Sister Blog

I started another blog, or rather, revamped another blog that I started a couple of years ago with a friend that was intended to be a social, political and cultural commentary of the state of affairs in America.  I created a few posts, but then let it go, and my friend never did post anything.  Sooooo . . . short story long, I just changed it over to a solo blog called Mindful Considerations.  I like the name and it does reflect what I hope the content will be.  We'll see!   You know what they say about the best laid plans. . . .  Here's the link!

http://mindfulconsiderations.wordpress.com/

God is Fundamentally Love

I just finished listening to a live interview with Paul Young, author of The Shack. He is always a blessing to listen to as he answers questions about the book and about his understanding of God. While he insists that he is not a Universalist, his theology is certainly universalistic. He actually steps outside of the labels and focuses his understanding on who God is, and His essential nature. Just recently I had a "discussion" with someone via Facebook and found myself saying somewhat of the same thing. At some point, we have to stop debating scripture and go beyond to discover the true nature of God. I believe that our questions can be summed up and answered far more easily once we embrace that journey. Paul's statement was, "God is fundamentally and essentially love, and everything He does is motivated by love." I am beginning to grasp that truth more fully. As I have wrestled with others over scriptures regarding Universalism, I have struggled to paint a whole picture with incomplete and imperfect thoughts. When I focus on who God is, the picture comes into focus too. So, with Paul, I say that God is fundamentally love and everything He does is motivated by love.

Blind Unbelief

Christians are oft accused of having "blind faith" by critics and supporters alike. Even Christians sometimes suggest that belief in God requires blind faith because there are so many unanswered questions about God. For example, we've all heard the challenge, "If God is good, why is there evil in the world?" Unanswerable questions like these prevent us from packaging God in our own little boxes. Instead, we build a theology that makes sense to us based on what we "know" about God and what we hope is true about God. We struggle to make sense of life as much as we can. After 40 years of seeking, I can say that our questions and seeking are all a part of it. God desires our trust and faith that no matter what happens, He is good and is working all things out according to His purposes. He will not let us box Him in or declare authoritatively that we know the "truth" about Him.

Recently, I read something - can't remember where or by whom - that suggested that unbelievers and atheists reject God out of "blind unbelief." A new concept for me, it made a lot of sense. We all live according to faith if you think about it. Christians have faith that there is a loving and good God who gives purpose and meaning to our lives. Unbelievers have faith that there is no God, neither good nor evil. Believing or non requires faith.

The journey of seeking God is the only way to develop an informed faith, again, either for or against. How can one dismiss God's reality without actively seeking Him? Seems to me that blind unbelief is far riskier and less satisfying than blind faith. We are only blind as long as we cannot see. Jesus said that there are none so blind as those who will not see. For me, God's presence is as obvious to me as the nose on my faith, but after 40 years, what can you expect? How about you? Have you given time to educating your faith or unbelief?

Knowledge Puffs Up

I love to learn. There is so much to discover, so much to ponder. What I enjoy most is learning to know my Heavenly Father. There is no end to the wealth I find in progressively getting to know Him and His ways better and better.

I've come to understand that He always builds us up, and never tears us down. He never embarrasses us or chides us for not knowing or remembering. He is the essence of patience and is a gentle teacher. There is no "pass/fail" with God - He just keeps working with us until we "get it." He never tells us to study harder because "knowing" isn't about struggling to memorize, as in a list of spelling words. His "knowing" is really a "becoming." He changes the way we think, not just what we think. He teaches by changing us so that we no longer think the way we used to. His yoke truly is easy and His burden light. He yokes together with each one of us - where we go, He goes and where He goes, we go. That gives me comfort.

In contrast, I just recently experienced being on the receiving end of what I would call a "knowledge puffs up" moment. You know that moment, don't you? Someone more well-educated or well-informed than you are demonstrates their intellectual superiority over you. It's even more fun when they do it in front of an audience! Just kidding - it's no fun at all! Before you feel sorry for me, let me say that I have done the very same thing to others. It's true that strength isn't in conquering, it's in serving. I understand a little better what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, "I choose to know nothing among you except Christ crucified." Knowledge puffs up, love builds up. In I Corinthians 13, the scripture says that knowledge will someday cease. So will hope and faith. The only thing left will be love. Amen! Let it be!