If you found yourself in a conversation in which you are asked do you really know God, would you know what to say back? I find myself pondering on this often. Why do I read this book and what is it about this conception that lead me to chose it? I can’t say I know a lot about many other religions, just what I have been lead to learn by the guidance of the Spirit, but I do believe I have a real, deep and conscious relationship with God that is beyond the label of any “religious affiliation.” He is many things to me, a Father, a Leader, Counselor, Friend, Mentor, Creator, Provider, Healer, and the list can go on. If I had to pick a few to describe Him to an inquirer that conversation may look something like this.
First of all in my case, I believe God sought me, and when I decided to answer, I wasn’t looking for any particular religion to follow, but purely for help from God if He exists. When I had my spiritual awakening I was not in a church, mosque, temple, confessional, nor was I looking in a particular book or for any preset idea of who God is. I simply asked God, “if you are real, show yourself to me and I will believe.” I recommend this to any one who is curious, and yes as much as anyone may deny it we are all wondering how we came to be. Remove yourself from religious or worldly eyes and open your mind to anything, which can be difficult when we have been programmed for years by different denominations, drilling into our heads what their conception of what God looks like. Just have a conversation that is honest, talk to Him about your fears, issues and anything under the sun. Jesus says to come as you are, weary, broken, battered and confused, He will give us rest. He will guide us into righteousness and reveal to us all the mysteries of God. I didn’t go to God looking for Jesus, but that is who God revealed to me He is, the symbol of generous, undeserved and unfailing love.
God is not a book or a religious idea, He is a living being, somewhat like us. Just as most of us don’t like to be put in a box and defined by strict guidelines He doesn’t either. Yes, He has defining characteristics and qualities, but there is so much about Him we do not and cannot know. The universe is a mystery that we are barely even beginning to trace its footprint, now imagine the mind of its Creator. I know, you can’t because we aren’t capable. Our minds are finite, His is infinite and all powerful.
Yes, God loves you, each one of you. No matter how corny and flowery this may sound, He does. Why else would He create us with willpower? He wishes for us to love Him too, and the only way that can genuinely happen is if we have the ability to decide that for ourselves, and we show that love by seeking Him constantly. This shows our interest so much more than singing a song or physical worship, He wants our mind on Him always and to burn for Him like an inextinguishable fire.
We are human, humans mess up. God knows this as He created us. That is why we are provided grace, His unique redemptive quality. If there is one thing I have learned in my 25 years of life is that humans are fallible, no matter how strong we may be we absolutely will stumble. Every person in history has and not one of us are the exception. God wants us to progress and He wants us to go to Him for help and guidance. A life lived on self will is very rarely successful, it certainly was a waste of time for me.
I have never heard a single person say their life has changed for the worse after meeting God. Most stories you hear are of miraculous transformations, how God came into their life and gave them a complete overhaul for the better. Sometimes you hear of people who continue to struggle, but the defining factor here is a change of outlook. They see beauty where they once saw destruction, joy where they once saw misery and they learn to find the positive in every situation. The peace He provides is real and tangible. Remember those people we lovingly called “Jesus freaks,” the ones who are irritating because they are always happy and wanting to help or say a kind word? Well it never occurred to me until I experienced it myself that this was real and maybe I should give it a shot. Man am I glad I did and can proudly say, yes I am one of them now!
God is not one for religion or ritual, He is one for a relationship. This is the most important aspect I believe of God’s character. Religion is man made, even if it does come out of a good place. Yes the book is said to be inspired by God, but at the end of the day the most direct line we have to Him is one on one with Him, alone. No priest, preacher or pastor, just us alone with our Father. So many people say well God just doesn’t talk to me. Yes, for most of us He does not speak audibly, but just as He said the Scriptures are inspired by Him, and so are our thoughts. The more you pray and ask for direction the clearer your thoughts will be. Listen to what is being said around you too, as He works through our environment and other people. I can’t tell you how many times He has used inanimate objects to tell me something. Sure call me crazy, and maybe I am, but I am happier than I’ve ever been and it is all because of Him.
