Seeking Truth is the title of my soon to be published exploration of the tension between religion and faith. Between ritual and relationship. Ceremony and servitude. We have one life to live which constitutes a short window of opportunity to discern truth and apply it in a meaningful and lasting way.
In his poem “Ode: Intimations of Immortality”, William Wordsworth describes how the innocence of youth is lost as we grow up and our connection with our Creator is forgotten. In our youth we long to be adults and act out our aspirations. Wordsworth asks, “Why with such earnest pains dost thou provoke / The years to bring the inevitable yoke, / Thus blindly with thy blessedness at strife?” As adults, we desire to gain material wealth and become more distanced from nature and the memories of our childhood. And even though we can still appreciate the beauty of a rainbow, a rose, or the moon, something is missing. “Whither is fled the visionary gleam? / Where is it now, the glory and the dream?” The callouses that build up with time and experience, desensitize our emotions and deep connections with both the simplicity and complexity of the natural world. We lament the loss of the spontaneous joy of marveling at the wonders of nature as children and the imagination that went with it. As we age, and cling to our childhood memories, the insight we have gained through observing nature fuels our belief that our soul is immortal. We must cherish our memories since they are what binds us to the magic of infancy and the allure of heaven.
To many of us, our childhood memories remind us of a simpler more luxurious time, when the restrictions of career, finances and family responsibilities were not yet on our radar. Summer seemed to drag on as one day of wonder morphed into another and our thirty-year-old parents were “old”. Our self-esteem was not yet crippled by the disappointment and setbacks of life and our dreams of one day being our envisioned hero were vibrant and full of promise.
I remember as a young teenager, wondering what my future wife would be like. My romanticism would carry me away across time where I was free to imagine the beauty and chastity of a maiden so fair and pure that even the birds would land to marvel at her purity. Those days are a lifetime ago and reality never quite measured up to the lofty thoughts of my youth. Divorce has a strange way of jading your outlook. The brokenness of my life is only outflanked by the saving grace I have in Christ.
Life leaves scars and time strips away our innocence and wonder. When you think about the savage and harsh realities of two world wars, the great depression of the 1930’s, famine in Africa, the vacant stares of ISIS victims just before they die, visions of destitute children, or just about any news story today, they shatter even the enchanted dreams of childhood. Where has hope fled to? The cruelty of existence can seem insurmountable at times and I myself have struggled with serious depression in my life. The failure of humanity to live in harmony combined with the indiscrimination of natural disasters can become overwhelming to the point of suicide and I have stood upon that ledge, looking down. In our lost and fallen state, we have proven our incapability to achieve true happiness and holiness through our actions and our desperate need of redemption.
Co-founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, in many ways lived the American dream. However, on his death bed he had time to reflect as he lay dying of pancreatic cancer. He wrote, “At this moment, lying on the bed, sick and remembering all my life, I realize that all my recognition and wealth that I have is meaningless in the face of imminent death.” At the age of 56, Steve Jobs was worth $7 billion when he passed away. He went on to pen, “Your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. Whether you’re flying first class, or economy class – if the plane crashes, you crash with it.”
If all we have in this life are the things of this world, we will never achieve true and total happiness. What drives people to achieve great things, often becomes a disappointment after they have achieved them, or their achievements may be at the expense of their loved ones. Not that they become less than they anticipated, but that the fulfillment from material things is only temporal and sooner or later we all reach the point where we stare at death’s door. The human condition has been inherently flawed ever since that fateful day in the garden, when Adam and Eve made the choice to rely upon their own wisdom rather than trusting God.
The brevity, fragility and frailty of life are all too often not realized until we are aging, and then we wonder where all the time went. We take for granted our health, wealth, physical and mental abilities, not willing to acknowledge that we are all only temporarily able and one accident away from spending the rest of our lives in a wheelchair or a hospital bed. We abuse our bodies with alcohol, drugs and other stimulants, live with recklessness and have little respect for the bodies of others. Our denial of our mortality leaves us with wasted lives and unprepared for our eternal destiny.
