Well friends, this is the Sunday we begin our journey onto A Path Called Compelling. I have been so excited to share this with you and the time is finally here. But let me give you a little background on why I feel so passionate about this series.
You see, you don't need to be a sociologist or have studied census data to know that Christianity in the West faces trying times. Young people are walking away from the faith, older congregations are just barely holding on, and any church that is managing to grow is doing so by transfer growth. Everyone knows that religious affiliation is in decline.
To make matters worse, the Christian faith, once looked upon by our culture with indifference, is now viewed with suspicion. In Canada alone, the Church has suffered from being a willing partner in our residential school system, clergy sex and power scandals, partisan politics, and resistance to COVID-19 safety measures. This new reality for the Christian faith in the US and Canada means trends in decline are not likely to reverse course anytime soon.
This strange new world for faith can provoke intense emotions among those trying to hang onto faith. There is fear and anxiety over Christianity's fate, and anger and resentment over how the Christian faith has been used to hurt others. There is also confusion about how to reimagine our faith for this time. We know that how we understand and live out our faith must change.
In previous generations, the Church sought to convert unbelievers through rational argumentation. Those efforts largely failed, and in the cultural milieu of suspicion and religious pluralism, no one wants to be converted, especially by losing an argument.
What I hope to do throughout the course of this series is offer a bold and new apologetic for the Christian faith. Rather than attempt to demonstrate how the Christian faith is right, what I hope to do is give us a stunning portrait of the Christian life that feels compelling. I want to help us discover a faith that feels more like an adventure, a way of life, or that road trip you have always wanted to take, because I am convinced that being compelled by something will always be more potent than being converted to something.
And so, this series is my attempt to offer a map, compass, and guide to help us navigate our way into a brighter and better future. I hope this series can help us recover faith from the shame and scandals of the Church. I hope it might be a rallying cry for a new generation of Jesus followers and a companion for weary travelers already on the path. So, from now until Easter, I hope to act the role of part expedition guide, part raconteur, part pastor, part seasoned park ranger, helping us get lost in stories and wisdom about a terrain and trail we thought we knew, but know we need to rediscover.
Life is Difficult (S12 Episode28)
We Forget (S12 Episode27)
The Final Chapter of the Story (S12 Episode26)
Of Armageddon and Advertising (S12 Episode25)
Of Fugu, Lions and Lambs (S12 Episode24)
Jesus You’re Scaring Me (S12 Episode23)
Where is the Wine? (Season12 Episode22)
Scratch That - Jesus Edits the Old Testament (S12 Episode21)
The Ghost of Jonathan Edwards (S12 Episode20)
Wonder (S12 Episode19)
The Gift of Presence (S12 Episode 18)
Waiting for Fire (S12 Episode17)
Mary Comforts Eve (Season 12 Episode16)
The War of Pregnancy (S12 Episode15)
The Age of Secularism - Part 2 (S12 Episode14)
The Age of Secularism - Part 1 (S12 Episode13)
Stay in the Flow (S12 Episode9)
Game Play (S12 Episode8)
Skin in the Game (S12 Episode7)
Squeezed (S12 Episode6)
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