What Do I Believe?

What Do I Believe?

I recently have had conversations with people who in a self-deterministic, take charge manner have declared what they believe about God, the state of the world and how they will live out their lives.  Each person is sincere and, for whatever reason, is fed up with ‘organized religion’.  Good questions are brought up: “How can there be only one way of salvation for everyone unless everyone has a chance to hear the same information?” “What about Hell?  How can a good God allow people to go or send people to a place of torment?”  GREAT QUESTIONS!  

Usually what comes along with questions is an attitude of defiance and even arrogance.  Unfortunately, I rarely meet a true questioner.  People have already made up their minds and there’s nothing you can do to change it?  

First observation:  We are always in danger of going down a wrong path when our philosophy begins with ME.  If I am the starting point, it’s guaranteed to be self-serving, ignorant and useful only until I run into some difficulty and change my philosophy to adjust.  The frightening part is that many people are okay with that.  

Second observation: An attitude is not helpful.  Usually this person has had some negative experience and it’s as if they are challenging God or the gods to stand up to their scrutiny.  (Read Job and see how that worked out for him.)  I suspect behind the attitude is fear.  Which leads me to the third.

Third observation:  A change in philosophy is often a result of a change in morality.  If I used to believe sex before marriage was wrong but have now had sex outside of marriage then either I admit I’m wrong or change the parameters.  Mainline denominations are in decline because of this.  The belief that there is a BIG “T” truth has gone by the wayside.  “Surely Jesus can’t be the only way.”  “The Bible may have some of God’s Word in it, but is it all true?”  “Homosexuality used to be wrong but now God’s doing a new thing, therefore anything the Bible has to say about is irrelevant.”  Thus, traditional Christianity is thrown out in light of “MY” new revelations.

It seems to me what we need is “OBJECTIVE” truth.  Is there such a thing?  Sure there is!  We live with it every day.  Gravity is a constant.  I don’t have to worry that it might change.  The mixture of Hydrogen and Oxygen will be perfect to breathe…every day.  The sun will remain at exactly the right distance for life to continue on earth.  The tilt of the Earth’s axis will always remain the same thus keeping the Poles at a safe distance from us.  

Relativism is seeping into our culture but it hasn’t affected these things.  It can’t!  They are outside of our control.  Even if there is climate change, it won’t ruin the day for most of us.  So, why do we stop believing in constants when it comes to God, faith, religion, or any spiritual matter?  Doesn’t it make sense that if there is a God that he would communicate who he is to his creation?  Has he done that?  Some believe he has.  

Therefore, what we believe about God doesn’t change him.  We do not have the option of saying, “The kind of god I believe in is….”  That’s silly.  So, if there is a creator, who is he?  What does he want from us?  What is he like?  Should I judge him according to what I see in the world?  Or according to my own experiences?  

I mentioned a man named Job (pronounced with a long o) earlier.  This is an Old Testament book that describes God’s interaction with Job, his friends and even the Devil.  If it’s a true story then it can leave us rather frustrated.  You see, God does some unexplainable and rather disturbing things…and he doesn’t tell Job why.  In the story God doesn’t get defensive, but rather he gets declarative.  He declares that as God his ways are always just and always righteous.  And Job could have argued.  We can argue.  But will it do any good?  

I will confess that many things God seems to do bother me.  All we have to do is turn on the news.  But he did one thing in my favor…yours too…that is supposed to set the record straight.  He came as Jesus Christ, declared his love for his creation, willingly sacrificed himself so that I might be able to live with him forever.  I DIDN’T MAKE THIS UP!  It’s history.  It’s documented.  There were eye witnesses.  It’s as close to ‘objective’ history as we can get.  Some have even said that there is more proof for the existence of Jesus, his crucifixion and resurrection than for your existence on this planet today.  

It’s a message outside of myself, my mind, my experience and if it’s the Truth then I need to face up to the facts.  I can’t relativize it away no matter how hard I try.  If it’s the Truth, you and I are loved far more than we have ever imagined.  If it’s the Truth, to discard it may have dire  consequences.   

I suppose the question in the end is, “who makes the rules?”  Does it make sense if you and I disagree with how things are going on planet earth that we can rewrite the rules?  Or if there is a creator who has communicated his law, his love and his expectations, what would happen if I chose to live according to those rules?  The beauty is…we get to choose.  Our way or God’s.  Oh, by the way…I have discovered that neutrality is not an option.

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15