The agnostic

Preamble

Thank you

Thank you for coming. Love to meet. Come chat.

Many other things you could be doing.

But assure you, best use of your evening.

(L) Why?

Age of distractions.

Doom scrolling. Swipe right. Considering things of significance: increasingly rare.

Each evening: consider the most significance person ever lived.

Person of Jesus. Individual of monumental significance.

Changed course of history. BC / AD

Western civilisation founded on his teaching

Intrinsic value of individual. Human rights.

Self-sacrifice. Care for the downtrodden.

Things we assume true: finds roots in Jesus’ teaching.

If you want to reckon with things that matter:

Come, encounter the most significant person ever lived.

(L) More than that:

We won’t encounter him in the abstract.

But in a deeply personal way.

Each evening

Hear story. Each individual, tonight ___, encounter Jesus personally.

After that, look at John’s eyewitness, hear how Jesus encounters a similar individual.

Observe: What he says. What he does.

Our hope? You will encounter him too

Will you encounter him?

(L) Getting ahead.

Interview

Now

Tell us what are you doing at the moment? What do you like to do for fun? What netflix series are you watching at the moment?

Growing up

You didn’t grow up in the UK but in China. Give us an insight into Chinese’s view of religion? Are most people agnostic?

What about yourself? What was your view of religion?

Why did you find being an agnostic appealing?

How might you have described your view of the person of Jesus back then?

Coming to the UK and encountering Jesus

You came to the UK to study. When did you first become aware of the biblical Jesus (not the cuss word Jesus)?

Can you describe your process of moving from being agnostic to deciding to believe in Jesus?

Did you face any resistant? Or doubts? Tell us more.

You were bombarded with all these new information, at what point did you decided to follow him?

Were there any words that Jesus said that really stuck with you?

What attracts you most about the person of Jesus?

Life now

Been a Christian for 2-3 years, how have you found life like as a Christian?

If someone is an agnostic, do you have any final advice?

Talk: The agnostic

Q: What would Jesus say to an agnostic?

A: There’s no middle ground when it comes to me. You have to decide

SW: Make a decision

INTRODUCTION

Thank. Especially thank if you’ve come for more. CU members. or New.

Our aim. encounter Jesus. Much has been said about him

Monday: Doesn’t ruin fun. Deals with the very thing that ruins our fun.

Tuesday: Change. True transformation. Darren 30 years. Only Jesus. I AM the light of the world. come out of darkness. follow him.

Wednesday: Life’s ruined. Crumbles. I AM THE DOOR. I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

Thursday: Looking for satisfaction. He offers living water.

What is your opinion about Jesus?

Today. Thinking about agnosticism.

Root word: Gnostic = to know something.

Agnostic = to not know something. or to be ignorant. To believe that you cannot know.

And you may be someone who identifies as an agnostic.

“I simply do not know”

(L) but worth getting clear on what kind of agnostic you are.  

I’ll say: three different kinds of Agnostics

(A) Agnostic -> Gnostic

In between? The Learning Space

Emotions? Curiosity, Confusion, Doubt, Annoyance, Frustration, Excitement

Outside the learning space.

Emotions? Confidence. Certainty. Self-assured.

Temporary agnostic:

You are in the learning space.

Things you don’t understand. Things you need to clarify.

Emotions? Confusing, curious, frustration, excitement.

But there is direction: travelling from agnostic to gnostic. ignorance to understanding

Temporary agnostic: don’t stay agnostic forever.

Principled agnostic:

You are outside the learning space

You are convinced that it is impossible to know anything.

It is a matter of principle that you cannot know anything for sure.

If you claim to know something for sure. “YOU ARE WRONG” “YOU CANNOT KNOW ANYTHING FOR SURE”

Emotions? Confident. Certain. Self-assured.

Well, I hope you can see the self-contradictory claim.

“I AM SURE YOU CANNOT KNOW ANYTHING FOR SURE!”

Claiming that it is impossible to know anything for sure is itself a truth claim.

“I have come to knowledge that coming to knowledge is impossible.” -> (Stand on the other end of the learning space)

Claiming that I know everything therefore I conclude that it is impossible to know everything.

“ I AM SURE YOU CANNOT KNOW ANYTHING FOR SURE!” - Self-contradictory.

Any principle agnostics? Hope not. If you are, you’re just not being very logical.

Sceptic:

You are in the learning space. But you are really only pretending to be in the learning space.

You already decided beforehand that you cannot be convinced. You’re sceptical about everything.

Always questioning but never satisfied.

okay, but what about this? okay, but what about that? Okay, but then how about this?

Physically: You’re are in the learning space. Pretend to be curious

Emotionally: Confident. Certain. Self-assured.

Why? Because you are really outside the learning space.

The sceptic always wins. playing a game that only the sceptic can win.

Never really wanting to find out anything.

Never really learning anything

but it doesn’t matter because that is the plan!

If you are an agnostic, what kind of agnostic are you?

If you are a temporary agnostic.

You are very welcomed. This week tailored for you. Keep finding out. Chat to me.

