In Romans 2:5 St. Paul writes, “Because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”

Fear of future judgment has moved many people to repentance and faith. Christianity spread across the globe in partnership with a variety of physical coercive forces, both positive and negative. In some cases, it was “convert or die,” in others there were clear benefits to aligning with the new masters.

In a world where few people fear for their eternal destiny, and where there are no material advantages in faith, and significant disadvantages, can faith survive? Is there something inherently attractive and compelling about following Jesus Christ without coercion without recourse to threats or secondary rewards? Is it worth significant suffering and loss?

Clearly not everyone wants to be a Christian. Some people are antagonistic, but most are just indifferent. Not interested. Why would they want to alter their lifestyle, disrupt their social lives, lose friends, and risk their jobs? For what?

I think we will find out the answer to these questions in the days ahead. Indeed, we already are. How might we share the Gospel without relying on any coercion? Would you be a Christian if there were no Heaven or Hell? How often has someone asked us, “What’s your secret? I want what you’ve got.”