Untitled Sermon (3)

English Standard Version Chapter 2

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The Lord has blessed me with a relationship with a friend. This particular friend is not a believer - though we found ourselves talking about Christianity one night! I was sharing a bit about what I had learned at school that day. After doing so, I took the time to ask my friend if He was a Christian himself. He said “no.” I let the silence sit for a minute. He went on to say that he thought Christianity, and not just Christianity -but indeed all religion was for those who are weak. For the feeble. For those who live in their own little fairy-tale. My friend went on to say that he thought that religion is a refuge for those who’ve been unable to stand on their own in life.

I allowed the silence to drag on for a bit longer… and then I offered the following; “Ya, But man, wouldn’t it be nice if was real? Wouldn't it be nice if the world consisted of more than just people using and being used by one another? Wouldn't it be something if we were far more than just accidents and if maybe perhaps we were formed by purpose and for the same?

“Ya, Vic, but then it wouldn t be a fairy - tale now would it?”

I think the disbelief that my friend harbours for Christianity is shared by many believers today. The promise the Gospel contains is so potent, so relevant, so “seemingly too good to be true” that it comes off exactly as such - far too good to actually be true, in essence a fairy-tale.