The following are the six reasons John Stott finds to defend his faith as a
Christian. None of the following is original with me; I have quoted Rev. Stott
freely as a means of capturing his thought process. You can read the
expounded reasons in his short book, Why I am a Christian (Downers Grove:
IVP, 2003).
In the words of Jesus in Matthew 11.25-30 (appended below), Stott finds two
invitations and two affirmations. He identifies the latter, first.
Two Invitations:
Those who recognize their ‘heavy burdens,’ are offered two invitations.
1. Jesus says, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden (see verse
28).” This means that Jesus is inviting all who are aware of the human
burdens of anxiety, temptations, loneliness, etc. and the heaviness of sin.
He promises to ease our yoke, to replace our care for our anxieties with
His own sweet peace and tranquility. He does this by lifting our burden of
punishment and so identifying with us that He can take these burdens to
the cross.
2. Jesus not only says, “come,” but also, “take my yoke upon you (see verse
29).” This is a marvelous exchange by which, in our newfound peace and
tranquility, we find the freedom to submit to Christ’s burden of humility
and meekness. We enter the school of Christ, to be disciples that submit
to His teaching authority.
Are these invitations hard? Jesus promises to do this freely, entirely by grace,
utterly undeserved! While some are tempted to treat their worship as a means
by which they deserve Christ, they only indict themselves as being no Christians
at all, for the two invitations are freely offered!