An Imposter? - Thirty Seconds or Less | Thirty Seconds or Less

“Can I sit here in church like an imposter?” she asks. “Am I an imposter?”

I take a moment to collect myself. Her honest and vulnerability are too familiar: I, too, have sat in a roomful of Christians and admitted I don’t believe in Christ—or in any God at all.

I tell her a story about a man walking along the shore of a lake. On his way, he runs into two fishermen. They’re busy working, but he holds their attention long enough to tell them he’ll show them how to bring in people instead of fish if they come with him. The two fishermen drop their nets and follow the man.

I tell her one of those fishermen was Simon (who is also called Peter) and that he is one of the founders of the Church (with a big C). When Peter dropped his net and allowed the man—Jesus—he didn’t know anything about the Messiah being a sacrificial lamb or about crucifixion or resurrection. he just heard the man’s story and believed it enough to follow him.

The Gospels are a collection of stories about Peter and the other 11 disciples constantly doubting, believing the wrong thing, or entirely missing the point of what Jesus was saying.

So, do I think it’s OK not to know what you believe and still be a part of the Church?

Heck, yeah. In fact, I think that’s exactly what following Jesus is about.