CAMUS ON CHRISTIANITY

Sometimes non-Christians seem to understand more about what it means to be a Christian than some professed Christians do. Albert Camus (2013-1960) a French philosopher who didn’t identify as a Christian, wrote the following which underscores the need for Christians to be clear and courageous in their witness:

“The world expects of Christians that they will raise their voices so loudly and clearly and so formulate their protest that not even the simplest man can have the slightest doubt about what they are saying. Further, the world expects of Christians that they will eschew all fuzzy abstractions and plant themselves squarely in front of the bloody face of history. We stand in need of folk who have determined to speak directly and unmistakably and come what may, to stand by what they have said.”

There’s a note of desperation and disappointment in what Camus wrote that’s shared by a lot of people relative to what the world “expects of Christians.” What’s expected is reasonable. It’s what people should see and need to see in in order for them to take the Christian message seriously, and perhaps come to a saving knowledge of Christ themselves. Diluting the Gospel message (Acts 20:20, 21), dumbing down Christ’s standards for discipleship (Luke 9:23-26) and adapting lifestyles and worship styles to accommodate the spirit of this world never has, and never will, impact the minds and hearts of lost and dying sinners.