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What Do We Expect?

What do we expect? I mean, what do we really expect?

I was looking at this info-graphic recently. You can click on the image if you want to expand it. Go ahead, I'll wait. 




In it they show how very little even Evangelical Protestants agree with what has historically been perceived as absolute truth. Perhaps you've seen and read info-graphics like this before. Sadly, I can't say I was surprised by most of the numbers.

What did catch my eye was the statistic that showed only 47% of Christians strongly agree that Heaven is a real place. While it is disturbing to actually consider that half of all Christians don't actually believe Jesus is preparing a place for us, did you catch the wording?

Strongly agree?

This tells me the question was: Do you believe in heaven? And the possible answers were; Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree and Strongly Disagree. I'm going to go ahead and assume Neutral was a possible response to keep survey-takers happy. 

How do you strongly agree with something like this? If the group giving the survey believes in absolute truth, shouldn't there only be two options, Agree or Disagree? I either believe Heaven is a real place or I do not. I don't think Heaven is sort of real. 

This kind of survey taking has implications on us as we get closer and closer to Christmas. I celebrate Christmas because I believe God came to Earth as a baby, through a virgin, with a noble step-dad in Joe. I believe shepherds proclaimed the birth and that wise men brought gifts (a year or so later). I believe in this story because I believe the Bible to be true.

I don't strongly agree because that is lending emphasis where emphasis is not needed. This is absolute truth. I live by these truths with great fervor, which may bring some to assume I believe in them strongly. But save your adjectives, because if I didn't believe in it, I'd be celebrating this holiday with a focus only on myself. 

Truth matters. Do you agree or disagree?
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