Ever since the garden of Eden, mankind has struggled to relate to God. He has revealed himself in miraculous ways only to be ignored each time something inviting and beautiful draws the attention of man down an easier path. God sent prophets and wise men to speak to his people on his behalf, only to have them rejected and killed. Finally, he sent his own Son and they killed him as well. Just like the parable of the vineyard in the 12th chapter of Mark’s gospel, God then offered the vineyard to the Gentiles through Christ.
The Christian Church began making unforced errors immediately after it took its eyes off Jesus and set them on the things of this world. Just as Adam and Eve forged ahead without consulting their Creator, the institution of the church through the ages has relied upon the understanding of men without surrendering the lead to God and subsequently the church itself became compromised. Church history is filled with violence and hypocrisy in a narrative of power struggles and lies in the pursuit of wealth and influence. Learning little from the misdeeds that precipitated the reformation, many of today’s churches bear little resemblance to the body of Christ in the first century and the gospel is often something talked about but not studied or preached or even revered.
The tragedy of how the institution of the Christian church morphed into an entity of power and abuse hangs over the heads of Christians today as we struggle to make sense of a multitude of denominations and messages and of what we must do to merit God’s favor. Religion has become a confusing, soupy mess of contradicting philosophies, traditional rituals, ceremony and unbiblical practices that have little to do with the New Covenant we have through Jesus. Many Pastors, Ministers and Priests don’t know scripture or don’t believe parts of the Bible. The resulting apostacy has led to bewildered splinter groups that wrestle with good deeds as an expression of faith, compassion for each other or through observing certain aspects of God’s law in order to portray themselves as justified before God or to gain some sort of merit. Millions of people are at the risk of losing their very souls to the lie that has deceived so many in the last 2000 years.
Mark Twain did not hide his frustration over religious hypocrisy and his cutting remarks often surfaced in his books and his autobiography. “There is one notable thing about our Christianity: bad, bloody, merciless, money grabbing and predatory….. ours is a terrible religion.” Despite his Presbyterian upbringing and belief in God, he was very skeptical of the Bible’s truth claims and denied Christ’s divinity. The religious establishment had left him with a terrible taste in his mouth and he rejected any notion that religion would make you a better Christian. Twain wrote, “If Christ were here, there is one thing he would not be…. a Christian.” [i]
The simplicity of the gospel has turned into an overwhelming maze of complex, dogmatic obstacles between man and God. Just as the Jewish religious system of Jesus’ day emphasized ritual and tradition, a great many Christians today honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from him. While popes dabble in world politics – cardinals, bishops and priests chase little boys and nuns down the halls of “sanctuaries” in a paradox of piety at the expense of the meek. Christianity and Islam are at odds, both claiming they represent the only truth and persecution of Christians by Muslims has become commonplace with complete villages being wiped out in parts of Africa. Islamic terrorism threatens to change the world through violence in the name of Allah and it is the children once again who sweep the mine fields, wear the suicide vests and fill the role of brides and sex slaves to those holding the guns.
Society shakes their fists in God’s face and claims a loving God would not allow these atrocities therefore there must be no God. Or they conjure up their own interpretation that portrays him to be much less than what he is. The Bible is often reinterpreted to be nothing more than allegorical illustrations to guide society down a path that avoids conflict, accepts people without judgement and condones sin. Ultimately humanity puts its faith in itself and history repeats the mistakes of the past and we find ourselves alone in our room, bewildered and searching for truth.
