Recently I did something I do not normally do. Usually if I post a status on Facebook or Twitter in order to raise awareness of something, I do not cite examples of other advocates who have gone before me to back up my cause. However, recently I made a mistake that I usually caution others when they do it: I cited two figures in history. In the end, the main point that I was trying to make by citing these two men is this: Religion in the experience of man has not always been a force for destruction.

Here is where I am coming from.

I have a few whom I am have as friends on Facebook, and several of these individuals I still consider my friends in real life. I know that I would help them at a moment’s notice with anything because I truly do care about them that much regardless of what they believe or if they share my beliefs. I also know these friends are not only atheists, but are vehemently and vocally very much against anything that smacks of religion in general and Christianity in particular. Some criticisms are legit, and others have been straw-men arguments they found with internet memes that they found humorous and that I could easily say “this is universally true among humanity not just with religious people”.

What I posted was supposed to convey the idea that, contrary to the thinking of some skeptics, religion has been used as a force for good in a society, that it does not simply “poison everything” as some have alleged. I cited two individuals whom history has genuinely looked with favor because when we look back at their lives, we are inclined to applaud them, and yes these two were both Christian believers. I posted that because I had grown frustrated with some of the recent posts of those skeptical friends of mine who were calling for an end to dialogue between skepticism and faith, which is never a good thing to cease. 

What happened after my posting was something unexpected. A friend of mine whom I had not talked to in about ten years decided to post a response that I did not expect. She posted some flaws about one of the heroes I had cited, to which I responded back with the typical “I never said these guys were perfect”, and apparently she took that as a “cop out” for me to stop the conversation. It did not help that I deleted the post afterward because I did not want to turn it into a “comment war”, (which makes me think of myself sheepish because on the one hand I wanted a discussion yet on the other hand I did not want my Facebook “blowing up”). In the end, I admit I wanted it both ways: to have a conversation, but to have it go in my favor, and I was not ready to endure criticism of a spiritual hero of mine, and that is my fault. My friend got the last word in by putting a status up herself along the lines of “this is the second time I have tried to have a discussion with Christians who have had political opinions only to have it taken down, so what are they afraid of?” I attempted to send a private message to her stating my true intentions, but to this day I have yet to receive a response.

It got me thinking on something though. What are we afraid of? and that is when I realized something. I had created idols in my own mind. Yes, they were “acceptable idols” because they were spiritual heroes of mine from a bygone era, but idols nonetheless. I had done the one thing I have often preached against….I forgot God is the only one who is perfect.

As a Christian and as an apologist, I believe the Bible to be true for several reasons. One of them is the fact that it makes no bones about the mistakes of even its most cherished figures. Peter was a loudmouth and a coward, David was a deceiver and an adulterer, Jacob was a liar, Paul was religious persecutor. The Scriptures were inspired by God to be written in such a way so as to make God the hero of the story in both testaments. It is God who never gives up on His people. It is God who is constantly trying to woo them back by offering them love, forgiveness, and a fresh start. It is God in the Person of His Son Jesus who shows this love by dwelling among men, teaching us about His Father, and dying on the cross so that humanity may be redeemed.

No matter what human being one chooses to look at as inspiration to live a better life, there will always be a critic (and sadly many Christians choose to go after fellow Christians! go figure). Ghandi, Martlin Luther King Jr., John Wesley, John Calvin, take your pick. Maybe God meant for it to be that way so that we would find just enough in common with them not to make them higher than they ought, but instead always keep our eyes on God and Him alone for our worship and adoration.

It is interesting to note, that in all the posts I have ever encountered, Jesus’ character and life has never been mocked or treated with scorn. No matter if it is New Atheist literature, or simple internet pictures. Bible passages and subjects have been ripped to shreds, fanatical Christians have been ridiculed, but Jesus Himself people seem to leave alone. It is almost as if even the hardened skeptic can at least tip the proverbial hat to this figure (or the worst criticism I have heard is that He does not exist). With that, as much as I strive to live my life as a faithful Christian, I blow it again and again. That is why no matter what spiritual hero you look up to, they and we all need the Savior. 

In a hundred years, may they never remember the name of Craig Gaunt. If my writings or actions or life have led someone to the Kingdom of God, or helped them get there, or at least cleaned up the wrong image of a Christian they had in their minds, so be it, but I guarantee, I have enough shortcomings that if anyone held me up as a “saint” someone else could very well come along and cry out “I disagree! look at his flaws”. We all have them, that is what makes God’s grace so amazing. He knows the brokenness and wounds of sin in our life yet He loves us anyways simply because that is who He is: love.

“He must increase. I must decrease” – John 3:30