Socrates was a Greek philosopher whose method was to ask questions to elicit debate and conversation. Plus, he helped Bill and Ted get an A on their history project. . . oh wait, that was in a movie, not real life. My bad. Still, I’m going to try his approach out here because I have a few questions of my own.

1) Why is the 21st century American Church for the most part so far from the first century Church in terms of methodology and practice? Why do we seem to have less power and authority? I know all the authority and power is from God, but why isn’t more of it manifested in our day?

2) Why are believers so hard to distinguish from the world in ways that really matter? I know we have our Christian clothing and culture and media and slang, but why do we live just like the people we’re supposed to love and show a better way?

3) How much of what we do as the Church and as individuals  is based on the Bible and how much of it is from convenience and culture and tradition? Why do we talk about how much we really love Jesus, but so often we don’t really believe what He says or do what He commands?

4) Who will be the next “prophet” who will predict when Jesus comes back and will claim to know the exact time of His return, even though the Bible clearly states that no one knows, not even the Son of Man?

5) Will one of the signs of the apocalypse be when the Cubs finally win the World Series?

6) When will we stop talking about what’s wrong with the world and who’s causing all the problems? When will we look in the mirror and confess that the problem with the world is not out there, but staring back at us, wearing our clothes, and looking remarkably like us? When will we seek the power of God to be the change we so desparately want and need?

I honestly don’t know the answers. I know these are questions I’ve asked myself a lot lately. I hope these questions will cause you to examine your own heart and maybe stir you out of the same comfortable rut that I’ve been in. I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to have His power flow through me to the hurting ones who need it so badly. I know you do, too.