If you’re a principled agnostic or a sceptic

You are also very welcomed. We love having all people here.

But I wonder whether you’ll be open to the possibility of changing your view.

Because if you do, you might learning something. If you don’t all you get is a free dinner and nothing more.

That’s fine. You do you.

But why not learn something?

Hold back your own presuppositions and come and meet the person of Jesus.

CONTEXT

Each evening. Look at eyewitness account of Jesus. Written by his friend called john.

John spend about three years with Jesus. Hang out. Went to pub together. Travelled together. Learned from him.

Over time, convinced that he was no ordinary man

His teaching.

See inside a person

His miracles.

In public. For the world to see.

Miracles that only God could do.

Ultimately, witness the most extraordinary thing

Died publicly on a Roman Cross

Rose from the grave, appeared to 500 witnesses

Changed the course of human history.

John recorded the life of Jesus at the risk of his own life.

Each day: We have been meeting a unique character.

Yesterday: We met a lady who was thirsty. Searching for satisfaction. Someone who was unfulfilled.

Today we meet an agnostic.

His name? Pilate. Pontius Pilate.

Pilate

What is the best modern day example of Pilate? Someone with a fat expat package.

This was his retirement job. Mid 50s. Time to wind down.

Email: “Governor of Judea with expat benefits” Reply to HR: “Sign me up!”

(A) Movers came. Pack up his house. Shipped it to the middle east.

Business class seats on luxury cruise with his family to Jerusalem.

Luxury villa? Tick

Private education for the kids? Tick

Weekly spa appointments for the wife? Tick

“hardship allowance?” Tick

Retirement job. Time to take it easy. “little bit of governing on the side”

(A) As he is reclining on his poolside lounger

Grapes being fed into his mouth.

He hears a loud banging on the door and some commotion

“Who is it?” “Pesky locals”

Gets dressed. Goes and opens the door. Who does he encounter?

Jesus

A loud angry crowd.

John 18:29 “So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?””

Pilate is an agnostic

That’s Pilate. He is the Roman Governor of Judea

Does he know who Jesus is? Yes but not really. Heard about him for sure. But doesn’t really know him.

He is a temporary agnostic.

The moment he meets Jesus.

He enters into the learning space.

Emotions? Annoyance.

Who is this man? What is true about him?

John 18:38 “Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

“What is truth?” classic agnostic response. “What is truth”

(L) Moment Pilate meets Jesus.

ARGUMENT

Pilate needs to decide. Adjudicate.

Jesus is on trial. Who is Jesus? What is his opinion of Jesus?

(A) Show of hands. Who here would describe self as indecisive?

(A) I’ll tell you who is indecisive. My wife. She is terrible at making decisions. Don’t worry I’ve asked permission before telling you.

Holiday. Giant spreadsheet. Accommodation.

Listing all the factors. Pros. Cons. Cost. Location.

Still can’t decide.

If she asks you to play boardgames. Don’t.

Takes so long to make decisions. Warn friends before we play.

“Should I do this?”

“Should I do that?”

“Hurry up!”

Upside? Very thorough. Consider lots of factors.

Downside? Terribly indecisive.

(L) Pilate is similar. Not great at making a decision.

Pilate needs to adjudicate.

(A) Imagine a trial. Pilate needs to make a decision on Jesus.

Jesus is taken inside.

Jews people are on the outside.

How many times does Pilate go in and out?

(A) Did some counting on Monday. We are going to try again.

V29 Outside 1, v33 Inside 2, v38 Outside 3, v1 Inside 4, v4 Outside 5, v9 inside 6, v12-13 outside 7

7 times. 7 scenes. Pilate goes in to talk to Jesus. Pilate goes out to talk to the Jews.

“Should I do this?”

“Should I do that?”

Pilate needs to decide. But he is trying not to decide. He wants to stay in the middle.

Difficult to decide: two opposing views.

John 19:6 “When the chief priests and the officers saw Jesus, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.””

(A) Try to recreate the 7 scenes of Pilate’s Predicament

(One guy with loud voice. Sit behind me. As I go in. “Not guilty” Start with talking level. increase each time.)

(The rest. As I come out. “Crucify” Start with talking level. increase each time.)

Outside, inside,

Outside, inside,

Outside, inside,

"7th time”

Outside. “So Pilate delivered Jesus over to them to be crucified”

That’s the pressure Pilate was facing. Thanks for humouring me.

That is the decision that everyone has to make about Jesus

Pilate wants to sit on the fence.

Avoid taking sides.

Stay in the middle - or in the doorpost.

But he needs to adjudicate. He needs to decide.

(L) why? Because there are two options.

Jesus is King

He made everything.

He owns everything. Everything belongs to him.

He rules.

He decides what is right. He decides what is wrong.

Jesus is Lord of all

He is Lord over all humanity.

China to the United Kingdom and all over the world.

Jesus’ rule lasts forever

He has power over all of time and eternity.

He owns the the beginning and the end

Jesus is the Son of God

He gives life and he judges

He can forgive sins.

