The First Person

Ravi Zacharias is one of my favorite speakers to listen to. He clearly and passionately defends the Christian faith, not always in friendly territory. In fact he make it a goal to take the gospel to hostile venues such as the secular universities here in America.

His ministry, RZIM, publishes a quarterly magazine updating their supporters of the activities and engagements of their ministry. In their Summer 2013 edition they interview their newest staff member Nabeel Qureshi. Nabeel converted his faith to Christianity and in doing so left Islam. He notes that since his conversion to Christianity his family life has changed dramatically. He has become a "point of shame" to his family.

Nabeel recounts the beginning of his journey, "I met a friend in college who had studied apologetics, and he was the first person I met who was able to intelligently defend his Christian faith." Really? Nabeel does not say how many Christians he had come into contact before this college friend, but the implication in his above statement is that he had come into contact with Christians who could not defend their own faith.

As I read Nabeel's testimony, I wondered how others who confess Christianity as their faith also find a shortage of believers who can rationally explain and defend the Christian faith. Christians may have a crisis in their faith. Often it is sparked by a death of a loved one, a university professor antagonistic to Christianity, the latest Stephen Hawking book, or doubts about the historicity and accuracy of the Bible.

My faith in Christ could not accurately be characterized as "in crisis" at any point in my life. However, there was a point about 14 years ago that I realized my faith needed to move beyond spiritual platitudes and warm mushy feelings. As I began investigating the big (and sometimes not so big) questions about this world and who I am I discovered men long before me and much brighter than me had already been on this journey. My faith was not simply secured, it was invigorated.

Since the beginning of this new journey of mine which began over 14 years ago I have shared my faith with confidence. I don't have all the answers, nor will I ever, but I have some answers. What is more, I have a great cloud of witnesses that have gone before me in which I can find shade in.

A crisis of faith can have two outcomes. Either the attacks on your faith will leave you fallen. Or, it will cause one to look beyond yourself and ask for the reinforcements of others who have been through the battle and are prepared. Maybe then you can be the “first person” for someone else.