You’d think more people would want to be Christians. Historically, there’s enormous evidence. Theologically, there’s remarkable coherence. Sociologically, it fosters stable and prosperous communities. What’s not to like? A steady trickle of Australians are checking it out – but you’d think there’d be a lot more. What’s going on?
One way of understanding it is as rebellion. Rebellion is not about innocent mistakes; it’s about deliberate mistakes. Rebels know what is right – and choose wrong. Paul unpacks this in the opening chapter of Romans: God’s existence and qualities are actually obvious, so people are without excuse. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him.” Ro 1:21 In this way of thinking, the main reason people aren’t Christians is that they hate God. We shouldn’t downplay this, it’s partially true for all and very true for some – but it’s only part of the picture.
We must also understand it as captivity. People are not Christians because they have been hoodwinked. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel.” 2Co 4:4 This explains why people can’t make clear decisions even when they are completely logical.
One example of this is what’s known as the Sunk Cost Fallacy. This is when someone thinks, “I’ve come this far and spent this much – I can’t go back now.” It makes people stay in a bad movie because they paid for a ticket, it makes people persist in a failed venture because they’ve already spent thousands, it keeps people working in a job they dislike because of all they years they put into the training. But it’s a fallacy, because past costs are gone and logically shouldn’t affect future decisions.
The starkest picture is of a gambler steadily losing everything, but unwilling to stop because of all that’s been lost so far. Casinos literally hoodwink such people and keep them in windowless environments where they cannot see the light outside. It’s not at all easy for your neighbour, friend or family member to make a radical change when so much and so long has been put into building up a particular persona and approach to life – even when the persona and approach are patently dysfunctional.
Understanding all this helps inform our approach in representing Christ among throngs of (spiritually) sightless marching zombies. For starters, it reminds us that prayer for spiritual release and mental clarity are significant parts of the hostage-rescue required. Something more than logic is needed.
Yet reasoning and persuasion do still have a big part to play. We can be bringers of clarity. Jesus’ parables of the Tower Builder and Warring King Lk 14 (when read correctly) directly address the virtue of quitting while you’re behind. We can and should discuss it openly with young people – to understand the value of choosing the right path early on in the hike, and how difficult it can be to double back when you’re a long way down a dead end.
What other ideas does this give you as a sacred agent?
Both rebellion and trickery have got most people where they are. But there is light outside for them. Let’s shine it brightly and indeed bring it to within their reach.
*Andrew Turner is Director of Crossover for Australian Baptist Ministries.
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