Volunteer Faith

If you have read my blog long enough, then you know my stand on volunteer faith. God does not force into believing, nor does He force into living according to His will. Rather, He wants us to desire to believe in Him and to desire to live according to His will. He would never push the faith down our throats, so why do so many try?

Whether it is bible thumping on the street corner, or shouting from the pulpit, people have always attempted to force others to believe in Christ. It simply doesn’t work, and it never has. As I wrote yesterday, if people are not ready for the life He desires, they will walk away. When they want to believe, the chances that they remain in the Church are much greater. Take today’s reading from Acts as an example.

In those days, Peter went down to the men sent by Cornelius to him and said, “I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?” And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well-spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to hear what you have to say.” So he called them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went off with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his kinsmen and close friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered; and he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit any one of another nation; but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, saying, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the seaside.’ So I sent to you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” – Acts 10.21-33

Because Cornelius WANTED to know God, he welcomed the chance to be taught be Saint Peter. Because Saint Peter WANTED to do God’s will, he welcomed the chance to invite Gentiles into the Church. That is the difference between yesterday’s blog and today’s blog. Some will walk away and others will stay, not just because the life is difficult but because they never wanted in the first place.

This has always been the method of evangelism in the Orthodox Church. We do not choose to enter a strange land to preach to unwilling souls. Even in Africa it is customary for missionaries to wait to be invited by tribal leaders before teaching begins. If we can accept this method of sharing the Gospel rather than ramming it down ‘their throats’ maybe more people will accept the life the Church has to offer.

Free will is a messy thing though. There will be many, especially parents and grandparents who want the Church to force their children to ‘stay in the Church’. When clergy refuse to play the forced behavior model and allow for free will, as I said yesterday some will walk away. For those who choose to stay voluntarily, their faith will be deeper and stronger. For those who walk away, if they desire God they will return because volunteer faith is real faith.

So, as you encounter your friends, neighbors, coworker and others, avoid ramming the Gospel down their throats. If they ask questions, then answer from your heart. Many will ask questions, but we are here to share faith in Christ, not force it. It doesn’t help your cause by accusing your neighbor of being a heretic. Instead of accusations, try sharing what you believe and what your Church teaches. If they want to listen and learn, they will. If they do not, then accusations just block their ears.