Most people know a lot about Jesus and can quote many scriptures. But it isnt the same thing as knowing Him.
Jesus has Youtube channels too!
Thank you so much for pointing this out!!! You have very clearly stated something that I've wrestled with my entire life.
Growing up in the church, I see this all the time -- especially the people whose answers are to ALWAYS quote more Scripture -- and never actually get to know someone, nor share anything about themselves.
I get that sharing about one's life can be scary, especially online, and something many don't want to do. But even in real life, it's been my biggest frustration (and often the biggest criticism Christians will level against me -- that I'm not "Christian" enough because I don't scream Bible passages at others all the time.)
When it comes to most learning, I can't learn from just a book. I need some kind of live demonstration. I had a family member who could skip class all semester, read up on it the night before the final exam, and still get a B +. Not me! I'm a slow learner. I had to go to every class, take very detailed notes, and go over them repeatedly.
This is why I love YouTube -- I can see things actually demonstrated by a living person, replaying it as many times as I need. And I'm like that with faith, too. I'm not the person who is built to study the Bible in all the original languages, argue for hours about this or that interpretation, or listen to the next great prophecy so-and-so is claiming (like those claiming the Rapture was DEFINITELY coming this past September.)
Rather, I need a combination of learning tools -- to go with regular Bible study, classes, church, prayer, etc. -- I need real, live Christians telling me how they live the Christian life. I can't get a useful grasp on how to forgive, comfort, go through suffering, endure, stay faithful and patient, etc. -- unless I see or hear other Christians telling me how THEY'VE done it.
Like... Tell me how you go through God telling you NO to a healing, and then getting through the grief when that person died or had their body parts cut off -- and you are now their full-time caretaker. Tell me how you forgave the spouse that took your kids and left you with all the bills. Tell me how you became who you are today, even though the person that hurt you took advantage of the fact that you were a kid and didn't know any better.
These are exactly the kinds of things I run into on a daily basis, and in order to try to help people (or get through things myself,) I need to know how other people are actually doing it -- not just another 20 Bible passages and all their interpretations.
I was once part of a group that knew a certain person. I had a chance to talk to that person for maybe an hour or so. Later, I told was telling how interesting this person was (NOTHING that was private or of course I wouldn't have said anything,) but things like a fascinating career and a child they had lost due to serving in the military.
The other people in the group looked at me like I was crazy (I get that a lot,) and said, "We've known this person for 2 years -- and never knew ANY of that!!"
This is one of my biggest frustrations in the church. Some Christians are all about evangelizing but never about actually getting to know people -- then wonder why people aren't receptive to their message. They blame it all on others having hard hearts and rejecting God, but they don't realize that they have to at least meet people halfway. Get to know someone as a person, not just another sheep you get to brag to God's people about that you converted. And I do believe God will hold them to that as well.
I'm sorry for the tangent but I run into this all the time... and maybe it's just me, because I know we're all built differently and have different callings.
But thank you so much for so succinctly pointing out something I have struggled to vocalize my entire life.
