“Someday, maybe.” Such was the perpetual attitude of a doctor that I was doing my best to win to Christ. I was a young, enthusiastic Christian and thought I had all the answers. He was a seeker seeking answers. What a great combo when we were introduced! Our first evening together was spent discussing many questions about the reliability of the Bible. By the time our conversation was complete, I thought I might have him. But he wanted to think it over. The next time we met, he had questions about the problem of evil. After giving it my all, I thought we had for sure turned a corner. However, over the next year, the questions, issues, and objections found no end. We talked about the existence of God, the resurrection of Christ, Jonah and the whale, and everything else you could think of. Every time I pleaded with him to believe, he just came at me with more questions. Once we went full circle back to the questions we began with, I realized I had done all I could. His questions had been sufficiently answered. Yes, he could continue with the “What about this…” or “what about that…” possibilities, but none of them were probabilities. It was time for him to make a decision and he was not going to do it. His faith in Christ was always just one answered question away.
For some of us, this is where we are. “Maybe someday” is the response. We are always one question away from making the decision to trust him. This is what I call tire-kicker Christianity. We are always examining, but never buying. You need to figure out if this is where you are. Apologetics (defending the faith) can only go so far. I am not saying there are not legitimate questions that need to be answered. What I am saying is that at some point, our indecisiveness becomes our definite decision. Our lack of faith in Christ becomes our new blind faith.
Here is the key: our conviction does not need to be perfect before we rest in Christ. It just needs to be true and sufficient.
2 Cor 6:2
For he says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
7 replies to "Tire-Kicker Christianity"
I can relate to the doctor. I had questions for years and years. When it finally happened, it wasn’t because I suddenly had my questions answered. I felt called…propelled. My eyes and ears were opened. I’m not a Calvinist (yet anyway), but I do wonder if the same needs to happen with the doctor before he can commit.
A “tire-kicker” is not a disciple and follower of Christ. Hence, they are not Heaven-bound.
All that we can do is answer when asked. It is God that gives the increase but also there is a time not to speak. I have learned that sometimes what some might think is interest quickly turns into just “good conversation” or better put entertainment. Like talking politics or a topic on an afternoon talk show. I back away from that type of interest anymore or I keep it short and sweet, which gives an answer but doesn’t feed curiosity talk. I think some of the questioners aren’t indecisive but bored. Some are not all.
I have heard an evangelist preacher on television say once, that trusting God means having some unanswered questions.
A “tire-kicker” is not a disciple and follower of Christ.
That’s a curious comment. Did anyone, including said tire-kicker, ever claim otherwise?
Thanks Michael for this post. Your post remembered me the wisdom of rabbis (first decided) who decided to include Ecclesiastes in the canon of sacred scripture were both wise and courageous – wise because we appreciate a thing only by contrast, and Ecclesiates is the contrast, the alternative, to rest of the Bible, the question to which the rest of the Bible is the answer. There is nothing more meaningless than an answer without its question. That is why we need Ecclesiastes.
The bottom line is we cannot make a person have faith no matter how hard we try. We can give them our best arguments but in the end they must make that decision and while I believe this ultimately is a result of God working in their heart, we cannot force it.