Why Didn’t Someone Tell Me
Those words might be the saddest words spoken in Christianity. I am not writing about the American evangelical witnessing guilt trip; you may be familiar with this scenario:
On Judgement Day there are two lines: one leading to heaven, one leading to hell. You are in the to heaven line and you see your next door neighbor in the to hell line. He looks at you with terror in his eyes and says, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
That is supposed to be a motivation to witness. It is not only terrible theology, it is also not how the Gospel functions.
The “Why didn’t someone tell me?” that has really made my heart heavy recently is from self-described former Christians. Granted, most of what I am hearing is from YouTube or other podcasts, yet there have been some in face to face conversations. I am not sure if it is because I am an “arm chair theologian” and am constantly searching and seeking “all things God”, and have heard and absorbed so many facts, interpretations, commentaries, as well as misrepresentations and outright lies. It eludes me how one supposed hidden bit of information could derail faith.
I understand a human component in chasing away from a church. We Christians are very good at “eating our own.” Misspoken words whether intentional or unintentional, personality conflicts, treating people in a way other than a way they want to be treated. The sinners treating sinners mindset. Who wouldn’t run from that?
This just occurred to me: Maybe it’s like putting together a puzzle. As I approach my faith puzzle, I will take a piece, look at it, flip it around, try to see where it might fit. I might put it down about where I think it will go, you know, after I have separated all the edges. On the other hand, the person that has what they think is a completed faith puzzle becomes disenchanted when they find a piece hidden in the box. That piece shouldn’t fit in their faith puzzle – it’s complete – why didn’t someone tell me about that piece?
Here is how Martin Luther suggests to work on your faith puzzle:
He who would finish the puzzle [my insertion SS] die happy must think and say as follows: Merciful God, be gracious to me. I am a sinful person and deserve nothing but your disapproval. Yet, regardless of my past, I know for sure that I am baptized and am made a Christian for the forgiveness of my sins. I know without a doubt that My Lord was born, suffered, died, and rose for me. Therefore, I am absolved and freed in the name and the power of Christ! Such a heart and faith can no more face ill and be lost than God’s words can fail or be false. Of this I can assure you, for God Himself is your Security through His word!
I’m here to tell you my puzzle is not complete, I do have lots of pieces that fit together. I have lots of pieces that I think I know where they go. I’m sure that there are pieces that are hidden in the box. I will give you some of my pieces to see if they will fit for you. Be kind to all who are working on the puzzle.
Trust the Promises,
Steve Skiver