I was in the US recently and one of the main topics of dinner time conversation was the headline across their national newspapers that week that 40% of Americans firmly believed that Jesus Christ will return again, in person. There was also a large percentage who claimed to be unsure but didn't rule it out.

This wasn't a story sensationalised by predicting any particular date for his return. Instead it was a report of a recent survey and it showed this belief spanned all age groups and ethnic backgrounds. Interestingly, on the way home reading an English newspaper and found a report on the same story.

Back to dinner meal conversation. There were 10 of us around a table with 4 guests from the UK. Whilst this headline topic was brought up by one of our American hosts, almost everyone around the table commented. None of the Americans present dissented from the view that Jesus was going to return in person. The conversation then moved to contrast American and Engish views when one of the hosts said “We talk a lot in this country about God and Jesus Christ. I get a sense you guys seem almost afraid to mention it in England”

(How I regretted having to travel out on Sat 19th June and missing Jamie Cater's awayday sessions which might have helped me answer the question better!)

Anyway, I offered the view that those who are Christians in the UK tend not to shout about their faith, but hold convictions deeply and live it out day to day in how they act. That got an acknowledgment from one host that in the US Christianity was a more superficial routine. I asked how many of the 6 hosts regularly attended church. Answer: One. Eventually the topic changed to BP and drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

Two things really struck me from that evening:

Firstly how open the other nine present were to discuss Christ's second coming. For our US hosts it seemed an entirely natural every-day conversation topic. Talking to the other Brit's as we walked back to the hotel they commented how they found it an interesting subject they were comfortable to talk about in the US, but couldn't imagine doing so at home.

The second thing. How ready am I or you if Jesus Christ really were to return tomorrow?? Put it another way, if you new the King was arriving in one hours time – how would you spend the next 60 minutes?

Kevin Borrett

Elder

July 2010