One of the most frequent complaints I hear about American Christians, is that they are a bunch of hypocrites. When I was an atheist, I remember asking Christians, "What should be my motivation for wanting to become a Christian? I know now why their answers fell short.
What is your answer? In your opinion what should be the main, primary, reason that moves a person to become a Christian?
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The authors thoughts:
Motivation was the question. Back when I was an atheist and would ask Christians why they follow Christ, most followed Him for what they were told they could get out of it and others were motivated by a real fear of suffering in Hell. For some it may have been a combination of both. Basically, their reasons were self-focused.
Not a single one of them said, my motivation for being a Christian is “Because I Love Him”
So, there you have it. This, of course, is not surprising, is it? In almost every area of life, we find that we are motivated to action by primarily three things:
1) Fear of being punished or suffering bad consequences.
2) Desire for a reward
And sometimes
3) Love
Let’s look at one example that most of us can relate to. Parents and children
Example 1: What happens when a child’s motivation to obey his mom or dad, is out of fear of severe punishment if he doesn’t? What if he only mows the lawn because he knows if he doesn’t, he will get wiped?
Example 2: What happens when a child’s motivation to obey his mom or dad, is out of a desire for reward—i.e., money, the car for the weekend, a fully paid vacation cruise when he graduates, etc.? What if he just obeys them for what he gets out of it?
Would you say either motivation: the fear of punishment; or, the desire for reward, will result in a strong, meaningful, desirous, long-lasting, loving, loyal relationship between child and parent?
Of course not!
Example 3: Now, what about a child who obeys simply out of love for His parents. He has so much affection, respect, thankfulness, and love for them that he willingly obeys them even when he really doesn’t feel like it. He may get an allowance, but that is not his motivation. He might even get spanked for disobeying, at times; but, these things are not the reason that makes him want to listen to them and obey them.
In fact, when love is the motivation, we often are even willing to make sacrifices or even to suffer pain if it would benefit the one we love.
__________________________________________________________
Let’s translate that into the reason people want to follow Christ and be “Christians”:
Some people are motivated to say that they believe Jesus and try to do their best to obey Him, out of Fear. They are motivated by the natural desire to avoid His chastisement on earth and to avoid Hell when they die.
Some people are motivated to say that they believe Jesus and try to do their best to obey Him, out of a desire for reward. They have heard about all temporal blessings here on earth. They also want to go to Heaven; but, not necessarily to spend eternity with Him. They simply like the idea of Heaven, and they also like the idea of seeing all their relatives who died before them. If Christ happens to be there also, well, that’s okay—but spending eternity with Christ is not really what motivates them when they think of Heaven.
Here is the problem folks!
The thing about Christianity is that if you are NOT motivated by a real, soul-satisfying, heart changing, mind blowing, love for Christ, to follow and obey Him—no amount of Faith, Knowledge, Giftedness, Religious activities; etc., will profit you anything of eternal value.
What is your answer? In your opinion what should be the main, primary, reason that moves a person to become a Christian?
_________________________________________________________
The authors thoughts:
Motivation was the question. Back when I was an atheist and would ask Christians why they follow Christ, most followed Him for what they were told they could get out of it and others were motivated by a real fear of suffering in Hell. For some it may have been a combination of both. Basically, their reasons were self-focused.
Not a single one of them said, my motivation for being a Christian is “Because I Love Him”
So, there you have it. This, of course, is not surprising, is it? In almost every area of life, we find that we are motivated to action by primarily three things:
1) Fear of being punished or suffering bad consequences.
2) Desire for a reward
And sometimes
3) Love
Let’s look at one example that most of us can relate to. Parents and children
Example 1: What happens when a child’s motivation to obey his mom or dad, is out of fear of severe punishment if he doesn’t? What if he only mows the lawn because he knows if he doesn’t, he will get wiped?
Example 2: What happens when a child’s motivation to obey his mom or dad, is out of a desire for reward—i.e., money, the car for the weekend, a fully paid vacation cruise when he graduates, etc.? What if he just obeys them for what he gets out of it?
Would you say either motivation: the fear of punishment; or, the desire for reward, will result in a strong, meaningful, desirous, long-lasting, loving, loyal relationship between child and parent?
Of course not!
Example 3: Now, what about a child who obeys simply out of love for His parents. He has so much affection, respect, thankfulness, and love for them that he willingly obeys them even when he really doesn’t feel like it. He may get an allowance, but that is not his motivation. He might even get spanked for disobeying, at times; but, these things are not the reason that makes him want to listen to them and obey them.
In fact, when love is the motivation, we often are even willing to make sacrifices or even to suffer pain if it would benefit the one we love.
__________________________________________________________
Let’s translate that into the reason people want to follow Christ and be “Christians”:
Some people are motivated to say that they believe Jesus and try to do their best to obey Him, out of Fear. They are motivated by the natural desire to avoid His chastisement on earth and to avoid Hell when they die.
Some people are motivated to say that they believe Jesus and try to do their best to obey Him, out of a desire for reward. They have heard about all temporal blessings here on earth. They also want to go to Heaven; but, not necessarily to spend eternity with Him. They simply like the idea of Heaven, and they also like the idea of seeing all their relatives who died before them. If Christ happens to be there also, well, that’s okay—but spending eternity with Christ is not really what motivates them when they think of Heaven.
Here is the problem folks!
The thing about Christianity is that if you are NOT motivated by a real, soul-satisfying, heart changing, mind blowing, love for Christ, to follow and obey Him—no amount of Faith, Knowledge, Giftedness, Religious activities; etc., will profit you anything of eternal value.
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