Keeping in Touch
CNN journalist Anderson Cooper wrote of an interesting story on his blog back in May. Luigi Cascioli has spent his life trying to bring down the Catholic Church. Cascioli believes that the Church is guilty of fraud and cover-up. He believes that Jesus never actually lived. Currently, Cascioli is suing the Church so that they will have to provide evidence that Jesus existed. After many failed attempts to get the suit heard in an Italian court, he will finally have his day as the European Court of Human Rights agreed to hear the case.
The story is interesting and intriguing, if not humorous. However, the real interest for me is in the follow-up comments posted about the story on Cooper's blog. Many of the readers found it hard to believe that someone could actually (or, would want to) prove Christ's existence. One person said “faith is about believing in something that you can't prove”.
Another respondent gave such a stereotypical Western view of religion, I had a hard time believing that he wasn't being sarcastic. Jim from California said:
As for the actual question of whether Jesus Christ existed it is a matter of faith. Whether he existed, or whether he is a fictional character created to foster a belief system based on Jewish tradition doesn't really matter. A Christian, Jew, Muslim, or Atheist who respects life, who tries to help his fellow man, who leaves the world a better place than when he came into it, is surely guaranteed a place in heaven, if it exists, and if it doesn't they will have still enriched the lives of those people they leave behind.
Reading through these comments reminded me to keep in touch with the world's view of Christianity. It is essential in reaching the world with the gospel. For when we do evangelism, the Western world will undoubtedly think that we are calling them to stop swearing, come to church on Sundays and vote for conservatives. Hard work is required to break down the barriers and stereotypes, as presented by these respondents, so that the gospel of Jesus is heard clearly.
I was also reminded that many believers need to be taught and re-taught what faith really means.