me this week. Long ago, she and her husband were members of the church I served. In fact, I baptized both her kids.

Those kids are adults now!

In fact, it was one of those adult kids she was reaching out about.

Her daughter is tentatively curious about faith, but a bit suspicious of church. My friend was somewhat apologetic about not really raising her daughter in the church after she was baptized. But honestly, this is the story of most Christians these days.

Now her daughter is at least thinking about what Christianity means, and her mom thought maybe she could speak to me.

Of course she can!

And … I wonder if she should.

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Here’s why…

In my extensive experience as a priest, I’ve talked with many people who were struggling with their relationship with God.

Those who:

• Weren’t sure what they believed.

• Were sure that they did not believe large swaths of Christian theology.

• Had some pretty strong (not good) feelings about the church in general.

• But were still feeling some kind of inkling towards something greater than themselves…

Inevitably, they either wanted a book recommendation (but not the Bible…), or they basically wanted me to defend the church and convince them of why they should become Christian - or a ‘better’ Christian, or at least a church-goer.

And I was always eager to do both those things!

Over time, though, I’ve wondered if this might be the wrong place to start.

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Because Christianity is not about our heads - it’s about our hearts.

It’s about falling in love with Jesus, pure and simple. And understanding how Jesus has fallen in love with YOU.

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I can’t convince anyone of this. I don’t want to convince anyone of this. I want others to experience it themselves.

I also don’t want people to be ‘better’ Christians, nor do I want them to go to church(!).

I want them to long for the community that only forms around glorifying God together.

And I want them to find it.

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This is the reason I’m building the gym for your soul.

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Inviting people into the rhythms and practices of the very earliest Christians is inviting them into feeling close to God.

Into stretching and strengthening our interior lives to open ourselves to the power and presence of Jesus in our lives, and in the world. And letting that bringing us closer to loving God and our neighbor in community.

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I don’t know if my friend’s daughter will reach out to me. I hope she does.

And if she does, I won’t try to convince her to be Christian. I won’t recommend a book.

I will invite her into saying the ‘Jesus prayer’, ten times every day. And to acts of devotion, gestures of hospitality, and rhythms of attentiveness and silence, feasting and fasting.

I will invite her to open the door to relationship with God.