Faith

Many Christians have little idea of the importance of the resurrection, but it is the only reason this faith exists. I doubt that we would ever have even heard of Jesus of Nazareth were it not for the resurrection. We can speak of new life in Christ only because of the resurrection. God is the God who creates life in the midst of death. He did it for Jesus, he can do it for the death we currently live, and, because he raised Jesus, Christians believe God will raise them from death when the kingdom comes in its fullness. God is the living God, not only because he is real, but because God alone is immortal, has life in himself, and gives life.

How did language that is not biblical become the most important language for doing evangelism? Jesus never even comes close to saying, "Invite me into your heart so you can go to heaven." Nor does the rest of the New Testament. (Concerning the misguided focus on going to heaven, see my blog for March 17.) If people really knew what it meant for Christ to take over the controlling center of their being, that would be one thing, but they do not. Jesus does not seek people to make a decision, but people who become disciples, who follow him, and who are attached to him.