One of my favorite books about how Christians should engage with the culture is called The Benedict Option by Rod Dreher. Not “Benedict” like Benedict Arnold, but as in St. Benedict, referring to a group of monks that follow in the tradition he began in 529 AD. We usually think of monks as being reclusive, pulling away from society in their remote monastery to focus on prayer, only coming out to sell the cheese or beverages they make. And that is usually true, but Dreher observed one particular group in Italy that took a more determined approach to their mission.

We were on our way back from an early morning fly-fishing trip. It was a productive morning, both of us having caught some fish, returning refreshed from the cool mountain water and air. In the relaxed atmosphere of the single cab Chevy, the conversation turned toward spiritual matters. He, the philosophical skeptic, pondered aloud the meaning of life. I mentioned how knowing Jesus personally has given me purpose and meaning in life. His response was typical of one you might hear these days, “Yes, Jesus had a lot of great things to say, a great moral teacher.” I pushed back by sharing from my own journey. “True, He did have a lot of great things to say, but He also had some crazy things to say. For instance, I really had to wrestle with His statement, “I am THE way, THE Truth, and THE life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” That’s a pretty bold claim that doesn’t leave any middle room.”

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