Inward and outward

Richard Hall considers how to answer the question, "How do I know that I'm saved?" In finding the answer, he uncovers some uncomfortable truths about Christians in Western culture:

Somewhere along the line we began to accept that Christian faith is a branch of therapy, the purpose of which is to make people feel better about themselves. Following Jesus, it is sometimes claimed, is a panacea for all ills, whether they be spiritual, emotional or even physical. Faith is “sold” on the basis of the benefits to the individual. Some of those benefits are long-term to be sure, but what’s important is what faith will do “for you”. Because of this, many Christians are given to periods of intense introspection, even self-absorption. I’ve been there myself.

I wouldn’t want to say that faith never brings benefit to the individual, still less that there’s no place for emotion in the Christian faith. If the Incarnation - “God amongst us” - means anything, it is surely that there is no aspect of our life with which God is not engaged. But to expect faith to mean a permanent sense of well-being and certainty is to ignore the evidence of scripture and the experience of Christians through the generations. Being a Christian has never meant any such thing.

The deeper issue here is whether an emphasis on individual benefit distorts the content of the Christian gospel. Remember how Jesus warned his followers that to be his disciple means to take up a cross? This is hardly a therapeutic image! In fact, it’s remarkable to me given the way the church operates today that Jesus doesn’t appear to have done any “selling” at all. More often than not we find Jesus trying to put people off. “Take up a cross”, “sell all you have”, “count the cost” are not the most obvious advertising slogans.

Amen. After reading Mr. Hall's article, by the way, it looks like he's found a pretty good answer to the original question.