Is it a Red Herring or a Real Hindrance?

Often when having conversations about faith with people in the street, there will come a time during the discussion when they will raise objections to what is being said. So far, so obvious.

We were speaking to a lady today at the book table in Rochdale for a long time. During the conversation she spoke about karma and reincarnation as something that she loosely believed. Later, when we spoke in depth about Jesus, she suddenly responded sharply with words to the effect of, “Wait a minute, so in order to be a Christian, you have to believe that Jesus was punished for your sin. I don’t believe that. I’d rather pay for my own sin.” It was as if a switch had been flicked, she understood what was being said and didn’t like it. The discussion continued for quite some time afterwards and she ended up taking a Gospel of John from one of our team.

Reflecting on this afterwards, I realised this was a prime example of someone with both a red herring and a real hindrance (not my phrases, but useful here.) The red herring was the lady’s loosely held new age beliefs as they didn’t stand up to scrutiny, and we were relatively easily able to redirect the hearer back to the important matters. The real hindrance was the idea that she could somehow atone for her sin herself. This conviction was more deeply held in her heart, and concerned key elements of the Gospel, so it was necessary to try and remove the hurdle before continuing.

Perhaps you have spoken to people like this and wondered whether to redirect the hearer, effectively ignoring the red herring, or to attempt to remove the hurdle of the real hindrance which is likely to be an ongoing barrier to the person seeking to understand.

It’s an interesting dilemma for Christians and not always as obvious as the example I have given. Furthermore, what may be a red herring for one person, may be a real hindrance for another!

Consider how you would deal with these:

-I believe in Science

-What may be true for you may not be true for me

-I’ve lived a pretty good life

-Sometimes, I think my mum is looking down on me from Heaven.

-I’m a Muslim/Buddhist/Hindu/Catholic

-I can’t change religion at my stage of life

-I would like to believe it but I just can’t

-Christians have never helped me when I’ve needed it

-Do you believe in Noah’s ark then?

-Why didn’t God stop Aberfan?

-Aren’t Catholic and Christian the same thing?

-The cross is cosmic child abuse

-So, you think you’re better than me

-The God of the Old Testament is vengeful and slaughtered loads of innocent people

-It’s not justice for Jesus to be punished in my place

-God seems arrogant, demanding worship for Himself

-I can’t come to church as I’m socially anxious

-Why did God create evil?

-We’re all going to end up in Heaven anyway

-Religion has caused loads of wars. What about the crusades?

-I only trust myself

-I’m a drug addict, God can’t help me as I’ve tried asking Him before

-I want to do things my way

-How can God have a Son?

-We believe in Jesus too. We belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints.

-I don’t believe in God, so He can’t judge me.

-Will I have to give all my money to the church?

-Is being gay a sin?

-Why did God create the world if He knew what would happen?

-Nobody has come back to tell us. I can’t believe unless I see.

-Churches are full of hypocrites.

-Is there any sin that can’t be forgiven?

-So, your God died on a cross, couldn’t He have stopped that happening?

-The Bible was written 2000 years ago.

-When you’re dead, you’re dead.

-What are you collecting for?

A lot of the time, the tone of the conversation will tell you whether the person is really struggling with something, or whether they are just mocking the Christian, or attempting to show off to their friends. They might even be deflecting you with a red herring to avoid getting into anything serious.

It’s worth knowing the biblical answers to these questions and statements, to help those who are sincerely seeking God. It’s also good to make sure you know what you believe, (the key elements of the Gospel), so that you can redirect and refocus someone who has thrown you a red herring.

There will also be times when someone asks something that you haven’t thought about before. Don’t be afraid to admit this, and then either ask someone else, or get back to them with an answer.

Nobody has all the answers, and there are some things we just don’t know because God has left them unanswered.

Prayer is key as God is in control and He promises to honour us if we honour Him. He wants us to seek to share the Gospel with others, so even when we think we haven’t done well in a discussion or when we have engaged with a red herring, or failed to address a real hindrance, God can still use our weak efforts for His glory.

