What Would it Take for You to Become a Christian?

So what would it take for you, if you are not a believer, to become a Christian? What should it take for you to take that step and believe? I think that many people aren’t too interested in believing if only it were rationally defensible. Instead, in online conversations at least, one often hears the line, “I would love to be convinced that there’s a God.” What, precisely, does this mean? Does this mean something like “I have evidence which I cannot deny that entails the conclusion that the Christian God exists”? If so, that’s bordering on “I won’t believe unless I’m coerced” (unless, of course, one holds that belief in God can be chosen—which is usually the opposite of what many Internet atheists argue). But surely there’s some epistemic virtue in being open to the evidence such that if belief in Christianity were to be rationally defensible, one would become a Christian Why do I say that?

Because it shows that one actually has a desire to become a Christian. Forgive me, but I’m very skeptical when a skeptic asserts that he’d really love to become a Christian, but . . . . As a matter of fact, I think that, most times, he really doesn’t want to be a Christian at all. He’d rather rig the game so that unless he absolutely has to become a Christian, he won’t. I’m not saying there are no genuine seekers, and I’m not saying all atheists are like this. Just many, perhaps most, of the Internet atheists.

So where am I going with all of this? Well, if you are not a Christian, then I think you ought to be open to the possibility of becoming one. More than that, I think that if it were to be shown to you that accepting the truth of Christianity would be rational, then you ought to give becoming a Christian serious consideration. Why? Because not only does it show you are sincerely seeking, it shows that you care about morality, ethics, and questions surrounding ultimate meaning and purpose.

It evinces a desire to acquire the truth, and to deal with oneself honestly for what he or she really is, deep down, where no one can see. It shows a willingness to move beyond the puerile meme culture that decides truth for the masses, and a step away from the “One-Liners as Scholarship Club.” Beneath all the misplaced anger lies either a willingness to explore intellectually, or a desire to destroy intellectually. What are you willing to do? Only you can decide that. If you ever have any questions, objections, or concerns, and you’re willing to become a Christian or give it serious consideration if it were shown to be rationally permissible for you to do so, then I’m always here to listen!