That’s the first option. “Not Guilty!”

(L) Second option

Jesus is a liar

He faked his miracles

He claimed to forgive sins.

He claimed to be King.

He blasphemed God

He is liar

maybe even the devil himself.

That’s the second option. “Crucify!”

Those are the only two possible options of who Jesus is

He is Lord over all.

He is a liar.

REINFORCEMENT

That is the problem with Jesus: You must decide. There is no middle ground.

You can be a temporary agnostic when it comes to Jesus. Like Pilate was.

But once you hear about him and his claims: He is Lord over all.

You complete your journey through the Learning Space.

Then you must decide whether he is who he claims to be. Like Pilate did.

There are things you can be non-committal about in this world.

Like Coffee or Tea?

Eggs fried or scrambled

Chocolate or vanilla.

But there are things you cannot be non-committal

Like Marmite - you love it or you don’t

Like Durian - you love it or you don’t

More than that, you cannot be non-committal about the historical person of Jesus.

He is either the King, the Son of God

Or that he is a mad man, total evil

CS Lewis. Writer and Theologian

3rd chapter. Liar, Lunatic, or Lord

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him:

I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher,

but I don’t accept his claim to be God.

That is the one thing we must not say.

(continues)

He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg —

or else he would be the Devil of Hell.

You must make your choice.

Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.

You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon

or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God,

but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher.

He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

“You must make your choice.” says CS Lewis

How does Pilate decide?

Starts as a temporary agnostic. Through speaking to Jesus and the crowd.

He journeys through the learning space.

Reaches the end of the journey and says “NOT GUILTY!” “I find no guilt in him!”

But what does he DO?

John 19:16 “So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

LAND

So how will you decide?

From the beginning of the talk we’ve moved from temporary agnostics to understanding.

This is who Jesus is:

Jesus is King of the world

He rules. He is in charge.

He is the judge of all

He is the one to whom all of us must give an account. Every thought, word, deed.

He is the Son of God

He offers eternal life

He offers forgiveness of sins.

Or he is not.

He is a liar.

A mad man

A lunatic

The devil of hell.

How will you decide?

Perhaps you might be thinking.

“I rather not decide. Thank you very much.”

Again, fine. That’s your decision to not decide. It’s your prerogative.

But its worth being clear that your decision doesn’t change the fact.

If Jesus is King.

He is King regardless what you decide.

If Jesus is a lunatic.

He is a lunatic regardless of what you decide.

Your decision doesn’t change who he is.

(A) Same goes for Pilate.

John 19:13 “So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha.”

Who sits down on the judgment seat?

Intentionally ambigious.

Pilate thinks Jesus is on trial.

He thinks he is sitting on the judgment seat. Adjudicating Jesus’ outcome.

But at the very same time.

Pilate is on trial

Jesus is on the judgment seat. Adjudicating Pilates outcome.

You either land on Jesus as your King or as your Judge.

So How will you decide?

What is your verdict?

Will he be your Judge or King?

Will you shout “Crucify?” or “Not guilty?”

CLOSING

Aim of this week

Offer some food for thought.

Thank you for being generous with your time.

There are some challenging words to consider. Hope you will keep considering.

Maybe you think “I hear the claims of who he is but i’m still in the learning space. I need more information.”

Are you 100% sure?

This book

Yours to keep. Take it back. Read it. Come to an informed opinion about Jesus

Suggestion: pencil. mark. tick agree. cross disagree. ? don’t understand.

Ask your friend who invited you to buy you a coffee. Ask your questions.

Thank you for being here. Especially if you’ve been here all week. Let me close on this.

LAND

As a Christian: I am obliged to warn you that Jesus will be your judge of the final day.

We will all have to answer to him for all that we have done.

So I like to encourage you that rather than having him as judge, it is much better to have him as King.

Because he is a good king.

(A) Pilate. Pacify the mob. Mocks Jesus. How?

A crown of thorns.

Mock crown. To make fun of Jesus.

Pierces his brow. Blood to drip.

But the big irony is that crown IS the right kind of crown for Jesus

He is a king but the kind of king who shed blood for those he loves.

He is the shepherd good. the good shepherd who lays down his life for you.

He dies the death you deserve. So that you might live.

After being delivered, Jesus is crucified and dies on the cross.

"The entire span of history converges in this moment."

"All of history reaches its climax."

(L) but he doesn’t stay dead

Three days later. an empty tomb. “peace be with you.” The resurrected Jesus.

“From that moment, it is a new dawn, a new beginning for history”

“history bursts into a new age”

11 disciples to 100 billion people worldwide who call him king.

Would you believe it? even here, miles away. in UCL.

Will you join them? And recognise Jesus as your King?

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

I’m going to pray. if you like, you can pray after me.

Pray.

“I admit that I have been living my life according to the way I want to.”

“I’m sorry that I have been rejecting you as King.

“I believe that you have died on the cross for me for my sins.”

“Thank you for your love for me.”

“Help me now to live a life with you as my king.”