Do Not Worry About Tomorrow

I haven’t written for a while so was trying to think of a title that sums up the last few years. I settled on this as being apt.

Non-believers reading this may initially agree as phrases like “live for the moment”, “your best life now”, “only one life, live it”, “there’s probably no god so stop worrying and enjoy life”, or even “eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die”, come to mind. 

But is this what the Bible means?

The pandemic highlighted our collective mortality in a way that hasn’t happened in my lifetime and that probably hasn’t happened in the UK since the end of the Second World War. To a greater or lesser degree our movements were suddenly restricted, and our perspective forcibly changed. The reminder that despite our “progress” as a society, we aren’t really in control of anything.

Personally, I struggled with something akin to burn-out during this period as suddenly all the outreach dried up and I was forced into lengthy spells of isolation with nothing constructive to do. I understand that everyone was in the same boat, but it definitely impacted individuals in different ways. I also appreciate that for some not having work was a relief, even a blessing, but I found that my zeal for evangelism died a sudden and dramatic death.

Perhaps, the exhaustion of enthusiasm with no outlet was the problem, or maybe the seeming endlessness of the situation with multiple lockdowns, and cycles of hope then disappointment. Or maybe it was the frustration that Christians seemed to be panicking as much as non-Christians. Or the horror of so many deaths of non-believers to a lost eternity.

I really don’t know, but I do know that when the outreach restarted, I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to go to church or see other people. So, I definitely didn’t want to put on a fake smile and attempt to share the Good News with others.

So, I jumped ship. I took a few months out with family before relocating and attempting to return to secular work for the first time in a decade.

It wasn’t long though before the summer missions started at which point my energy inexplicably returned, and I was forced to admit that my heart wasn’t in my new job.

Changing course once again, I booked a summer of missions which has now almost come to an end.

It’s been a great summer, full of opportunity and Gospel conversations. Probably, the best I’ve experienced. People seem so much more open than a few years ago, but only God truly knows where their hearts are.

So, looking back, what have I learned?

Apart from the obvious, that nothing is wasted in God’s economy, even a time of confusion, discouragement or burn out.

I learned to take one day at a time.

People often ask me whether I get tired doing so many missions. They ask how it’s sustainable. A few years ago, I would have said something about living all out for Christ because He died for me or something similarly bold and lacking humility. Whilst the fact is true, the thinly veiled slight is that others should be doing the same and are not, which is really nothing to do with me.

Yet, Paul and others who worked tirelessly for the Kingdom always attributed their energies to God and His grace towards them rather than their own efforts or zeal. It’s also possible to be zealous with the wrong purpose or for the wrong things, or to be inconsistent or insincere.

If, at the start of the summer, I looked ahead at the many weeks of mission yet to be completed, I would probably faint under the weight of expectation or feign illness so I could pack up and go home.

If, instead, I take each day as it comes and try to make the most of the opportunities on that day alone, the burden is lighter, and the work even becomes enjoyable for the most part. 

If I am tired, I will rest so that I’m better prepared for the following day. More experienced leaders on mission teams often remark that we’re not involved in some kind of test of endurance when choosing to pack up early in the rain. 

We have different characters and temperaments which are in play here as some are naturally enthusiastic or all or nothing type people, whilst others may be more measured or have more of an inner passion. But we are all also influenced by sin including pride and self-sufficiency on the one hand and false guilt, irresponsibility and laziness on the other.

Balance and sustainability are important. If we go all out for a season and then are forced to spend time recovering from burnout, what more have we achieved than someone who has steadily and consistently persevered, perhaps at a slower pace or with less outward enthusiasm. We may even have caused damage by being unreliable or letting people down.

When the Bible speaks of not worrying about tomorrow, it isn’t telling us to “live it up”, it’s reminding us that there is no point in worrying about the future because we don’t have any control over it. Our lives are as vapour, here today and then gone tomorrow.

Instead, we should focus on the day in front of us and make the most of that day as we may not be blessed with another one.

God gives us the energy, strength and grace for one day at a time.