(Note: I’m using traditional terms here because of the nature of this post. It’s written for seekers, doubters, and the thinkers who can’t stand organized religion—so save the biblical arguments for church.)
Just before
author and Dilbert creator Scott Adams
died, he did something that brought pious Christians and outspoken atheists
into rare agreement. When those two groups unite, it’s usually because someone
has done something terribly wrong—or perhaps remarkably right.
A few days
before he succumbed to prostate cancer, Adams declared: “I accept Jesus Christ
as my Lord and Savior, and I look forward to spending an eternity with Him.”
Atheists bristled at the acknowledgment of Jesus, and some Christians questioned the legitimacy of his conversion. Adams openly admitted it was a logical decision rather than an emotional or spiritual one. He said: “I’m not a believer, but I have to admit the risk–reward calculation for doing so looks attractive.”
This
“logical,” head‑over‑heart confession sparked debate about whether it was
genuine. Yet it makes perfect sense that Adams, an intellectual, would approach
Jesus this way. Just as it’s hard for a rich man to enter Heaven, it can be
just as hard for the highly intelligent, whose “brain issues” often cloud their
“soul issues”. Adams had been an avowed agnostic and frequently critical of
organized religion.
Those who dispute Adams’ confession are trying to impose conditions on
coming to Jesus—and that’s the core problem with organized religion. Doctrine,
dogma, and denomination send a message to seekers, doubters, and deep thinkers
like Adams that you must fix yourself before coming to Jesus.
Clean up your life. Live better. Think better. Go to church. Get it
together. Do something before Jesus will accept you. Our religious culture has
built a fence around Him: you can reach Him, but only if you can climb the
barrier. Or we’ve lifted Him so high that you must elevate yourself to meet
Him.
But Jesus meets you where you are—at your level, even at the lowest point
of your life. He comes when you call.
Religious people try to complicate the issue. They are already in the Kingdom,
and they try to make it more difficult for others to enter. This trips up people
of all levels of intelligence.
The late Keith Green captured this concept regarding salvation well:
You
try to make things too complicated
But
you really don't have to be so smart
You
don't learn a thing
Until
you soften your heart*
You don’t need to do anything before coming to Jesus. You can come
exactly as you are—with your mess, your filth, your mistakes, your baggage.
Bring it all. He wants you to bring it because He intends to help you deal with
it, and He promises He can.
All He says is COME. Just COME. That’s it – that’s all.
Just come as you are. Heart or head—it doesn’t matter. No conditions.
When Adams said, “I’m not a believer,” he meant he still rejected
organized religion and its preconditions. That’s a logical stance from a deeply
logical man. That religious barrier had kept him from Jesus. Once it fell away,
and it was simply him and Jesus—everything changed.
So, what about this purely logical conversion—is it legitimate? Prayer
requires at least some element of faith, so Adams' conversion wasn’t entirely
logical after all. And how much faith is needed? Not much—something smaller
than a mustard seed is enough.
No preconditions. A tiny spark of faith. And Jesus says, “Come.”
Adams waited until the end. You don’t have to.
‘* Soften Your Heart – Keith Green
