A hope that you can believe in

There are so many religious practices that can be found in different parts of the world through which people believe that they can find whatever they are looking for, says Fr Alvan Ibeh in his regular Voice of Hope column.

We are living in a world filled with diverse beliefs and countless paths to spiritual fulfilment. This makes it therefore important to note that the decision to follow Jesus, remains one of personal choice rather than compulsion. This foundational aspect of Christianity underscores the importance of free will, love and personal conviction in the journey of faith.

The concept of free will has always being at the core of our Christian teachings. God created us and gave us free will to always make choices. We were created with the ability to choose. Our first parents, Adam and Eve were, in the garden of Eden, given the freedom to obey or disobey God’s command, setting the precedent for the importance of choice in human life.

We see this very principle carried through to the New Testament, where Jesus invites people to follow Him but never imposes his will on anyone.

Let us look at Mathew 16:24. In this passage, Jesus said to his disciples; “if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”. The “if” Jesus used in this statement, implies an invitation, not a demand. There is no sign of forcefulness or compulsion involved. He only said, “if”, meaning, ‘if you make up your mind, if you have made the choice, then this is what you will have to do’. The decision to follow Christ is a voluntary act of love and devotion, not an obligation forced upon us.

This is even the more reason why we shouldn’t see going to Mass on Sundays as an obligation because the church has taught us that. It should be a choice we have made from conviction and love for God. Don’t come to Mass because the church said that day is a Holy day of obligation, come to Mass because you love God. For anyone who has deep love and hunger for the things of God, every day becomes a Holy day of obligation.

This voluntary aspect of our Christian vocation is crucial because it aligns with the nature of God, who desires a genuine relationship with His followers, not one born out of coercion. Jesus Himself modelled the principal of voluntary discipleship throughout his ministry. He engaged with people from all walks of life, offering them the message of the kingdom of God, but he never once forced anyone to follow him. He wants us to follow Him out of conviction and not compulsion. That is the reason why He asked his disciples in Matthew 16:15, “But what about you, who do you say I am?”

We can only be convinced about something we know very clearly. Our following Jesus can only be out of love and conviction, when we know Him personally. The path of following Jesus is characterized by an invitation to experience and respond to God’s love, which cannot be authentically embraced unless it is chosen freely. So, what do you think? Are you following Jesus out of conviction or out of compulsion? Until the next edition, remain blessed.

If you have not seen my new book yet, just go to www.thegreatbritishbookshop.com search for “A fountain of hope” or you can also buy it on Amazon. Shalom.

Read a review of Fr Alvah’s book here.

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