In a previous post I asked, “Who is Jesus?” I’m not sure that I really answered the question, rather that I questioned our answers. Young children disregard those around them as they play or interact with their friends or immediate family. They have no thought about how they appear or relate to strangers. When asked a question they often simply hide, stare or offer an answer that doesn’t relate to the question at all. They first must establish a context in which the conversation is taking place. If the question doesn’t relate to the child then its irrelevant and meaningless and who the person is, is also irrelevant until the child can build a framework in which that person has meaning.

One of the greatest challenges for a Christian (or any person of faith) is prayer. Formal prayer is easy because it’s very much like sending a letter to Santa. You simply need to know that your god has the position of ‘God’ then your letter will arrive at the right place. You only need to know who God is in a formal sense rather his relationship to you. Many of us could pray to a concept of God but if he appeared before us we would be struck dumb, not because of his awesomeness but because we would now have to relate to him as a person. We are as children in our prayer pen; unaware that God is in the room because we don’t really know who he is.

Children don’t ask who their parents or siblings are. It wouldn’t even occur to them to ask. But as the child grows relationships change. Strangers become friends and friends become strangers. This is true of our relationship with God too and it’s a challenge we must face if we are to maintain any sort of meaningful prayer life (if we have one in the first place).

In order to be safe, Jesus tells us that we need to believe in him, not in an abstract sense but that he is who he says he is. In John’s gospel Jesus holds a conversation with the Jewish leaders repeating over and over that he is the Christ but they won’t recognise him. Eventually he spells out that he is the “I AM”, forcing them to make a decision. We read of him ‘crying out’ and speaking in a ‘loud voice’. In his dialogue with those leaders you get a sense of his frustration – that he wants everyone to know who it is they are going to crucify.

Many ask for proof that God exists but who of us would not be insulted if asked that question of us. God has no need to prove that he exists. James tells us that demons know God exists – much good it does them. What God wants us to know is that he is a person we can relate to – a father and brother, friend and comforter. Even if God exists we are still alone in the universe unless we have a relationship with him – unless his personhood is meaningful. Is this not the true meaning of salvation – to know God in spirit and truth?

Does it sound so strange now, that in order to be saved God asks only that we believe in him? No child deserves to have a mother and father in that no one earns the right to be a son or daughter. Salvation is not a right that can be earned it is a relationship that can only be experienced. Salvation is a hug, a kiss, a smile, a ‘welcome home’. To be saved is to know that you belong – to know that you are no longer alone.