What do you do when you find that your beliefs and your life put you outside of God's grace and love? This is what religion does for many people. I found myself in just such a place where I spent 36 years trying to be what my religion said I was supposed to be. My religion said people like me was choosing this conflict when in fact, I was fighting it with everything in me. Was this just simply my "cross" or my " thorn in the flesh". These were several ways I tried to justify my battle. However when the depression and anxiety began to take a toll on me, I finally came to a place where I had to finally face the truth, and accept who I was and take a real look at what I thought was truth.
This is where the miracle happened. God did not reject me or cast me out. In fact I felt more of God's presence and acceptance than I ever had. I discovered that God values authenticity and in fact this is what true spirituality is. I also discovered that True Faith is not shakened by real life and is not so "black and white" because Life isn't so "cut and dry".
God did not fail me, but my belief system had. This began a complete reevaluation of my faith and beliefs. I mean if I could have been so wrong about God in this one major issue what else could I be wrong about. This turned out to be one of the greatest blessings of my life.
I found that a lot of my beliefs were not founded on Truth like I thought. I found that a lot of what I believed was religion's way of trying to control and conform people into a neat little cookie cutter version that did not challenge religion's own definition of how life was supposed to look. The only problem was it did not work and if it did not change it was set on destroying the very life and person I was.
Many people find themselves in this predicament. These same people must either reject this anti-life religion or they must rediscover the Truth of who God is.
My life and ministry is dedicated to sharing the good news of who God is and that no one is outside of God's love. A healthy faith does not put you at odds with God but instead is able to face the real life challenges that Life brings and should be founded on love, acceptance and well being.
If your beliefs do not do this someone has sold you a cheap knock-off of real Faith. I know because after 36 years of trying to fit into mine, I discovered it was just such a counterfeit.
I have discovered not to fear the questions in my life.I heard Brian McLaren state, "that faith based on questions produces a quest or journey". When I began asking the tough questions in my life my true quest and journey of Faith began. It is truly an adventure. My faith and beliefs are no longer someone else's prepackaged sterile version of dogmas and creeds but is an evolving, transcending. and living revelation revealed by God on a moment by moment basis,while living Life to the fullest.
Where do you find truth? Is it found in dusty creeds or dogmas? Is it found in someone's commentary and interpretation of ancient text? The answer to this question is simple it is only found in the person of Jesus Christ, He is the Truth, the Life and the Way.John 14:6
If your truth does not have the character, love and grace found in Him, you have a counterfeit. To find Truth outside of Christ has its consequences and no I am not talking about Hell or judgment. Although it can make one's life hell, I know of what I speak because I have lived the hell of self rejection and hatred that religion can cause. The price for blindly accepting this kind of "truth" is way too high and costly.
The church needs to question and evaluate it's departure from the true message of the gospel of Christ. This is why I am thankful to have found progressive Christianity. My faith no longer needs to have all my questions answered. It is content to rest in the amazing Love of God. Faith is about living now! Living faith brings the hope and unseen into the now. If we live life with this kind of faith we will face the challenges of life with God's grace and Love.
No comments:
Post a Comment