I am disturbed when I see the majority of so-called Christians

Opening Scene – Narrated by Host

The late afternoon sun streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of colors onto the worn wooden pews. The church was quiet, save for the faint murmur of voices outside, the distant shuffle of shoes on gravel. The air inside was thick with the smell of old wood and the remnants of incense, a place steeped in tradition and reflection.

Jack sat at the back of the church, his fingers lightly drumming against the hard wooden surface of the pew. His gaze was fixed on the altar, but his mind was far away, wrestling with thoughts that had been circling him for weeks. The silence felt both comforting and suffocating, as though it was holding him in a state of suspension, awaiting some kind of answer.

Jeeny entered the church quietly, her steps soft as she made her way down the aisle. She paused beside Jack, her eyes meeting his with an unspoken understanding. She sat beside him, folding her hands in her lap, the two of them sitting in the sacred silence of the space.

Jeeny: “What’s on your mind, Jack? You seem far away.”

Jack shifted, his eyes still trained on the altar, his thoughts heavy with the weight of the question that had been plaguing him.

Jack: “I was just thinking about what it means to have faith, you know? How we define it. How so many people, including myself at times, profess to believe in something without really understanding what it means. We go through the motions—go to church, say the right words—but does it really mean anything?”

Jeeny turned toward him, her expression soft but firm, as if she could see the internal conflict etched into his features.

Jeeny: “You think it’s a matter of understanding? You don’t think it’s more about living it, about embodying it in the way we treat others, the way we live our lives?”

Jack exhaled slowly, his hands clasping together as he tried to put his thoughts into words.

Jack: “I don’t know. I mean, that’s part of it, right? Living the faith. But how do you live it if you don’t understand it? Faith is such an important thing, yet I see so many people who profess to be Christian, who talk about their beliefs, but when you look at their lives—there’s no depth to it. No real understanding of what it means. It’s like they’re just going through the motions, checking the boxes. And it bothers me.”

Jeeny’s eyes softened as she listened, the weight of his words sinking in. She placed her hand gently on his arm, her voice steady but full of care.

Jeeny: “It’s easy to get lost in the routine, Jack. In the distractions of everyday life. The world moves so fast, we get caught up in the pace. It’s easy to forget that faith isn’t about ticking off boxes or performing rituals. It’s about something much deeper.”

Jack looked at her, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

Jack: “But what does it mean, really? I mean, how do you live your faith if you don’t even fully understand it? Faith is supposed to be about something more than just going through the motions, right? I was reading a quote from William Wilberforce earlier. He said, ‘I am disturbed when I see the majority of so-called Christians having such little understanding of the real nature of the faith they profess.’ He’s right, isn’t he?”

Host: The light through the stained-glass windows flickered slightly, as if the very space was listening to their conversation. The old church seemed to hold its breath, the echoes of voices from the past merging with the present moment. Jeeny’s expression became more serious, a deep reflection in her eyes.

Jeeny: “He’s right. Faith is important. It’s not just about what we say or the rituals we follow; it’s about what we truly believe and how that belief shapes us. It’s about knowing the depth of the commitment we’re making when we say we believe. We can’t let the distractions of life—our work, our responsibilities, our routines—take that away from us. Faith needs to be something we’re constantly reflecting on, constantly growing in, not something we just check off.”

Jack leaned forward slightly, his gaze focused now, as if trying to process what she was saying.

Jack: “But it’s hard, isn’t it? It’s hard to live that out when everything around us is moving so quickly. When everyone else is just going through the motions, it’s easy to fall into that trap too. We get distracted. We get busy. And in that busyness, the meaning behind our faith gets lost.”

Jeeny nodded slowly, understanding the weight of his words. Her eyes softened with empathy.

Jeeny: “I know. It’s easy to be distracted, especially when life pulls us in so many different directions. But that’s why we need to keep coming back to it. To make time for it, to make space for it. Not just in the big moments, but in the little ones too. It’s in those small, quiet moments when we reflect on what it really means to follow Christ, when we let our faith lead us in how we treat others, in how we act in the world.”

Host: The church seemed to echo with their words, the air thick with a deeper understanding. The outside world, with all its noise and distractions, felt distant now. In this sacred space, they were able to pause, to reflect on the truth they were discussing. The flickering candlelight on the altar seemed to embody the fragile but steady nature of faith itself.

Jack: “So, it’s not just about knowledge, then. It’s about action. Living out your faith in a way that’s true to what it really means, not just what we’ve been told.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s not just about what we know in our minds; it’s about what we believe in our hearts and how we let that belief change our actions. Faith isn’t something you can just check off because you said the right words on a Sunday. It’s about living it. About being present with it every day.”

Jack sat back, his eyes thoughtful now, the weight of their conversation settling within him.

Jack: “I think I understand now. It’s not just about saying you believe in something. It’s about understanding that belief and living it out—every day, even when it’s hard.”

Jeeny: “Yes. Faith isn’t a passive thing. It’s not something that can be left behind just because life gets busy. It’s something that requires our attention, our effort, our dedication. If it’s truly important, we have to make time for it, reflect on it, and live it out in everything we do.”

Host: The sound of the church bell echoed in the distance, signaling the passing of time. Jack and Jeeny sat in silence for a moment, their thoughts deep and intertwined. Outside, the world continued on, but here, in this space, they had found a moment of clarity, a shared understanding.

Climax and Reconciliation

The light from the stained-glass windows flickered again, casting vibrant colors on the walls as if marking the quiet revelation that had taken place between them. Jack finally stood, his thoughts clearer, his heart a little lighter.

Jack: “Thanks, Jeeny. I think I’ve been so distracted by everything else, I’ve forgotten what it really means. But I’ll keep trying. To live it, to understand it better.”

Jeeny: “That’s all any of us can do, Jack. Keep trying. Keep learning. It’s about the journey, not the destination.”

Host: As they stood together in the church, the weight of their conversation lingered, but there was a sense of peace between them. In this small, quiet space, they had illuminated something deeper—something that would stay with them long after they left.

The world outside would continue on at its frantic pace, but for a moment, inside the church, everything had slowed, allowing them to focus on what truly mattered. The flickering light from the altar seemed to reflect the quiet steadiness of the faith they were learning to understand more deeply.