“The unexamined life is not worth living.”  What did Socrates mean by this?

Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher who, along with Plato and Aristotle, is credited with founding western philosophy.  Supposedly, he uttered these words right before he was sentenced to death for “corrupting youth” (with his philosophy).  While people have interpreted these words a number of different ways, the most common is this: only when—like a philosopher—you vigorously pursue the answers to life’s ultimate questions (What is the meaning of life?  How do you live a virtuous life?  What happens when you die?  Is there a God and, if so, what is God like?) can you reach your full potential as a human being; only then can you know the fullness of life. 

If you don’t live this “examined life”, you’ll be missing out on life’s greatest pursuit and its richest reward.

Socrates didn’t necessarily believe you needed to find definitive answers to these questions—in fact, it seems that he thought, by and large, you couldn’t.  The real value was simply in pondering them (hence, the Socratic method).  And, in what might seem terribly drastic to us, he preferred death to a life where he couldn’t do this.

In a previous blog, I talked about why the Christian God, if He exists, must play “hard to get”.   He does so in order to preserve our freedom.  He remains hidden so that only those who really want to find Him, who really desire a relationship with Him, who really want to know the Truth, will. 

But this means that seeking God involves a lot of effort, a lot of time and energy wrestling with these questions—it requires an examined life. 

I’ve met many people who wonder what’s wrong with just living life.  They don’t want to “waste their time” thinking about these things.  They say they believe there may be “something out there” but no one can be sure what or who it is.  And besides, we’ll all find out when we die anyway.  The important thing is to try and be a good person.  That way, if it turns out there is a “God”, you’ll be OK.   

(Of course, this begs the question: why do we have this impulse to “play it safe” by being good; how are we able to recognize that goodness would matter this much to God, if He exists?)

So why bother?  Why should you expend your valuable time and energy pondering these questions?  Why not just go blissfully along with your life?

Before actually tackling these ultimate questions in future blogs, I need to give you a good reason to bother.  Actually, I’ll give you three good reasons!

First, even if you don’t find compelling answers that change your life, the process itself—as Socrates would passionately insist—is more than worth it.  Pondering these ultimate questions is its own reward.  It will enrich and enliven you as nothing else can. 

In college, when I went on my “religious quest”, I spent several years—a lot of time and energy—agonizing over these questions.  But because of it, those years were easily several of the most fulfilling and exciting years of my life.  And even though I’ve found solid answers that have withstood the test of time, I continue to contemplate these questions—always open new challenges and insights—because I feel so alive when I do. 

Socrates knew what he was talking about—there is no parallel to an “examined life”!

Second, I believe—and have staked my life on the fact—that there are good answers, that anyone who is willing to wrestle deeply with these questions will find the Truth—which turns out to be a Person, Jesus Christ. 

And there is nothing more life transforming than to know His Perfect, Unconditional love.

This age of social media, of Facebook and Instagram, has created an entire new anxiety disorder: FOMO.  Fear of missing out.   Seeing all the other fun and exciting things people post makes many of us feel like we’re missing out.  Like our lives aren’t as fun and exciting!  Of course, most of this is an illusion.  People tend to post an “ideal” version of their lives.  Overall, they aren’t living lives that are significantly more fun or exiting than average.  Besides, if we weren’t aware of what they post doing, it would never occur to us that we were missing out on anything.

But if Jesus is real, you could be missing out on the most exhilarating experience this life offers—the ultimate FOMO come true. 

So, if there is even the slightest chance it could be true, it’s more than worth the time and energy to find out.

Third, pondering these questions could make all the difference to your eternal destiny.

A number of years ago, I had just come home from a long run and was trying to catch my breath on the front porch of our apartment building.  Just then, a newer neighbor came walking around the corner of the building.  Up to that point, we had only exchanged polite waves from the anonymity of our cars.  As I sat trying to recover from my run, he asked: “If you were to die this very day, do you know where you would spend eternity?”  All I could think was, “Oh great!  He’s about to launch into his ‘Why I need Jesus’ speech and I can’t catch my breath to stop him and let him know I already believe!” 

I was terribly uncomfortable listening to him and I’m a believer! 

I can’t imagine how awkward that conversation feels for an unbeliever.

“Do you know where you’ll go if you die today?”  Over the past few decades, this unnerving question is one Christians would ask in order to initiate a discussion about salvation.  Fewer and fewer Christians ask this question anymore.  Nowadays, it tends more to shut down discussion than open it up.

However, even if the approach wasn’t the best, it’s still a great question: what is your eternal destiny? 

I would love to skip this topic and just emphasize the positive dimensions of Christian faith, the “God loves you” and “how wonderful are his promises” part.  But if Christianity is true, then our eternal destiny depends on—actually consists in--having a real, all-consuming relationship with Jesus.

I’m not saying this to wag my finger in judgement—I and (much more importantly) God desire that all people be saved. 

But if the essence of salvation is a matter of having a freely chosen relationship with Him, our eternal destiny is on the line. 

No one gets out of life alive.  You and everyone you know will one day take your final breath.  Then what?

Nothing greater could be at stake.  It’s the ultimate risk; it also promises the ultimate reward.

And ultimately, that’s the most important reason you should bother finding out if it is true.

I’d love to hear what you think.  Please go to the “Contact E.J.” page of this website or the Raising Jesus Facebook page and leave your comments and/or questions there.  One quick note: we had a little technical glitch with the “Contact E.J.” page the past few weeks, so if you left a comment there I may not have seen it.  Please resubmit it and I should get it now.