Amanda: Buber's Challenge

One of the most fascinating things to me about modern Christianity is the many ways in which people have tried to maintain their faith while still participating in the ‘ways of the world.’ I put that phrase in quotes because I personally have a hard time separating these two areas. Many Christians adamantly see a line they can not cross in order to still call themselves a believer in Christ, but I would argue that this line is more like a piece of thread that is impossible to stand on.

This clash between sacred and profane realms and differing outlooks on life direct the ways in which we carry out our day to day lives and interact with one another. Believers in any faith must face the temptations presented to them in the world, and direct their actions according to the way they are spiritually led. This attempt to straddle the border between not fully participating in the profane world and remaining focused on the Holy is a task that I feel is often misrepresented in Christianity today.

Buber communicates this struggle very well in his text I and Thou when he points out, “One does not find God if one remains in the world; one does not find God if one leaves the world”

I have heard countless sermons about how a ‘good Christian’ is expected to live as an example in the world to non-believers but I don’t think enough attention is paid to how hard it is to do this without participating in what the bible would see as sinful acts. To me, this is the biggest dilemma many church goers face and the reason that many of these non-believers are turned off by the church.

I believe more focus should be placed on supporting one another in this quest to remain spiritually minded rather than Christians trying to separate themselves from non-Christians.