Ask Me Anything 2 by J. Budziszewski

Author:J. Budziszewski
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Navigators
Published: 2011-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

Peace be with you,

Professor Theophilus

MISSIONARY SINNING

Dear Professor Theophilus:

I’ve read Ask Me Anything and a lot of your online articles, so you’d think by this time I’d have this Theophilus thing down. I have a question anyway.

I joined a sorority during my freshman year on the recommendation of two friends I looked up to. They said it was a great way to befriend nonbelievers and lead them to Christ. After a year of sorority life I really have to ask whether I should be immersed in this ungodly environment. Doesn’t Psalm 1 say, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked”? I’m not tempted to get drunk or have sex, and I do understand the importance of befriending nonbelievers—how else are we to witness to them? But we don’t become Muslims to reach Muslims for Christ, do we?

Some Christian friends tell me that I wouldn’t be fulfilling God’s will if I left the sorority, because I’m here for a reason. What do you think?

Reply: I think your friends’ argument begs the question—it assumes what it is supposed to prove. If you’re asking whether God has a reason for you to be in the sorority, then it doesn’t settle anything to say “Don’t leave, because God has a reason for you to be there.” That’s what you’re trying to find out.

Your own thoughts are much sounder, though I’d use a different analogy. From the way you describe your sorority, hanging out there isn’t much like converting to Islam. Observant Muslims aren’t big on drunkenness or sluttiness. It’s more like living in a bar or brothel. Even though you’ve stayed chaste and sober, it’s not good for you to be there—to live the life of faith you need faithful companions. Nor are you doing any good to your nonbelieving friends—you don’t have to join their organization to befriend them, and your witness is compromised by doing so. So I’d advise you to trust your intuitions and get out.

By the way, the line you’ve been hearing from certain confused Christians is a common one. I call it missionary sinning. Hang out at drug parties—what a chance to spread the Gospel! Date nonbelievers—maybe you can get them to church! Sign up for the wet T-shirt contest—you’ll be such a witness to the other girls! The general idea seems to be that your witness will be stronger if you weaken it.

Motives for swallowing the line vary. One is pride: “I’m so good that I can expose myself to temptation and still not give in.” Another is the attraction of sin itself: “I’d like to do these things anyway, but I can’t admit that to myself, so I’ll just put myself in the path of temptation and wait to give in.” You were merely a bit weak with the friends you looked up to; you were afraid to exercise your own judgment and wanted them to think well of you.

I’m glad you’ve begun to be stronger. Keep it up.

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