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I am something of a public debate enthusiast,
watching and listening to current affairs programmes, TV and radio discussion
panels, following political pundits, etc. There is an attempt to generate
public debate about all sorts of things today by all sorts of people
and if we don't 'get in there' and contribute to the discussion we lose
and so do those who don't get to hear us. I have noticed over the years,
however, how people generally have become less tolerant of religious
ideas and often seem incapable of understanding what place they could
possibly have in public debate. Certainties and absolutes are not popular
and firm convictions seem out of place. After all if you only bring
conclusions to the table there is effectively nothing to discuss.
As we discuss our faith with unbelievers we too may get lost in the
cut and thrust of claim and counter claim and lose sight of the fact
that we are not simply debating ideas and exploring possibilities. Not
pursuing personal enthusiasms, favourite ideas and clever points of
political/personal philosophy. These are not the things that compel
us. In our text Paul reminds us that:
Christ's love compels us, because we
are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he
died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves
but for him who died for them and was raise again.
We don't get involved in witnessing, and come to discussion and debate
because of some bright idea we recently had or came across. We come
because one died for us and we no longer live for ourselves but for
him who died for us. We don't simply bring an idea but good news. Something
amazing has happened and our whole worldview has changed:
So from now on we regard no one from
a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way,
we do so no longer.
But isn't this just another religious idea? If we have simply come to
believe it as we come to believe a political idea or philosophical concept
possibly -but:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he
is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this from
God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, not counting men's
sins against them.
Something hasn't simply "come to us" but something incredible has happened
to the Christian. He or she has been reconciled to God, having their
sins forgiven and being made new, "the old has gone, the new has come"
and all this from God. We are not saying "I have a great idea" but "I
have a great God!"
We are, therefore, Christ's ambassadors,
as though God were making his appeal through us.
When we enter the public arena and take part in the great conversation
there are many issues to debate and much to be gained from our involvement.
Frankly, Christians don't do it enough in my view and then all too often
insist on certitude and dogma where there is room enough for debate
and disagreement. But when it comes to the great issue of faith we are
not compelled by rivalry and competition but by love. Our message is
not simply one of intellectual enlightenment but:
We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be
reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so
that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
How will love compel us this week? What will it compel us to do? Will
we major on the minors and settle for the cut and thrust of debate,
or will we implore people, on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God?
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