Someone asked me recently why I don't debate Christianity. I replied by asking them why they felt I should. They answered that it was my duty as a carrier of the "Truth" to set these wayward souls of the "world" straight. I said that's bullshit. Who am I to pass judgment on anyone and make it my "duty" to change them. I can't even change myself without God.
I'm not God. I don't know people's hearts or what past experiences they've had that have shaped their beliefs. I only know the journey my life has taken and what I've chosen to believe. The only "duties" I know of are to love God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love others...period. I love God by learning to love like Christ loved and by learning to obey Him and let Him guide my life. And as I learn to love God, His love compels me to love others.
Prominent and influential religious leaders tried to get Jesus to debate. He wouldn't go for it. He simply spoke His Truth and let them decide what to do with it. He only had a short time on this earth and He didn't waste a second of it. He spent His time healing the sick, reaching out to the outcast and downtrodden, loving the unlovable and ultimately offering His life for the redemption of ours. Simply put, Jesus had better things to do.
My life on this earth is but a blink of an eye and I don't want to waste a second of it in meaningless debate. I've got better things to do.
A friend of mine summed it up beautifully...
"There is no argument that can change a doubter's heart. Anyone who can be talked into the faith can be talked out. There are no logical explanations. It is simply the call of love. Heart to heart. Soul to soul. We have embraced forgiveness. We have discovered true peace. We have found hope and mercy. We have been loved unconditionally. We have been rescued and redeemed. We have been adopted. We have been given a reason to live with expectancy. We have been gathered and caressed by the Savior. His gentle hand catches our tears. We can not explain it completely. Yet we know that new life has begun."
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"27And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." 28And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live." 29But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' 36Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" 37He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise." ~ Luke 10:25-37 (ESV)
