I attended Church hundreds of times as a young boy in various churches, sunday schools, and as a choir. I once started a process of being Christened but I never actually believed in god. I was well educated, I knew that god couldn’t exist because. How can it?
And I’m not alone. In 2023 and if you ask the average under 40 year old they are now more likely to be atheist than Christian – the first time ever. This probably comes as no surprise. Now we understand how science works and evolution, there are so many arguments against god. How can an actual god exist? Where is the scientific evidence?
I think these arguments, while logical, and valid, are missing the bigger picture.
As an adult, I’ve changed my belief and and I want to explain why.
It’s important to note that the majority of people under 40 in UK don’t believe god exists but they are massive beneficiaries of the UK being Christian for almost 2000 years.
We are living in a golden age of abundance, low cost travel, technological and scientific advancement, interconnectedness, population boom, and peace.
Of course, the fact that we were born in one of the most prosperous countries in the world is mostly thanks to the generations before us, their hard work and sacrifice, and the luck of the flow of history that has led to this moment.
Christianity is a core part of what has made “The West” successful. It is an operating system that has given advantages to followers and has been a core part of the success of the Roman, British, European enlightenment, and American empires. It has united people of different languages, helped societies survive disasters, shocks, and fight off foreign invaders. With 2.6 billion followers, it is the most successful societal operating system in the world.
In Max Weber seminal 1904 text, “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,” he argued that Protestantism – and particularly Calvinism – spurred believers to pursue their work with more zeal, giving rise to modern market capitalism in Northern Europe.
I remember a story my Grandpa used to tell about when people around are getting shot he said his belief in god helped him survive – he knew he was going to be OK.
I’m going to unpack what I think are some of the core 7 tools that Christianity gives its followers advantages that has enabled society, and believers to be more successful, and why I think these are important
1. Belief in a higher power
Believing in god – a power outside yourself, can give you huge advantages.
– It stops you from thinking as an individual and think bigger. We are often thinking from inside our own head a lot of the time. If there is a god, it enables you to think from the gods perspective, and see yourself from outside yourself. This perspective can be a huge advantage. how would it guide you? How would a god advise you if you asked it for advice? You can imagine what it would say, and this can be your own imagination.
– Simplifies things – recognise there is a lot outside your control. I first heard this concept from a Moroccan friend who explained Tawakkul توكُّل – leave it to Allah. It’s basically to recognise that there are some things that you can only do so much, then you need to let go, and surrender. Don’t try too hard. This idea that we can only do so much can free us to operate better
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.
One of the other big tools that it gives is belief. A belief in what is possible, a belief in yourself. A confidence. It enables you to be fearless, because you have god on your side.
Developing a sheer unstoppable belief and faith is extremely powerful. A faith that everything will be OK. A faith that you have what is needed, that if it works it does, if it doesn’t it doesn’t.
It also gives you a sense of peace. It can stop you from worrying.
Too often we can be fearful, or doubt our own abilities. This can sabotage our results and weaken us.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.
3. Prayer and the Law of Attraction
Your thoughts will influence your words, which determines your actions. Your actions will define your habits which make up your character. Your character will determine your destiny. Learn to master your thoughts.
Lao Tzu
1) meditating,
2) escaping from your daily thoughts
3) thinking from a high level,
4) focussing your thoughts on what is most important
5) asking for something
6) closureThis process is powerful because, just meditation is powerful, and like writing, it simplifies and clarifies your thinking, enables you to see from another perspective, and helps you to think what it is that you want. Just like the act of writing a letter and then tearing it up and not sending it, the process can be helpful to release yourself from your worries. Whether someone or something is listening is not important for there to be any benefits from this process.
It’s powerful to have a community around you, to be in a place together with others, to get to know others in the community. Just like going to a party – you’re in a group of people, you’re social. It’s good for you to know others to build relationships – you can help each other. A stronger community is more resiliant, peaceful, effective, efficient, and is usually better for those people in the community.
Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
We have laws that we know we should not break, it seems obvious, but how do you learn this? You can read the list of laws, but most likely is that we learn this through osmosis – from naturally living our lives, and hearing stories, or learning through people and society about what is and isn’t acceptable and developing our own compass.
Thessalonians 3:13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
As a young boy, I felt that church was something that old people did. I have avoided going to church because I was not wearing the proper clothes. But there is value and things to be learnt from Christianity, and the bible – the most read book in the world.
As we enter a new technological era with new challenges, I believe Christianity needs modernisation to attract the younger crowd and stay relevant and it’s important that it does.
