Christian correlation
So yesterday and today I went to the cricket with my Dad. It was an amazing two days. I won't bore you with the details (I know some friends are not interested - I'm talking to you Karen) but suffice to say it was some of the best, most interesting, test cricket there is.
That being said, it's still test cricket. The game goes for 5 days. There are 3 sessions per day. There is a lot of 'down time'.
So when you're sitting there, in the down time, you need distractions. Sometimes the crowd's antics are distracting, sometimes it's the people around you. Today Dad and I were in the front row of the no-alcohol bay (a tip for young players - if you want to avoid the drunken hordes late in the day, this is the PLACE to be). Behind us were a couple of friends, an Englishman and a couple of Australians. The Englishman did not shut up. He and his friend talked through the entire day, and particularly it seemed (at least I noticed it more) in the afternoon.
It was hard *not* to listen, and I guess I could have said something, but they were just chatting. The Englishman has a nanny and was talking about the different experiences he's had with his kids and nannies.
One particular nanny he talked about was a "full-on Christian". They weren't his exact words, but that was definitely the gist. He and his wife had twins, and this full-on Christian nanny sounded like an absolute Mary Poppins star, who then left to do other amazing charity work (something to do with Africa and orphans I think - I don't precisely remember).
Anyway, one of the most powerful arguments I keep coming back to with the existence of God and all is that people REALLY seem to change. Like the first century disciples and converts, people change. Their behaviour changes, a lot, when they become Christian. Over the years, I have seen it many times, and heard of it many more times. I know of one young man who changed from drug taking, partying, girl chasing culture to one of the most moral and carefully upright souls around.
The thing I am wondering is this: is God changing people, or are *people* changing because they think God is changing them? Is it correlation? Or causation?
That being said, it's still test cricket. The game goes for 5 days. There are 3 sessions per day. There is a lot of 'down time'.
So when you're sitting there, in the down time, you need distractions. Sometimes the crowd's antics are distracting, sometimes it's the people around you. Today Dad and I were in the front row of the no-alcohol bay (a tip for young players - if you want to avoid the drunken hordes late in the day, this is the PLACE to be). Behind us were a couple of friends, an Englishman and a couple of Australians. The Englishman did not shut up. He and his friend talked through the entire day, and particularly it seemed (at least I noticed it more) in the afternoon.
It was hard *not* to listen, and I guess I could have said something, but they were just chatting. The Englishman has a nanny and was talking about the different experiences he's had with his kids and nannies.
One particular nanny he talked about was a "full-on Christian". They weren't his exact words, but that was definitely the gist. He and his wife had twins, and this full-on Christian nanny sounded like an absolute Mary Poppins star, who then left to do other amazing charity work (something to do with Africa and orphans I think - I don't precisely remember).
Anyway, one of the most powerful arguments I keep coming back to with the existence of God and all is that people REALLY seem to change. Like the first century disciples and converts, people change. Their behaviour changes, a lot, when they become Christian. Over the years, I have seen it many times, and heard of it many more times. I know of one young man who changed from drug taking, partying, girl chasing culture to one of the most moral and carefully upright souls around.
The thing I am wondering is this: is God changing people, or are *people* changing because they think God is changing them? Is it correlation? Or causation?
It's hard not to come across as subjective in answering this question, I think. Personally speaking, I would say that I could not change myself the way God has changed me: I'm too weak, selfish and inflexible. But I recognise that I _have_ indeed changed over the years--and furthermore, I have changed in ways I would not have expected nor have wanted as a young 20-something. Hope that helps :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. You will have to explain to me sometime why cricket is interesting as I simply Do Not Get It.
Yes, that's an interesting point. When I contrast the changes in my life, even if I am still weak, selfish and inflexible, am I changed, say more than my sister? Yes, I think so.
ReplyDeleteAnd totally happy to talk cricket At Any Time lol.