Influence

The late John Stott writes that Christians shouldn’t think they cannot change the society around them, when they in fact have tremendous influence.

#1 Prayer – if it is true that the God of the Bible is who he says he is, asking him to intervene most definitely makes a difference
#2 Truth – if there is truth in this world, it will last and nothing can change that. For example, if it is true that one should work for 6 days and rest on the 7th, it is a truth that can be proven not only by experience or the Bible, but through research.
#3 Example – If you claim to follow Jesus and live accordingly, you will have to swim against the tide. If Biblical principles on life really work, then your life is living proof.
#4 Group Solidarity – significant change happens through small groups of dedicated people. Jesus taught his 12 students the basics and let them run with it. Through them the Church has spread to every continent. There is immense strength in a small group of people who are dedicated and convinced of their cause.

Everyone’s Looking For The Truth

A young Finnish man desired truth. When he was a teenager he read the Bible and wondered, why the Christians in his culture didn’t keep the laws of the Old Testament. The Christian faith must be flawed, he concluded. He had also some Muslim friends, who seemed to live far more religious lives than the Christians.  So he decided to convert to Islam.
Today he is barely in his twenties and a student of Islamic law in Saudi Arabia. He wants to teach Islam in his home country.
There is a common thread among white people who convert to Islam. They say Islam provides security. You know exactly what is permitted and what is not. You have clear boundaries unlike in the (nominal) Christianity they grew up with.
It is curious how we have such a built-in need for law.  We want justice. We don’t want to be judged, but we do see many others who need to be judged. We want war criminals and child abusers convicted.
In the core of (in this case the rejected) Christianity is the Truth that sets you free.  Everyone is free to embrace or reject it. For many, it is much simpler to live their life following strict rules, than to let God’s incredible forgiveness transform you from the inside, so that you truly want to live in a way that honors both God and people.
The world’s theisms and atheisms swing between extremely strict laws and no restrictions. Christianity seems to find the balance in between.  And leaves the choice to you.