Tag: Religion

This We Truly Believe

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What we truly believe matters. A true belief is an ideas transformed into action. Our actions shape our lives; collectively our lives shape the world in which we live.

The true beliefs of a society determine not only the quality of life of its members, but also that society’s impact on other societies and – given modern humanity’s unprecedented dominion over the earth – the extinction or survival of entire species and/or ecosystems. True belief has its consequences.

What do you truly believe?

In the past the belief structure of many, perhaps even most, persons was shaped largely by that of their local community. Today this is no longer true. We live in an era of heightened communication and access to information. The internet, radio and television allow us to share as never before in an open ended, free-flowing exchange of ideas and beliefs. Old belief systems are constantly exposed to challenge and alternative belief systems. As a result, most persons find themselves assembling a personal belief structure from a variety of  sources – the internet, television programming, school, work, friends, talk radio, etc.

Unfortunately not all ideas and belief structures are created equal. Without some proven frame of reference the individual has no way of evaluating the information he or she receive. That’s where familiarity with a well established, carefully thought-out worldview such as that of orthodox Christianity can help. You may not agree with all the particulars, but at least you don’t have to reinvent the wheel from scratch.

When thinking about faith many persons are immediately drawn to questions concerning whether a said belief is reasonable, defensible, or factually true. For me, the far more important and interesting question is the function of that belief within the life of an individual or society.

The New Testament describes a vision of a world in which the majority of persons truly believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, Moses and Jesus Christ. It is a world at peace, a world where justice abounds, a world filled with righteous persons, a world where resources are shared, rather than fought over or hoarded. It is a world in which persons forgive the sins, the slights, the injuries they have received from others in the same manner in which they hope to be forgiven by God and by others. It is a world of life, love, and hope.  … And all of this flows from a true, lived belief in a loving Creator who gave his only Son to us to save us from ourselves.

“But,” says the agnostic, “what evidence is there to back up your belief.” None, other than that which can only be perceived by faith. To play on a saying about peace: “There is no way to faith; faith is the way.”

“But,” says the agnostic, “ … many persons in the Church don’t act as if they believe this. Further, this is too idealistic ever to work.” Sadly, both true. Yet this is no indictment of either Christ or Christianity, only of the sincerity of Christians and their unwillingness to live out their belief in daily life. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

What do you truly believe? Does your belief make the world a better place?

Wednesday evening Lenten Programs, March 16 to April 13 at 6 p.m.

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I invite you at attend our special Lenten dinners and programs as you observe Lent this year. We will gather in Fellowship Hall to begin with a light meal at 6 p.m. before continuing with presentations and discussion at 7 p.m. Our adult programming will be based on John Bunyan’s classic allegory Pilgrim’s Progress. Appropriate children’s learning activities also scheduled each week. Bring your whole family.
Blessings,
Pastor Derek

Pilgrimage: When the Journey is as Significant as the Destination

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For me, commercial air travel is something to be endured rather than anticipated. If I have the time, I much prefer to travel by car, ship, or train.

True, an airplane is a rapid, sometimes economical, way to cover long distances between two points. But once the novelty of flight has worn off, flying can become merely a means to an end – a way to get to one’s destination and back when one is in a hurry. Travelling forty thousand feet above the earth at an airspeed of 500 knots it’s hard to admire the scenery.

By way of contrast, the last time I crossed our nation by rail I witnessed the gradual changes of landscape as I journeyed from the East Coast’s rolling hills, to the open agricultural heartland of America, across prairies, desserts, and mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Modern homes look more alike all the time, yet each region of the United States still maintains bits of its distinctive architecture. Travelling at a slower rate of speed I also had more time to meet new people and have conversations with them over meals in the train’s dining car or as we watched western pronghorn antelope out the windows of the observation car.

The liturgical season of Lent is an opportunity to slow down spiritually and experience the richness of our journey of faith. During lent the image of pilgrimage is often evoked. A pilgrimage is an intentional journey to a place imbued with spiritual or emotional meaning. In the past, when walking or riding a horse were the fastest modes of transportation available, the journey to a holy site took far longer. Not surprisingly then, the experiences one had along the way, the people one met, and the sights that one saw were considered as integral to the pilgrimage experience as arriving at one’s destination.

We live in a fast, modern world. Yet from time to time we all need to slow down, reconnect with friends, family and strangers, and nurture our spirituality. In short, we need to appreciate and savor what it means to be human. Lent is the perfect time to do just that.

Too Bright to See God?

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When I was a little kid I could go into my backyard at night and see the starry band of the Milky Way galaxy stretched out across the sky. Yet before I reached high school, light from the city, local ball parks, and newly lit Interstate exchanges had bleached out the night sky. Only the moon and the brightest stars were visible through this “light pollution.”

The Gospel of John uses the metaphor of light to describe Christ’s victory over the world’s sin and suffering: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (1:5) This is a statement of faith that even when circumstances prevent us from feeling God’s presence, God remains with us.

Christians have long known that painful experiences can “dim” one’s perception of God. Yet even wholesome interests and activities can become a source of “spiritual light pollution” when they distract us from God. The problem is not the interests and activities themselves, it is their relative importance in our lives.

Each of the stars in the Milky Way is millions of times brighter than any of the lights on earth that wash out the stars’ light in the night sky. Yet the lights on earth are closer to us – and so they appear brighter. We cannot move ourselves closer to the stars but we can move ourselves closer to God. We can insure that none of our interests or activities in closer to our “center” than the light of Christ which shines in the darkness.

Are there interests or activities in your life that have moved between yourself and God?