"Yes" in Christ

In an increasingly diverse world, I have diverse friends. I recently went to the wedding of my college roommate who calls herself a “devout atheist” and my childhood friend just declared herself a Buddhist. We all know people who are lapsed Catholics, dabbling New Agers, or generally disinterested in anything “religious.”

I, too, used to have an amalgam of beliefs, taken from this faith and that. But when I became a Christian at age 23, my whole worldview began to change. After months of study and many conversations, I had come to believe that there is one true God and that His Son is Jesus Christ.

At the time, none of this would have been a problem except for the fact that there were a lot of people in my life who didn’t believe in Jesus. As a new Christian living in Japan — a country where less than 1% of the population believes in Christ — I struggled with the fact that none of my students or co-workers had faith in Jesus.

I still struggle. But instead of chronically worrying, I try to cling to Jesus: “As surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you  . . .  was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No,’ but in Him it has always been ‘Yes.’ For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:18-20).

This verse is reassuring for its reminder that it is not about me, but it is about God. It is about His Word and His life on earth. All I can do is believe what has been revealed to me and continue to love others who both do and do not believe in Jesus. What about you? When you think about people of other religions (undoubtedly in your own family and among your friends), do you struggle with your own faith? What do you do to “cling to Christ” in times of questioning or doubt?

Jennifer Johnson serves as Publications Coordinator at CPC and is part of the Table Team

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