Missing the Point

Do you ever feel like maybe you've just missed the entire point of being a Christian? Or even worse, do you ever feel like you have it all figured out? As a preacher and teacher, I usually feel obligated to either provide an answer to a question or a response to an argument. This is almost a default setting for me. A teacher never wants to feel like they don't have an answer. Yet, by continuously giving answers, have I, have we as a church missed the question entirely?
By arguing over exegetical meanings, have people been brought to Christ? By debating over social issues and matters of sin, have people been enticed to search for Christ? Has an anti-alcohol stand or pro-alcohol stand brought anyone into deeper relationships with God? While issues as such may have some importance, I believe that they are off-target. People will not come knocking on the door of our churches and houses if we suddenly decide to be a "moderate drinking" church now. If we are hip and cool, will people come? It is highly doubtful. People need Jesus. They need authenticity. they don't need our answers to social issues. In fact, by putting so much time into issues such as that, we tend to make ourselves look and act so INTROVERTED, that we miss the point of our lives on Earth.
We aren't placed here to try to figure out everything for everybody. The point of church isn't to provide answers for every question. Frankly, the point of the Bible isn't that, either. It is NOT designed to be an answer book. We are designed as humans to speak, to love and to bring others into a desire for a relationship with Jesus. That's the point, I believe. I don't have that all figured out and I don't believe that there is a magic, 4-step plan or process that will provide all of those answers. That's not the point.
The point is more about a willingness to listen, to love and to speak about the inexpressible joy of following Christ. It is about going out and loving others with no ulterior motives. It's NOT to try to convert others. Remember, the Holy Spirit does the work of salvation. Our job is to love, our job is to bring others back to Christ. Our job isn't to answer every question. For every question, there are a thousand answers, with each one of the answers possessing some semblance of truth. Take a look at one Bible verse and you will find several interpretations that are as off-base or as on-target as you desire. What then are we called to do? We are called to point people to Christ. We are called to invite, to love and be with people that otherwise wouldn't hear or otherwise wouldn't care. This is the essence of Christ's earthly life, our earthly life and the Great Commission. To do less is to miss the point entirely.
Jesus doesn't call us to have every answer to every skeptical question. He doesn't call us to address every issue. He calls us to love, to spend with others and to listen. I know that in my life, I have missed the point so often. On that note, It's time to get to Sunday School and to begin to practice what I preach. More later. Have a blessed Sunday and may the love of Christ overwhelm you today!!