What’s the point?

I came across this book description for Timothy Radcliffe’s, “What is the Point of Being a Christian?” both through Church Publishing and Amazon.com.

What is the Point of being a Christian? One is pointed to God, who is the point of everything. If one thinks of religion as just ‘useful’ then one has reduced it to another consumer product. But if we are pointed to God, then this should make a difference to how we live. This is not a moral superiority. Christians are usually no better than anyone else. But the lives of Christians should be marked by some form of hope, freedom, happiness and courage. If they are not then why should anyone believe a word they say? Shot through with humour, friendship and wisdom, the pages of this book outline a manner of living which is at once faithful to the teachings of Jesus and rooted in the tradition of the Church and at the same time responsive to the turbulence of the modern world.

The sentiment expressed in the above statements I find compelling. The whole notion of the Gospel as “consumer product” predominates within American forms of Christianity. It isn’t just Christianity. Years ago in Kent, I saw a bumper sticker that read, “Come to Islam. Come to Success.” The problem, I think, is that there is little going on to dispel this notion. Rather, we encourage the commoditization of religion and indulge those who seek confirmation and affirmation of their present selves and beliefs. Many people are so desperate for affirmation (or who are bound by prideful stubbornness) that there is very little consideration if any that they may be wrong in the path of their pursuit, rather than allowing themselves to be challenged by and transformed by the Gospel. If they did, there may well be the discovery, as Radcliffe suggests, of the honest peace, freedom, and contentment that they seek.
What have we done in the name of ideology, insecurity, fear, and lust for power? Truly, as things stand, why would someone be drawn to this faith but by the divine prodding of the Holy Spirit – why be a Christian? We can see, particularly in Europe and much of North American, that most people answer, “Yes, what is the point?” We will need to change our ways profoundly in order for a compelling faith to be realized – compelling not in the sense of convincing people of anything or selling a commodity, but because of the witness of a life lived fully within the promises of God and service to neighbor. I sense that change is coming and even now developing, but I have no idea what it will look like. I should read the book.