Bigger Than MeSample

My atheist or agnostic friends tend to point to one great reason for not believing: lack of proof. Point taken. But for me, this is the very reason we call this thing faith. Faith isn’t necessary when there’s proof. But it seems to be necessary a great many other times. I’ve seen stories of nonbelievers such as C. S. Lewis, who had no belief and no desire for any, reluctantly became a follower of Jesus because he couldn’t deny that all things, once he honestly considered them, pointed to God. 

But on a journey to Africa, I came to a village where the name of Jesus had never been heard. My companion, Reverend John Lodinyo, preached to the local tribe. One tribe member said. “Bring Jesus here so that we may discuss.” Reverend Lodinyo smiled and said that Jesus had died. The group turned away. They had thought this was about a hero—heroes don’t die, particularly if his father is a god! Patiently, Lodinyo explained the plan of the Father who sent His Son to die for people. A savior. A true hero. A blood sacrifice. The people understood the significance of something like that better than most of us do. This story was not familiar or comfortable in this setting. It demanded a response. As we left, of course, I wanted to know the score. Had the people made professions of faith? Again Reverend Lodinyo smiled, “It doesn’t work that way. Words alone will not generate belief. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit.” 

The story of Jesus just works, no matter the culture. It’s certainly not a tale any of us would manufacture for the purpose of selling to people. Who would base the success of that new faith on eleven very sketchy characters, mostly fishermen and peasants, who had never ventured more than a few miles from home? Or build on an ethic of turning the other cheek and denying self? Only the most inept marketers in the history of commerce would foist such a thing on the public. And the story is made even more amazing in that it became the world’s leading belief system. Can I prove Jesus? No, but perhaps I would submit the above to the court of common sense. If His miracles and resurrection seem difficult to believe, how much less likely is the story of exponential international spreading of the faith—which we know to be true? That’s a lot of changed lives over two thousand years.