What would have to happen for you to believe in God?

The calling of a pastor is pretty simple: to point people to Jesus. However, that calling becomes much more complicated when it has to be embodied, performed, and lived in real time. Pointing people to Jesus may be easy, but if no one is willing to listen, the calling becomes exponentially more difficult.
In the United States, it is said that our nation is rapidly drifting away from the Christian faith. In other words, fewer and fewer people are professing faith in Jesus Christ. While Christianity was the dominant faith just a few decades ago, it now accounts for less than 50 percent of Americans, and this downward trend is continuing.
Today, there is a rise in the number of “nones” and “dones,” with “nones” representing people with no religious affiliation and “dones” representing people who have turned away from religion and are now seeking spiritual alternatives. “Nones” and “dones” represent the majority of Americans in the 21st century.
What this means to me is this: As a pastor, this tells me that there are many people in Monticello, Florida, who do not have a relationship with God. There are people who do not belong to any religion. And of course, there are people who just do not care about religion at all. I am aware of this. I have lived in Monticello for almost five years and have met people who do not believe in God. I know that if the statistics are correct, Monticello is not immune to the prevailing cultural trends.
Here’s my question: If you are not “religious” or “spiritual,” what would have to happen for you to believe in God?
Please read this again: What would have to happen for you to believe in God?
If you commit to being anti-religious, that is your right and your choice. I respect that choice.
Perhaps someone is reading this who has never articulated or thought through their disbelief. Perhaps you have never considered the possibility of God. Again, I am not asking you to join a church or religious organization. I am asking you to defend your disbelief. How do you know God is not real? How do you know there is no supernatural creator of the universe?
Is it because religion is just superstitious mumbo jumbo? Well, athletes believe in superstitions and we don’t hold it against them. In fact, we praise them! The greatest tennis player in the world, Serena Williams, believed that her shoelaces had to be tied a certain way. Rafael Nadal had to arrange his water bottles a certain way before he stepped on the court. And yet we praise this behavior.
Do you reject God because religion is too dogmatic? You know what else is dogmatic? Paying taxes, obeying the speed limit, keeping a work schedule, and paying your bills! The world is built on rules. They give order to life. Religion orders our lives.
Do you reject religion because it does not align with your political beliefs? OK, we may be going into too much detail here. However, many politicians have also maintained a religious commitment throughout their careers. I am thinking of former presidents and other leading social activist figures.
Do you reject religion because it seems like a waste of time? I probably believed that a long time ago. Until God changed my life and I experienced the liberating love of Christ, who forgave me my sins and taught me a better way of life.
As I leave you, I would like to leave you with a great quote from Dallas Willard: “God is not a snob who demands that we do everything right before He will have anything to do with us. He is willing to meet us where we are to redeem us.”
I don’t expect anyone to magically change their mind about religion. But maybe there is someone who will do a little introspection and risk a little personal vulnerability to consider the possibility that there is a God who wants to awaken us to a new reality beyond our narrow minds. We accept the ways of this world so easily, so why not examine the arguments for God?
Rev. Jonathan F. Brewster serves at the First Methodist Church in Monticello.