One of the things I’ve spent a lot of time dealing with in my life is where we derive our self-worth as human beings. On what basis do we judge ourselves as “successful?” Where do we look for validation, and how do we achieve it? Is it even worth trying?
The World® has all kinds of answers. Vapid and pointless answers, but they do have answers. Plenty of people who are looking for the answers to life really believe these answers, too. This is the tragedy of our modern church. We have failed to provide answers for a populace that is desperately seeking them. And in typical human fashion, they found their answers elsewhere, even if they’re wrong.
When I tell people “God loves you” I’m assuming they know certain things that I know. I assume they know that Jesus Christ was God in human form. I assume they know about Sin and Atonement. I assume they know they need a savior.
But what if they want an answer, when they don’t even know the question?
[Insert joke about the number “42” here]
In reality, people don’t know what they want answers for. They’re looking for solutions, not answers. Someone might ask me “Why won’t my car run?” I can tell them “Your car won’t run because it broke the timing belt,” but if they don’t know what a timing belt is, it won’t help. It’s the correct answer to their question, and it’s helpful to someone like myself who knows what to do with that information. But if they have no clue, it doesn’t help… the problem is still unsolved in their minds. I haven’t offered any solution.
If we dig deeper, the question reveals they don’t really want to know what’s wrong with the car. They just want it fixed. When people say things like “I wish I knew why God hates me!” or “Why are you always so happy?” we tend to jump immediately to churchy answers with long explanations. If you don’t understand the context of the statement, though, it doesn’t do much good. They’re probably not philosophers, they don’t understand the power (or need for) God’s love through Jesus. They’re not looking for a theological dissertation on the Trinity or Total Depravity. They certainly don’t care about pre- or post-millenialism.
They just want the hurting to stop.
The Apostle Peter, in the midst of discussing suffering for doing good, had this to say:
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15 (emphasis mine)
It doesn’t say “Beat unbelievers over the head with theological supremacy.” It never says “Remind people of how inadequate they are, and leave it at that.” Nowhere are we called to “Make sure they know you’re right, first and foremost.”
The truth is, people who are afraid and alone aren’t going to get saved with deep theological arguments. Those things are important, for believers, to solidify the applied teachings of Jesus and the prophets. But to someone that’s hurting, they just need a solution. And if you’re not willing to be a part of the solution, all the correct answers in the world aren’t going to help them.
We, the church, need to step up and give people what the world can’t give them. Not answers.
The Solution: the World needs hope. The World needs Jesus. But sometimes, you need to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It may be the only solution they’re offered.