“The unexamined life is not worth living” (Socrates).

“One of the primary acts of the evangelistic believer is the arousal of curiosity among unbelievers leading to questions and faith sharing. Therefore, we need to become a godly, intriguing, socially adventurous, joyous presence in the lives of others. We need the impetus to propel us outward, into the lives of our neighbors, but also upward into deeper intimacy with Jesus” (Michael Frost).

That’s what attracted people to the early church. People saw their joy, their unflappable joy, that not even persecution and death could quench. They saw their love for each other and for the community. And people were drawn to that.

When people on the outside look at 21st century American believers, what do they see? Do they see all that we’re against? Or do they see us preaching one way and living another? Do they see any difference at all between them and us?

C. S. Lewis once wrote about how if only 10% of the world’s population exhibited true holiness, the rest would soon be converted.

By holiness, I don’t mean keeping rules or being moral. I don’t mean me looking down on you because you sin differently than I. It’s most certainly not condemning those sins that we don’t struggle with.

True holiness looks like Jesus. True discipleship means walking where Jesus walked, doing what He did, emulating His life and closely as possible, knowing not facts and figures about Him but truly knowing intimately the man Jesus.

Who am I investing in? Who am I discipling? Better yet, who is looking at my life and wanting to know why I’m so different? Why I have a peace and a joy and a hope that they don’t have?

I’m not drawn to miserable people. I’m certainly not drawn to negative people who always seem to criticize and belittle and run down others. I am drawn to people who have a zest for life, who aren’t afraid to be exactly themselves, who are gracious and kind with no regard of persons.

That’s who I want to be. I want to live a life worth questioning.