Civilization is attached to a ball and chain of its own making in the form of secular thought and man-made religions. By denying the supernatural, humanity has severely limited its perception of reality to the 3-d physical that we can see, hear and touch. In an effort to fit God inside this box, people have endeavored to create their own interpretation of God and in doing so they have given birth to countless “gods” and many, many religions, becoming captive to their own inventions. While society tolerates “spirituality” and discussions about a higher power, when Jesus is mentioned in the conversation, there is immediate judgement and intolerance. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31, 32. Again in John 14:6 he says, ”I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”
Any concept of God’s purity has been lost in a multitude of ideologies that mankind has formulated from philosophical assertions that lack a Godly perspective. We cannot even begin to describe the holiness of God. The Bible says that even our best deeds are like filthy rags when compared to God’s holiness (Isaiah 64:6). Paul wrote, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” Romans3:23. There can be no sin in God’s presence. His brilliance and purity are beyond our capacity to withstand in person. His power and might are beyond our ability to comprehend. Humans cannot look upon God or they will die. When God met Moses on Mt. Sinai he warned the people not to even set foot on the base of the mountain or he may break out against them. He would not even permit Moses to see his face as he passed by. There was thunder and lightning and a thick cloud covered the mountain and everyone in the camp trembled. Throughout the Bible, encounters with angels are similar with people falling on their faces in reverence to the majesty of the supernatural. Who are we to spit in the face of God as so many do today?
Believers are called to emulate Christ – not to try to make Jesus more like us. The perverse practice of ordaining gay and transgender clergy, performing “Affirmation of Baptismal Faith” ceremonies that recognize the new names of church members who choose to identify as the opposite sex is an assault on the Bible and on the gospel. It amounts to bending God’s knee into acknowledging and approving of sexual immorality and accepting sin as churches accept anything and everything in an effort to be seen as tolerant, inclusive and progressive
The apostle Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that wrong doers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. In an effort to be accepted by the world, these churches have emulated the world and in doing so have distanced themselves from God. Satan has done his job well and the deception seems complete.
Today the prosperity gospel focuses on material wealth and superficial comforts rather than storing up treasures in heaven as Jesus instructed. Taking up your cross and following Jesus in discipleship is fast becoming a foreign concept in most churches. This liturgy of self only serves to pacify our egotistic perceptions and lacks the one true gift that satisfies our deepest longings. It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that blesses true believers who humbly submit themselves to God and his purpose in their lives.
The good news is that our Creator not only understands our predicament, he has experienced it himself. The highest King stepped down from his throne and became one of us in order to reconcile us to himself. Jesus was a gentle and humble man who lived a life without luxury and faced many of the difficulties and challenges any person faces in their lives. Furthermore, he took it upon himself to suffer the most severe punishment and endured the most painful death imaginable for our redemption. He is not a God that does not understand our perspective nor is he unsympathetic to our plight. He provides salvation and the promise of eternal life in his kingdom where “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4.
Faith in Christ provides immediate assurance of salvation. The Bible says we are saved by believing that Jesus is the son of God and that he died on the cross to pay for our sins. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9. This belief cannot be superficial or insincere however and must be accompanied by repentance, bringing about a change of heart which is being born again.
Furthermore, when we accept Jesus as our personal savior, the Holy Spirit enters our heart and takes up residence within us and when we focus on him, amazing things can happen that will forever change us for the better! When Jesus sets you free from sin, you are free indeed. We are called to walk in the Spirit and when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. This is where the Christian life becomes more than just a label. This is when the believer truly becomes an instrument of God. A vessel through which God can pour out his Spirit for good works through them.
God promises many blessings to those who are faithful. We are called to walk in obedience to his word and when we do, our desires fall into line with God’s will before our very eyes. There are a lot of distractions in life that tend to compete for our focus, and they can make it difficult to hear God’s voice amidst the noise, therefore it is extremely important to focus on him, spending time in his word and in prayer. By listening to the Spirit within you, and allowing him to lead you, God’s blessings will flow through answered prayers, renewed strength, happiness and peace beyond comprehension.
I’m sure you’ve heard that common sense isn’t as common as it used to be. Why don’t we allow God to lead us? Why don’t we focus on hearing his voice? He is the Alpha and the Omega. He knows the end at the same time as the beginning, so it is just common sense that if he already knows the outcome of our actions, we will greatly benefit from seeking his instruction and leadership. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:22-25. It is said that smart people learn from their mistakes, but wise people learn from the mistakes of others. Therefore, it is much more than sensical, it is wisdom to be obedient to the word of God in everything we do. This is more than common sense. This requires uncommon sense! It leads to a deep-rooted relationship with God, an intimate relationship that will stand the test of time and stand the assaults of the worldly and of evil itself! “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” James 3:13
It isn’t practical to focus on the temporal things in life or cling to things that are fading away. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mathew 6:19-21. Yet how many of us decline God’s mentorship?
