[How] Do You See God?
 |
| John 14: 6 |
The psychiatrist M. Scott Peck, in his book The Road Less Traveled, defined 'religion' as the individual's view of themselves within the world and the manner they describe their life experience, stating that every person has their own 'religion' even if denying the existence of God.
I have my own ideas, largely derived from what has been proven to be from the legitimate Source, found messaged in ancient texts.
These are 'legitimate' because what has been previously promised / warned was found to be prescient (predicted events actually happened).
This is why the message has not been discarded or disregarded as 'myth', although plenty of people do label it as such.
I think certain things are left unknown for the joy factor; the great experience of what it is like sharing glory with the Holy One from Above.
Even the person claiming to be atheist or some other non-believing term also hold to an idea in their mind / heart as to what may await them beyond the great unknown after they taste death's bitter kiss.
Perhaps the God-denier has thoughts about how their body will break down through little critters into ever smaller parts and eventually into the basic material form (since they may not believe their spirit continues and reality is only material).
But the religious mind is quite unique and very much ubiquitous when it comes to such ideas of God and what happens after death.
Some consider atheists and scientific skeptics religious as well (considering Peck's definition of that word), because they also hold onto a particularly unique view of themselves and the world around them in arguably a religious way.
They too have their dogmatic methodology and stringent qualifiers for 'truth'.
If we include all of humanity as beholden to some form of religion (a view of themselves and the world), the world's people religiously hold onto their specific (or culturally acceptable) interpretation of God (life / the universe) and secret thoughts about death.
Each person has their idea of how the world should be.
Some people follow what is prescribed to them by others who preceded them.
Some others develop their own ideas from the past and from personal experience.
Some others still creatively imagine new futures, or new realities.
Whether man's creativity can break the laws of nature and the spirit is yet to be seen.
Why don't people simply look around at what has been established on earth and accept how the world has become?
We see some religious minds holding onto their specific interpretation of God and how the world 'should' be, instead of accepting what God has established and what God has allowed to be.
These hold onto past ideas and are forcing the past into the present and future, and old wine skins continue to burst when new wine is put into them.
For some other of the religious world, while they deny God, their argument is to ask "why would a loving God allow bad things, bad people and bad things to happen or exist in the first place?"
A question for and from the ages of time within times.
There are some simple satisfying answers to this and other tough questions, but not all religious people are satisfied...nor will be.
We have such examples in existence in order to know, understand and appreciate what is good, in the light and virtuous.
For some of the religious, instead of seeing 'good vs evil' in every single thing (which is a road to pathological illness), how about seeing 'maturity, immaturity, depravity' or something else that allows for more than a two-dimensional paradigm of understanding.
Yes, there is darkness and light...but what about the time in between?
What about the shades of grey or the spectrum of light that meanders between absolute darkness and absolute light?
Let us try looking past the 'one or the other' view for a moment, shall we?
The Psalmist opens with the expression:
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
- Psalm 1: 1-3Do you suppose this passage is talking about not ever 'walking with' those considered 'sinners' or 'bad people'?
If so, then it makes sense why the Pharisees would accuse Christ of keeping 'sinners' as companions, or eating with sinners.
What Christ did would seem to be go against this Psalm's message and the religious code.
But Christ was not in the wrong when befriending the sinner or social outcast.
What is this passage really talking about?
The message seems to be beyond the literal, although much of God's Word is literal.
In today's cultural climate, when someone mentions "God", people's minds typically interpret 'religion' in a detestable manner (a secular argument).
However, if the individual is honest with their heart, they would confess they desire love, to love and to be loved.
Sometimes, then, it is wiser to speak in terms of love rather than using certain terms that certain averse minds may find 'offensive'.
Since God is Love, then speaking of love in proper terms would reveal 'who' and 'how' God is to the averse minds and confused hearts.
People universally desire community and peace, but where organized religion fails many times is in the department of the personal touch; the individual approach of Christ!
I remember in my early 20's my discipleship mentor telling me "Ed, if you really want to help people, you're going to have to get dirty".
He meant I would have to practically hold people's hands, become their friends on a real basis, not like a business recruit who, if the initiate would fall away (or qui), I would simply move onto the next recruit.
'Getting dirty' is long-suffering patience.
Being open, ready and available for whomever may ask you on a moment's notice to walk a mile with them is part of the deal.
Many religious people hold to their appointment books quite religiously, and they fail the basics in seeing God as Christ reflected God.
Love needs to be expressed as it was taught by Christ: action.
As God is Love, and 'love for God' is obeying Christ, realize that Christ is the Word of God.
The Word of God is expressed as loving actions...and this is key.
The Word of God expressed as it is, on its own, is powerful...for it is a sword that pierces the hearts of all mankind.
But when the Word of God is used as an offensive sword instead of a sword to cut away what is false, it cuts people to shreds...and we ask "where is the love?" in using the sword in that manner?
The Word of God needs no interpretation for those who are destined to hear and believe it.
Notice when Christ chastised His enemies (those who would verbally attack), He always left room for repentance and was gracious to them in His delivery.
Notice the warnings of judgment, and not outright judgment, expressed by Christ towards the opposition.
Christ speaks to people's hearts, and so shall those who claim to be like Christ (Christians).
Those who claim to follow Christ must walk as Christ walked (everywhere, even to places one may feel insecure or possibly unwelcome).
Christ invites every type of person into conversation (mostly sinners) and reaches people where they currently are, not forcing them to go where you 'think' they should go (to a church group of clones).
Christ calls the believer to walk up to two miles when asked to go one mile.
A doubling of the effort when one portion is asked / expected.
How will the non-believer be able to relate to the righteous walk with God when the claimants of Christ refuse to befriend them, or participate in certain secular affairs?
I do NOT mean participating in depravity, but perhaps being able to enjoy some aspects of secular music (for example) while addressing certain aspects that may not be kosher.
Does a a night out on the town, exploring new places, a possibility for the believer?
Or is the believer to act like a monk and hide themselves away from anything not 'church' atmospheric?
We have examples of religious people who shut themselves away from the world, their clothes, manners and attitudes portraying something seemingly 'pure', but being very disconnected from the people they are to be helping.
A believer in God Almighty as revealed in Christ is able to traverse the world while not being consumed by the world.
I'm sure my words will be interpreted according to someone's landscape, but to those who understand what is mentioned herein, you already know that the world is full of God's grace and His kingdom is everywhere, not only among those who verbally claim kingdom citizenship yet are so doubtful and suspicious about the world around them.
You who know and understand may live like a royal priesthood, knowing the Lord goes before you and His angels accompany you and protect your sojourn through all places.
So...[how] do you 'see' God?
Those chosen for faith, who understand and will live out their lives in due time in their own God-appointed manner, know the answer.
Comments