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ARTICLE 2: WE OF LITTLE FAITH It was recently suggested to me that I write on why people lose faith. I could deal with this issue best by addressing two similar but distinct questions. 1. 'Why do people turn away from the church?'. This addresses the behaviour of the Church as a society and the issues it inevitably faces, being a human society proclaiming an infallible Gospel. 2. 'Why do people lose their faith?'. The difference here shall be explained later in this article. Perhaps, to tackle the first question we should not ask 'Why', but 'What is it that turns people off church' and look at it from a practical angle rather than looking for an answer that will comfort us in the fact that some people do leave their Faith behind. PERSONAL ISSUES One thing that will disappoint even a strong believer are particular issues one may have with their local church or the Church as a whole. Specifically, having an ideal that is not being met, or is being treated contrary to your beliefs by the Church. This could be as petty as a distaste for the worship music, or more relevant like infant baptism. Similarly, one could feel repulsed by the actions of a professed believer who behaves improperly and question whether the Faith achieves all it proclaims. The Church is often seen in the light of its reported unpleasantries and its teachings and traditions that don't gel well with today's society. Also worthy of mention is the possibility that the Bible itself (rather than the Church) may not or seems to not teach the same ideals as you hold dear.. I guess the above reasonings could be summed up as the believer losing faith in the power of the Gospel to change the lives of those who receive it. Although a valid point, I must stress that the Faith itself depends not on anybody but yourself and the Creator. It would be sheer folly to put Eternity into the hands of others who are obviously fallen. INTELLECTUAL ISSUES Loss of faith could also be brought about by readings that lead you to conclusions like the Bible is inaccurate. Or you may feel it is outdated. This can certainly be addressed by research, should you choose to do so. Certainly some scientific sources profess to have disproved God, but they have an agenda. While it usually is not to blatantly deceive people, some people in certain professions will go to lengths to defend their own established beliefs, protect their integrity and ultimately their livelihoods. Certainly the same could be said of the Christians who insist the same scientific (and cosmological etc) findings point to God. They will each present one side of the story, but hopefully argue with proven truths. You can choose to read into these issues for yourself and settle the matter for yourself. But you may not. This is what I have addressed below. I am treating the issue at hand on a personal level, and have identified the major player for why many people don't embrace the Faith. THE Zzz FACTOR I feel that the most dangerous of all reasons for neglecting or rejecting the Gospel (the message of the Bible) is simply apathy. This is certainly a major reason why people don't gain the Faith to begin with. Think about those who are not believers. Understand (or imagine, if you yourself are not convinced) that Biblical scripture has proven itself to be entirely reliable; a conclusion that has turned many atheist scientists, historians and scholars into full-on believers. Picture it as a Polaroid that shows you kicking back with the PM. Now hand this evidence to some random and try telling them that Howard has a message for them. Aside from those who dismiss it as a joke, what would their responses be like? There would be some people who, seeing the evidence, question its reliability; even though it is an instant Polaroid film, it could have been a photo taken of an already digitally enhanced image. Therefore I won't be listening to your message. Some people would enquire as to what the Prime Minister's message to them is - only few people though, I would suggest. Keep in mind that, despite ten years in office, our PM is not a popular figure in the public eye. I think most people would simply not care what Howard has to say to them. I see this as very similar to God's position in our society. The Prime Minister is an important leader of a country, as is God important to our world. However they are the kind of figures we love to defy. We use our prejudices against them, and we are bigots by birthright. And we are stubborn. We are either genuinely unperturbed or we choose not to listen. But what about those who once had faith and are losing it to an apathetic sense? Lethargy is common; people losing the energy to be concerned. Apathy is worse, as this suggests the person concerned just doesn't care. What can break this barrier but tragedy? Try telling a non-believer that at the rate they're going, they're destined for hell. The most likely response may be "Sod off, wanker" with two fingers stuck up and one more to make three. But that is the seriousness of the matter. When people don't care to even consider the possibility of there being truth in the message... well, their future may be pretty bleak. It may take more than rational arguments to convince them of the gravity of these matters. A tragedy can successfully prompt some people to ask "Why?" or "Where is God in all this?" But then again, there are those who shun God moreso for allowing evil in the world. If you think you should care, but don't show it, you may be experiencing some lethargy. You are in a more promising position. If you understand the importance of these matters but lack the energy to do anything about it, do not lose hope. FORCED TO BEHAVE There is another player in the battle against faith. That is in regards to the repercussions of there being a sovereign God whom you are answerable to. If God exists and he disapproves of my way of life, then I either have to turn or burn. Most of us naturally abide by most of the Ten Commandments, most of the time. But then again, the murder one is the only Commandment the majority of us never break, at least not on a regular basis like the rest. And even though we all see ourselves as a "good person", we concede that living to God's standard is unachievable, or it doesn't suit my style. So we elect to deny God the right to enjoy his creation. We choose to ignore him. All of us do; some more consistently than others. Some for this reason choose to deny him completely. Unfortunately for those who declare themselves agnostic or atheist, ignoring God won't make him go away. WHY DO BELIEVERS SOMETIMES LOSE FAITH? You no longer are convinced by the evidence. This reason would have the most credibility of all. If history could prove the Bible is flawed, I would lose confidence in it. If it could be shown that Jesus' miracles and indeed his Resurrection were merely magic tricks, I would become sceptical. However, the evidence I have seen leads me directly to faith, not away from it. You become disheartened by the behaviour of others who profess the same faith. This may be the most misguided grounds for leaving the Faith behind. You know you yourself are imperfect and if others were to judge you on your flaws, they would be equally disgusted. But why let these people you detest divert you away from God? Maybe the case is closer to the next possibility. You doubt God's goodness or power. You become disillusioned by the evil in our world. Remember here that God's very nature is by definition perfect and he was powerful enough to create everything we experience on Earth out of nothing. Perhaps your ideals are different to the Bible's sentiments. Ask yourself, who has the ultimate authority in the end? You choose this life's luxuries or your current comfort over eternal prospects. We Christians recognise that we live twice: the first life we are experiencing now; the next life will not be bound by time. Our time on Earth is just a piss in the ocean compared to Eternity. We can afford to give up a few decades here to ensure we will enjoy the next million-plus. You are apologetic toward another religion, or you find the multitude of options available is overwhelming. As a Christian I know that we can feel threatened by views that challenge our beliefs. Be willing to examine new philosophies as they come to you. Conversely, search out truth the best way you know how; using the logic and resources available to you. When a religion such as Christianity claims to have insight into the Afterlife and the nature of God, I hope you feel compelled to earnestly investigate it. For the Christian though, do not be afraid; our beliefs are supported by logic and science. Ultimately, you need to understand that our existence is real. It may well be of utmost importance that during our lifetime we need to sort out our vision. Lindsey Joel 14 March 2006 If you read this, please leave me your thoughts