There are so many things I want to say to those who asks the question who is your God and why did you choose Him, but there are a few major points I make certain to get to. Our God seeks us, yes He can be found by us too, but He is not a distant God. He is not a God, that God, one God, He is God, the great I am. You do not have to earn His approval, He says come as you are, all of you good or bad and I will heal you. Redemption is always available, no matter how far away we stray or how far down the hole we dig. Our worries, fears and anxieties, He truly cares about and He knows what we go through. He demands that we love other people. Their are two commandments, love Him and love everyone else. Above else He doesn’t care for your religion or rituals, He just wants to be with you. How cool is that. God made all of us to be beautifully broken masterpieces of art to find out how much we really need Him. We all need help, each and every one of you. I hope I did not step on any toes, I am not right or wrong I just know what I know and has been revealed to me. (Hints the name Russell’s Revelations… HeHe) I would love to have a conversation about your thoughts and experiences!
Russ
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So I have a few thoughts on this post. First, I agree with you for the most part, and your use of pictures to break up the text makes for a really digestible “column” if you will. But I disagree with a few of your points in the latter part of the text. They are important points.
1. Jesus started a religion – Looking through the Gospels, it is abundantly obvious that Christians are called to worship the one true God. “Religion” is defined as “the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods.” Obviously we Christians believe in one triune God. The issue is really whether or not one can do this privately, reading only Scripture and coming to one’s own conclusions on theological matters, or whether one must submit to an authority outside oneself.
2. Jesus started a Church – In Matthew 16:18, Jesus says to Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” In this verse we see Jesus is bestowing on Peter a position of authority (from which the office of the pope is derived, actually). But even if a “spiritual but not religious” Christians has problems with this belief, there is no escaping the fact that Christ intended his Church to be both visible and authoritative.
In Matthew 18, Jesus says to his disciples:
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector (15-17).”
If Jesus did not intend his Church to be authoritative and visible, then what Church is he talking about in this verse? It’s clear in the text that the Church is communal.
It is also evident from Scripture that Jesus intended this community to gather regularly for worship. St. Paul exhorted the early Christians:
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25).
This verse indicates that, even in the first century, there were Christians who did not think it was necessary to gather for worship. This runs contrary to the idea that one can be a church unto himself as long as he has accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. The Lord intended his Church to be a community.
So you’re right in saying that God isn’t a book, but He did start a religion and a Church that we Christians ought to adhere to. We have Christ’s promise that even the gates of Hell will not stand against the Church.
You’re also right in saying that God wants a relationship with us. But it should be properly ordered. Jesus ain’t ya homeboy but He also isn’t some unknowing/uncaring Divine Being. I think CS Lewis put it best: “He’ll be coming and going,” [Mr. Beaver] had said. “One day you’ll see him and another you won’t. He doesn’t like being tied down and of course he has other countries to attend to. It’s quite all right. He’ll often drop in. Only you mustn’t press him. He’s wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.”
First thank you so much for reading, commenting and the input. I really appreciate you taking the time to critique, and I want to say I agree with everything you said. Yes Jesus did call us to follow His movement or religion and it was recorded in a specific text to be taken as is, I absolutely agree. We are also called to be members of the body and of His church as well as to plant them and spread the gospel. All true believers know the importance and value in belonging to a fellowship of God’s people and a place where we come together and ritually worship Him and are taught on the Word of God. And I absolutely agree God is intended to be revered and not buddied up to and I think this is why we are described as His children, as children are expected to obediently follow the instruction of the parents with full trust. Maybe I should have prefaced this article with some context, the people I was pointing this at were two groups of people. First, to those that go to church socially and believe that is enough to please God. The ones we may call “phony” or “plastic Christians.” These are the ones I am recommending a deeper true relationship beyond a presence in a church and participation of those rituals. And second, to those who will not participate in this relationship because they see this in a church. Personally I was one of those before coming to my senses. I saw the church as one mass family of hypocrites who have learned to say good sounding words that they do not follow and I wanted no part in this. In my eyes this is what it meant to be a Christian, to dress up and walk into a building and act “Holy” for an hour only to leave and completely abandon everything they say they are committed to. This was to encourage those to discover God outside of a church like I had to before I was able to push past this and see that that is not what goes on in a good church. I belong to a church I love, participate in the fellowship, serve in, worship at, take in the Word and go out to carry the message to the lost. I would not have it any other way either. Yes, I will admit I still have many issues with the church and the religion as the whole but I know both of those are absolutely commanded of us to participate in. Hopefully this sums up better what my intention was in this article and I will make changes to improve the clarity. Thank you again for taking the time to honestly review my work and share your thoughts.
I loved your piece. Your voice reminds me of someone I know. I do not have the place to say who, but you just remind me of someone.