Robbie Castleman heard a Christian physics professor defend Christianity on a state university campus a few years ago. He has been nominated for the Nobel Prize more than once[*], has pages of academic accolades, and became a Christian well into his faculty career. After listening to his brilliant multi-point presentation of why he found Christianity credible, Castleman spoke to this professor and his wife. She asked him what first got him to consider the Christian faith. His answer was very different from what he had shared that night.
His journey to faith began after the death of his child. He noticed that his wife’s grief began to give way to some hope and healing that he could not understand nor experience. When he asked her about it, she confessed that she had been attending a Bible study with friends and had become a Christian. He was surprised, intrigued, and open to anything that would comfort his pain and emptiness. He, too, began to share his grief within his new circle of friends. They opened their hearts and the Scriptures to this professor and his wife.
He felt free to ask questions, seek the truth of the Christian faith, express doubts, and finally trust the Lord, because his feelings of grief were accepted and shared. Empathy preceded answers. His evangelists were first listeners.
After the professor finished, Castleman thanked him for this personal story of faith. And she suggested that this part of his life’s story be included in what he shared with others about the Christian faith. She encouraged him to remember that grace opened the door of truth for him. This is true in the hearts and lives of most people who need to hear the gospel.
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[*] Holwick: This is possible but very unlikely. The Nobel website says “Information about the nominations, investigations, and opinions concerning the award is kept secret for fifty years.” < https://web.archive.org/web/20100109142845/http://nobelprize.org/nomination/nomination_facts.html > There are often rumors that someone has been nominated but those who are officially considered for a nomination, but not selected, are not publicized.