Another holiday season has come and gone, leaving most of us with cherished memories of the birth of the Christ child, and times spent with family members and friends. Of course, not everyone acknowledges Jesus as the Savior of mankind. While I respect people’s right to believe otherwise, it does sometimes make interfacing with those individuals somewhat awkward, if not outright painful.
That’s the case with my wife’s childhood friend, Jane. Jane and her husband still live in my wife’s hometown, and the holidays are a time when we can visit and reminisce. This past Christmas, we met them for dinner. It was a pleasant evening of good food and memories of times past. Everything was going along splendidly until we had ‘The conversation’. The one about God. It’s the same conversation that pops up during many of our visits. It’s the dialogue where I usually get disgusted and want to go home and kick something.
Did I mention that Jane is an atheist? Not just any old atheist, but a confirmed, ‘in your face’ non-believer. As you can imagine, that makes conversations about religion interesting at best. Jane is adamant that there is no God. If you haven’t had the pleasure of having a frank conversation with a strong-willed non-believer, here’s how our discussions usually go.
Me: “Jane. Look at the beauty of the world around you. The oceans. The mountains. How can such splendor exist without a God?”
Jane: “That proves nothing. Ever heard of the glaciers?”
Me: “What about Jesus? It’s a matter of history that he walked the earth and was crucified. He died for our sins.”
Jane: “I acknowledge he may have existed. Proves nothing though.”
Me: “I’ll pray for you. I hope you will someday see and understand the truth.”
Jane: “I don’t want your prayers. Don’t pray for me! I’m fine the way I am!”
Me: “Ugh!”
One of the reasons these conversations quickly go in the wrong direction is my own inability to articulate my beliefs. I’m not what you would consider a student of the Bible, nor did I have a religious upbringing as a child. But I can clearly see the message within God’s word, forming a bread trail for me personally, as I walk on my spiritual journey toward Him.
But I sometimes forget how unique we all are. How each of us processes information differently. I forget how words that fit snugly within the framework of my own mind, may not have the same poignant impact on others. That’s my own failure as a Christian and as a disciple.
Jane is a reasonably intelligent woman. Like everyone else, she has filters in her mind to help her discern the truth. She’ll be quick to tell you that there’s been no evidence that has passed through those filters to convince her God exists. And like all of us, she’s been blessed in many ways. She just doesn’t realize those blessings come from above.
In Jane’s defense, to the best of my knowledge, she’s never been faced with the challenge of a major health issue. She has always been financially solvent, generally free of worry about how she’s going to pay the bills. And as far as I know, she’s never been confronted with an event in her life so catastrophic, that she’s felt the need to drop to her knees and pray to God to save her from the calamities many of us are faced with at some point in our lives.
To some extent, I admire her independence and her resolve. She gets by each day without overtly relying on God. Even though we know He’s always there with her.
Though her attitude frustrates me greatly, I realize she doesn’t possess the same hope and joy we Catholics have in our hearts. That same hope gives us comfort and solace. Within her mind, she believes and has accepted, that there is nothing beyond our earthly world filled with ‘things’ and ‘temptations’. Hence, there is no reason to live a life as Jesus taught us in the gospels. Living a life for Him vs ourselves or our possessions. This saddens me and when I think about what Jane is missing out on, my frustrations with her become secondary in importance relative to her salvation.
So, where does that leave Jane and others like her? I’m determined that the next time I see her, I’ll be better prepared.
Saint Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope’”.
I realize it’s not in everyone’s DNA to be an evangelist. But I think I’ve failed miserably in effectively conveying the reason for my hope. Too often I’ve missed the opportunity to try to break down those walls that she’s constructed over her lifetime, just because I find dealing with her difficult. I also know that Jesus expects us to evangelize others, and for me to do that I have to allow God’s light to shine through me.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl….In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 28:19-20).
As I reflect on that evening with Jane, I know when I see her again, I will also offer one more question for her to consider.
‘What if you are wrong?’
What if everything written about God in the Bible is true? And everything she believes is a façade. Then that would mean that words in the Bible about non-believers would be true as well.
Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him(Hebrews 11:16).
unbelievers…their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur (Revelations 21:8).
Those who do not acknowledge God….will pay the penalty of eternal ruin (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
That’s strong language for a book that is filled with metaphors and symbolism. So, what does ‘eternal ruin’ really mean? The Bible’s descriptions of hell are intended to paint a very clear picture for all of us.
“Fire and brimstone”
“Furnace of fire”
“Fiery oven”
“Lake of fire”
“Eternal punishment”
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