TO BE OR NOT TO BE...THAT IS THE QUESTION

NOTE: Because the person about whom I write in this post has not given me permission to reference his/her work, I shall make every effort not to identify him/her and will use this rather awkward way of writing in the third person.

One of my favorite activities is what I call, "blog-surfing." I go to one of the blogs I regularly read and then visit each one of their blog-roll and/or commenters.

The other day I stumbled across a blog by a self-described atheist.

What made this blog different was that this person was working through the Bible, chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse.

I've never seen the perspective of a non-believer so well put together.

His/her posts are very compelling because they express the perspective of a very intelligent, yet not snobbish, atheistic world-view.

The questions raised on this blog are questions many people have who do not approach the Bible from the position of faith in its composer.

Furthermore, the questions raised and the conclusions drawn, make very good sense if seen from a non-faith point of view.

While I agree with almost none of his/her conclusions, I sense an honest search for truth from the writer (although I believe that truth is impossible to find using this approach).

As I read each post, I am almost compelled to respond to each and every point raised. I have, so far, resisted the urge to do so, as I don't think it would be fruitful for either of us.

In addition to that, I have never known of anyone who was argued into faith in Christ.

Each of us holds an opinion about this or that, and each of us thinks our opinions are correct, or else we would change them.

My innermost being is troubled, however, when I read his/her works because I want to yell out, "Wait! You're working from the wrong presuppositions! If you could just look at these passages from the point of view of a believer, you would see them differently!"

Firstly, of course, that won't happen unless and until this person becomes a believer. Secondly, the Word tells us that the understanding of a person outside of the faith is bound to be exactly what this person's understanding IS: tainted by his/her world-view.

Nevertheless, he/she writes with grace and humor, as well as a scholarly tone, and his/her writing is very readable.

If this person discovers that I do not offer condemnation, but friendship and understanding, perhaps he/she and I will be able to dialog in the future.

Who knows where this could lead?

I am glad I found this blog.

If I am given permission to do so, I will share the URL with you in the future. If not, I will give you updates on his/her perspectives.

There are so many of us, who claim the name of Christ, who, when faced with someone who does not, either run away or become obnoxious.

I think Jesus HATES the obnoxious attempt to FORCE one's faith on another.

Let's not do that.

Thank you, Lord, for leading me to this blog. I ask that you will grow a trust of each other's honest desire to help, without either of us becoming contentious or arrogant.