The Gospel of John
Matthew Philip
Core of Belief: 1:12-13
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
This past weekend Paul Borthwick, Urbana Associate, spoke at our church in Lansing, Michigan.
Expanding on God’s heart for all people, Paul challenged our mid-western congregation to consider the world at our doorstep: the recent Burmese and Iraqi immigrants – many from Muslim backgrounds, and the 6,000 plus international students at Michigan State. He encouraged us to think beyond our local boundaries of city and state, to pray for one of the 195 countries in our world (“pick a flag you like...even the country on your clothes’ tag”) or for people groups like the Drupka of the land-locked kingdom of Bhutan. We left with a clear sense of calling: God’s mission is to all, so that all may believe.
The next day, I received an email from an attendee. She was unhappy that Muslims were mentioned as people to pray for or befriend. Her basic argument was that Muslims also believe in God (Allah) and therefore our attention, and especially our prayers, ought to be for atheists rather than fellow God-believers.
While I know that there are differences with Islam, I couldn’t help but ask myself: Does merely acknowledging a divine being suffice to be a true believer? Or is reciting the ‘sinner’s prayer’ key to being a God-follower?
Our text for the week addresses that issue of “belief in God” head-on. The Gospel indicates two ways people believed in Jesus. The first is by meeting him in person and hearing his word. Remember Nathaniel, the Samaritan villagers, and Martha?
The second is of those who believed in Jesus when they witnessed the miracles he performed: his disciples at the water-into-wine Cana wedding, the royal official when his son was healed, and the crowds in Jerusalem at the signs he did there.
At the core, our faith is about a personal encounter with God, in the person of Jesus. He talks to us even today, through the Bible, through fellow believers, through creation, through signs and wonders, and occasionally even directly. To those in the second generation and later (including you and me) John says: “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Though we cannot see him, over 2,000 years later, our encounter is still with Jesus, not doctrine – with a person, not religion.
There is also a dimension of time to believing in a person. Just as I know my wife Anita far more today than when we were first married 14 years ago, so have I grown in my relationship with Jesus. And with time come stories, experiences, and memories that cause belief to flourish, and unbelief to wither.
I believe a whole lot more about Jesus today than that day 30 plus years ago when I first re-thought my ways and responded to his invitation to new life. Biblical truths and prepositions became personal. I discovered God as provider (Yaweh Yireh), shepherd (Yahweh Ro’i), and peace (Yaweh Shalom).
After family devotions one night during grade school, I remember my dad commenting on the position of my hands during prayer: hands clasped, fingers inter-locked. He suggested open, upward facing, cupped hands – ready to receive.
As our text indicates, a core component of believing is receiving. My posture as I journey this week, is that I would receive him with open hands, heart, and mind. My prayer is also that all people, Muslim or not, would receive and believe in him.
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