When I was young, born again Christians who lived following the Holy Spirit often were referred to as Jesus freaks or Bible thumpers and were considered outliers despite the majority of the population being deemed “Christian”. In today’s western culture, being on fire for Christ can get you labeled as a right wing, conservative, racist, homophobic, Islamophobic, closed minded hypocrite. While Christians are being persecuted worldwide, suffering torture, death and imprisonment, here in the west, we have the legal right to worship Christ and yet there is an incredible falling away from the faith. Problems with certain Christian denominations of the institutional religious establishment combined with a secular education system and peer pressure, make Christianity a hard sell in our society.
When I reflect on my own broken life, I am thankful for God’s mercy and grace that allows me to appreciate the blessings I have, despite my shortcomings. In my surrender and repentance, I have the assurance that God has bestowed upon me a full pardon for my past, present and future sin through Christ Jesus and that my faith is credited to me as righteousness. A full knowledge that I am a child of God, not that I may boast but that I may fully appreciate the abundance in this life – the freedom of good health, a roof over my head and food on my table, freedom from guilt as well as an eternity in heaven as a co-heir with Christ.
Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Mathew 7:13-14. I implore you to not let salvation escape you. Hold on tight to Jesus amidst all the evil in the world and never let go! Would you rather stand with Jesus and be judged by the world or stand with the world and be judged by Christ? Forever is a long, long time to be wrong.
Jesus stands alone in offering salvation to the world. Only he can save. No other figure in history makes this claim. Buddha never claimed to save souls. Muhammed never offered forgiveness of sins. Confucius never reconciled man to God through the gift of salvation. Hinduism offers no clear path to eternal life. Only the Messiah that baffled the Jews with his simple logic, his gentle demeanor and his humility does. He was not what they were expecting. However, his nature was the nature of God. The epitome of proper living. An example that every person throughout history could understand. As our redeemer he personified how God desires us to live by faith.
In the words of the late Billy Graham, “I have never known a man who had received Christ and ever regretted it.” Ask Jesus into your heart as your personal savior today. Christ said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20.
One day we will draw our last breath on this earth and as believers we will step through the gates of heaven and into the presence of the Lord and so we will be with the Lord forever. Rather than approaching death with fear and anxiety, we can look at death as simply a change in venue. A transformation from a flawed and tormented world to a perfect and peaceful paradise where there will be no more death, pain, sorrow or mourning. Paul said that three things remain: Faith, hope and love but the greatest of these is love. In heaven we will no longer be in need of faith and hope because we will be in God’s presence. But there will be love. Immeasurable love. Love beyond our wildest dreams.
Eternal life begins the moment we believe. With this in mind, we have a new perspective on life. We can face each day with the knowledge that no matter what happens, we are a child of God. Draw near to him. Seek him. Pursue him. The highest level of obedience to God is to love our enemies and it is the highest level of our spiritual journey. Refuse to be an enemy! Refuse to hate! When asked what the greatest commandment was, “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” Mathew 22:34-40.
We can live without fear in a world where hope can seem lost and the religious establishment doesn’t offer answers to most of the questions that perplex humanity. When you sincerely seek the truth, you will find that Christ is who he claimed to be, and no one comes to the Father except through him. God calls us to obedience through love so that we may be compelled to live according to his standard in love, and ultimately fulfill the requirements of his law even though we are not governed by this law because we are under the covenant of grace and so through Jesus Christ all things are accomplished. Religion wants your servitude and participation in ritual, tradition and ceremony, but the Bible says, the righteous will live by faith. Through faith we can walk a different walk and talk a different talk and take comfort knowing there but for the grace of God go I.
