Of all the convictions that unite Common Grounds readers and writers, it is a hope to speak to the questions being asked by those outside the boundaries of Jesus’ followers that I appreciate the most. Different kinds of questions emerge as we seek to bring insight from Scripture to the skeptic, but are we being a “blessing to the Gentiles” if we refuse to entertain those questions?
Lately, I have noted a handful of persistent questions coming from those watching Christianity from the outside in. First, I keep hearing questions about the Bible’s blood and gore. “Why all the messy need for death and bloodshed in Christianity’s teaching about salvation? Why can’t God just wave his hand and forgive?” Second, I had my umpteenth conversation recently about conservative Christianity’s opposition to same sex relationships. Almost on cue, the comment was offered, “Really? Do you wear a poly-cotton blend in your shirt? Because the Bible forbids wearing a garment that mixes two different kinds of threads.” Finally, our own President during his campaign last summer worked to debunk simplistic understandings of how religion and politics work by saying, “Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy? [Some] suggest slavery is okay, and that eating shellfish is an abomination?”
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