Why I Still Believe

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

It’s become the most frequently asked question I get.

“Why are you still a believer?”

If you knew the things I know after thirty years patrolling the Christian sewers, you’d ask it more loudly.

Sometimes, I ask myself the same question.

The things that have sent you so many of you running for the door in the last few years are things I’ve seen the roots of growing for a much longer time.

The love of authoritarianism, the refusal to hold idols accountable, the bizarre conspiracy theories, and most all, the lack of love for those who differ  are traits that have been present and growing until a political idol gave tacit permission for them to bloom.

You tell me that you want nothing to do with such and I don’t either.

You tell me you’re not sure about some doctrines and I’m not either.

I don’t believe in these people, their structures, or their words.

I absolutely, completely, utterly, and wholeheartedly believe in Jesus.

Jesus showed up when I was a very sick, very little boy being abused by fine church people.

He didn’t identify himself, He didn’t have to.

He has stayed with me as I have tried to run away from Him, drown Him with liquor, or ignore him out of spite.

He still shows up… usually disguised as a friend, a cat, a song, or a paid bill.

Part of the joy of my faith is learning to recognize Him.

Sometimes, He comes in person.

I love Him today and cherish His presence…because He’s nothing like many of the people who are speaking of him these days.

You will be heartened to know that some of the same things that make you want to leave the church has made Him leave many of them, but they don’t notice because they’ve used Him mainly as a prop.

Unlike many of the loud ones, He came to save the world, not condemn it.

He loves messed up, broken people who don’t vote properly.

He came because he was compelled by love, not because He was disgusted with our failures.

He loves the people you love and He loves you too.

I challenge you to read the Gospels and note how many times the word “compassion” is used.

Read the Gospels, period.

Learn who Jesus really is…and you’ll know in Whom I believe.

What do you have to believe?

Him…and the little summary of historic beliefs I shared at the beginning…they simply structure what His rescue mission looks like.

Believe…then guard your heart from those who pretend they do…