Mark 9:24 is one of my favorite verses since it reflects how I often feel. Being a natural skeptic and demanding solid evidence for why I believe what I believe can be challenging at times-especially as many turn from Christianity to embrace the world in all of its various forms.
Had I been writing this 150 years ago, I might have been challenged simply by the rise of some modernism, but mostly by what today would seem to be petty issues concerning morality. However, writing this now in the 21st century, we live in a truly modern world that people 150 years ago would be shocked to witness. As technology rises and continues to dominate, the situation sadly will probably get much worse before "and if" it gets much better.
Today, to be a Christian is not the norm, whereas if you didn't identify as a Christian (whether you were one or not) 150 years ago would have been a clear minority position and one that would not have you fitting into a more rules based moralistic society based on biblical principles. Even 50-75 years ago, to not have been in church at some point even if not regularly would be out of place. Today...not so much.
Apologetics are more important than ever as we ask ourselves and even explain to others why we believe what we believe. Being bombarded by all kinds of worldly influences, beliefs, and arguments against God, and Christianity in general, can take its toll if you are weak in faith, but ultimately we must take every thought captive and ask ourselves why we believe what we believe and then even if faith is weak, we should cry out to God to help our unbelief.
While technology can be useful to the gospel, I am becoming more convinced that as everyday life gets easier and easier and the world gets smaller and smaller, that more and more people will be turned from the faith and unto the idol of the world. There are glimmers of hope-some people disconnecting from social media and others leaving the rat race of trying to pay for expensive homes and toys and going back to more simpler lives. Perhaps many of these will also see the false hope of the world is a lie and will also reach out in faith-even if its full of doubt-and have their eyes opened to God and Christ.
I know when I am doubting, simply going for a drive away from community and seeing the country side or looking into a starry night sky always reminds me of His handy work. I realize that it takes much more faith to be an atheist and my unbelief and doubts simply cannot take me there.
Had I been writing this 150 years ago, I might have been challenged simply by the rise of some modernism, but mostly by what today would seem to be petty issues concerning morality. However, writing this now in the 21st century, we live in a truly modern world that people 150 years ago would be shocked to witness. As technology rises and continues to dominate, the situation sadly will probably get much worse before "and if" it gets much better.
Today, to be a Christian is not the norm, whereas if you didn't identify as a Christian (whether you were one or not) 150 years ago would have been a clear minority position and one that would not have you fitting into a more rules based moralistic society based on biblical principles. Even 50-75 years ago, to not have been in church at some point even if not regularly would be out of place. Today...not so much.
Apologetics are more important than ever as we ask ourselves and even explain to others why we believe what we believe. Being bombarded by all kinds of worldly influences, beliefs, and arguments against God, and Christianity in general, can take its toll if you are weak in faith, but ultimately we must take every thought captive and ask ourselves why we believe what we believe and then even if faith is weak, we should cry out to God to help our unbelief.
While technology can be useful to the gospel, I am becoming more convinced that as everyday life gets easier and easier and the world gets smaller and smaller, that more and more people will be turned from the faith and unto the idol of the world. There are glimmers of hope-some people disconnecting from social media and others leaving the rat race of trying to pay for expensive homes and toys and going back to more simpler lives. Perhaps many of these will also see the false hope of the world is a lie and will also reach out in faith-even if its full of doubt-and have their eyes opened to God and Christ.
I know when I am doubting, simply going for a drive away from community and seeing the country side or looking into a starry night sky always reminds me of His handy work. I realize that it takes much more faith to be an atheist and my unbelief and doubts simply cannot take me there.
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