The first day of the class I had the opportunity to teach this summer we went around the room and talked about our backgrounds. One of the guys in the class shared something like this.
"I have some background with Christianity. I went to church with my mom until the end of high school. But in the last couple years I haven't really gone to church or anything. I wouldn't consider myself as a believer now."
I thought it was brave of him to be so honest, especially at a Christian university and in a Bible class.
The class was on Colossians, and we got to talk quite a bit about what Christianity is supposed to be and how that can differ from what it has become. We also had a good class where people felt comfortable asking difficult questions. Those led to some good discussions. At the end of the three weeks of class that same guy came up to the front, shook my hand, and said, "Thanks for a good class. If I were living in Chicago I'd want to come to your church."
What changed? I don't know that answer for sure, but based on the questions he asked and comments he made in class I have a guess. I don't think he had ever really heard the gospel. This man, who had grown up in church, had never heard the full good news of Jesus Christ. He heard that he was supposed to behave in certain ways, but not that Christianity was supposed to be about following the way of Christ and letting that impact every part of how we live, think, and interact with others.
This was a good reminder to me that just because someone grew up in church doesn't mean they know the gospel. We have to be ready for spiritual discussions with people we might think should alrady know about following Christ.
