I have written down a few thoughts about our spiritual journey. To many this may sound like more of my ramblings, but I hope that this may have some meaning for someone who reads it. In advance please excuse and spelling or grammar mistakes because my mind is racing and my fingers are trying to keep up.
The age old existential question of who am I, and where am I going often surfaces when we are facing the milestones of a new year. It's time to take an retrospective review of the past year with all the resolutions and promises that we made to the Lord, ourselves and others. How many of them came to completion and how many went by the wayside? Are we a better person spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, physically, relationally, than you were January 1, 2012? Did I stick to my goals, if not what happened? what will be different this year?
When I realized that I was a child of the Lord, and made in His image, the question of who I am was answered. Yes, I realize I am the son of Ella Mae and Ben Washington and through DNA and nurturing, have many of their qualities both physically and behaviorally. I learned from my earthly parents, my introduction to God, the value of honesty, hard work, trust, personal responsibility, and sense of family.
When I accepted Christ it was out of fear of going to hell. I perceived this experience as a great decision with everlasting consequences. I did not view the scriptures as having any value past saving me from the fires of hell. I was not that interested in studying the bible, and never really learned anything in adult Sunday School Classes. I was a college graduate and accustomed to a certain style of teacher student relationship as it pertained to presentation of subject matter and inquiry. The Sunday school books and many teachers were not, in my opinion, conducive to learning the depth and breath of scriptures.
My thirst for bible knowledge came from my reading of books by Norman Vincent Peale and Robert Schuller. These were very positive books that talked extensively about the concept of 'Faith.' What was this faith thing I wondered. The writers gave scriptures references that addressed the definition and the practical application of faith. I began to read the bible about faith and was taken back by it's practical application potential. The more I read the more I found comfort, compassion and strength in the words and promises. It was this knowledge of faith that gave me the confidence to seek out and apply to a doctorate program and continue my education. I truly believed that I could do anything through Christ who strengthen me. Having faith is to believe that the Lord will do what he promises and is responsible for any and all outcomes. A guy with a low GRE score had the nerve to apply to a PhD.d program. I applied and was admitted to the Humanistic Psychology Institute in 1981. I found the work, especially the writing requirement, very difficult. I had very famous professors who had published many psychology text books and articles. I did not complete my dissertation and never graduated, but the experience was fulfilling, because many of my professors saw me as a very bright student with much potential thus changing my own perception of myself and my abilities. The Lord had opened this door and I entered it with all my perceived academic liabilities. Some 24 years later I enter seminary and successfully earn my Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Counseling! It does not matter how long it takes as long as the goal is achieved!
I realized that I live in two parallel worlds, one that is invisible and one that is visible. Most of my focus has been on the visible world, which is terminal, and neglected the invisible world which is eternal. My only connection with the invisible (spiritual) world is when I allow myself to disengage and downplay the visible (material) world. My daily attention , by education and training, is focused on work, family, church, success, fame, and getting ahead in life. All these are things that makes one successful in the visible world. The majority of our education, training, and socialization is geared to our success in the visible world. It almost seems impossible to be simultaneously successful in both worlds. Did not the scriptures tell us that we are in the world, but not of world? Another scripture tells us that we can't serve two masters at the same times, for we will love one and despise the other. How are we to go about our daily earthly duties and still be connected spiritually? There seems to be 3 types of Christians that I have encountered. The first is the Christian whose religion has no impact on other aspects of their lives because they keep their faith separated from other aspects of their daily lives. The second type of Christian attempts to integrate their faith into their relationships, jobs, social lives, through prayer,and testimony. The third type of Christian has Christ as the core of who they are, the essence of their being. The way they talk, walk, think, love, embodies their faith and love of Christ. These folks are living epistles.
I guess, like Solomon, I now realize that those things can cause stress, anxiety, manipulation, all those qualities opposite of 'spiritual fruits.' Once I allowed myself to distance myself from the material and embrace the spiritual, I began to find favor with God and Man. Having Faith that what the Lords promises will really work and can be practically applied to every challenge of life will set you free. Kierkegaard says that for most of us to trust in the Lord is " a leap of faith." It's a big jump from talking, proclaiming and actually becoming dependent on faith. Faith is difficult because it defies logic and reasoning. Alan Watts once wrote a book called the "Wisdom of Insecurity." Many things said by Christ are paradoxical statements such as "If you cling to your life, you will loose it, but if you give it up for me, you will find it." Alan Watts states, "unless a grain of corn falls into the grown and die, it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit." So a paradox is a "figure of speech which seems contradictory to accepted reason or logic. We Christians like to cling to beliefs and tradition, but faith lets go. Aldous Huxley coined the idea of "Law if Reverse Effort," which says the harder we try with the conscious will to do something, the less we shall succeed." Paul in Romans 7:18-21 says no matter how hard he ties he does what he does not want to, and the good he wants to do he does not. Then we read in scriptures the parable of the Talents. The Lord rewarded those who took risk, in faith, with his resources. The one who was afraid to take a risk, hide the talents so he would not upset the Lord.. The others had invested and realized a profit so the Lord gave them the frighten one talents. The very thing the one who hide his talents feared most. There are some who call this phenomena 'Self Fulfilling Prophecy.'
We who are called Christians evangelize by two methods and they are precepts and example. We impress people more by what we do than what we say. To be a mature Christian Christ has to be the core of who you are. It is all about having a personal relationship with Him. You have a personal obligation to get to know Him, talk to Him, listen to Him, and praise Him. This obligation and responsibility can not be designated or passed off to a Pastor or Preacher.
Someone said many years ago that religion was a opiate of the masses. I was highly offended when I read this as a college student. Now after many years I can understand what he may have been alluding to. An opiate gives you a false feeling of utopia, a unreal perception of reality, a continent to remain in one's current state. This is the state that many Christians are in when don't take advantage of all the possibilities that the scriptures offer. These are the one's that are satisfied with the emotional high of Sunday services, but continue live in the rut of lack of education, non married pregnancies, unemployment, drug abuse, domestic violence, anger management issues, etc.
Faith in the scriptures offer one liberty and the ability to change their lives. I don't understand how someone can trust the Lord with their salvation, but not their finances, relationships, and other aspects of daily challenges! If I never graduated, unemployed, in bad relationship, looking for a spouse, I would surly give this to the Lord and have faith that he will intervene. However, one must be reminded that patience and faith goes hand and hand. The Lord operates in the spiritual (invisible) world were today,yesterday, and tomorrow don't exist.
The scriptures says that ' A good man provides for his children's children.' The Jewish tradition was to sit and teach oral tradition of the culture, and men taught their sons skilled trades. All six of my children are saved and very successful in their careers. This is the result of a praying mother who was the spiritual leader until the father (me) came around. Then the father became emerged into the breath and dept of scriptures resulting in a strong spiritual team providing the children wise counsel.
It is time to be all you can be through the Holy Spirit who counsels, guides, directs, and acts as a intercessor to the Father. The only time that we have contact with the spiritual world is through the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. Just like a automobile travels faster and further on a full tank, so the Christian when s/he is full of the Spirit! This year lets work on subduing our ego, and pride, so the Holy Spirit can really use us. Lets try to be spirit filled at least 50% more per day. In order to achieve this we must be attentive, reading, meditating, and praying constantly. If we have applying faith we will please the Lord. Let us do everything in love with love!
God Bless and Amen
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