Monthly Archives: May 2009
How do you experience God?
Question: When people ask Jesus Christ to come into their hearts, how come they don’t experience God’s immediate divine intervention? I asked Jesus to come into my heart, but I didn’t experience God. How can I kinow for sure that God has not forgotten me? I know that the vehicle for salvation is God’s grace and not works, but why do preachers use scare tactics from their pulpits? All they do is make people afraid of God and cringe in fear. That is not healthy theology.
Is He A Good God?
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone. Mark 10:17-18
God is not only absolutely truthful, but He is also all-good (Omni-benevolent). It is impossible for Him to lie. (Heb. 6:18), and He is love by His very nature (1 John 4:16).
It is debated among theologians whether goodness and love are the same thing or whether they are different. And, if different, whether love is an attribute of God or an activity of God. Some say that goodness is an attribute of God and that love is act of His goodness. But 1 John 4:16 says God is love, seemingly applying the term to His essence.
But, the question still lies on the table, “Is He a Good God?” As we look at the world around us, for so many of us good is defined only by our circumstances.
Do we measure God’s goodness the same way we measure each others?
If your answer is no and the bible says; If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. 1 John 4:20-21
If “love” is defined as “willing the good of its object,” then for all practical purposes “love” and “goodness” can be treated synonymously. Literally, the word omnibenevolent means “all-good.” Biblically, the basic Hebrew term for “love” used of God means “goodness,” “affection,” “good-will,” “loving-kindness” or “tender loving-kindness.” The Greek word agape used of God’s love means “benevolence,” a self-less “sacrificial” love. Theologically, God’s omnibenevolence refers to His infinite or unlimited Goodness.
If love and goodness can be treated synonymously and God says, “he who love Him must love his brother also.” What happens when we don’t like people because they don’t do the things we think they should do and our feelings change toward them? What happens when we don’t treat people the same because the good circumstance changed?
Let’s be real, the way we treat people is mostly determined by how good they are to us. Friendships are determined mostly by what one person thinks of another, but when that person doesn’t live up to the expectation the relationship becomes less desirable. Most marriages are formed because of desires, needs, feelings or financial security. But, what happens so often is when the goodness is not so good or is taken for granted; the desire to love is questioned.
Jesus said, “no one is good – except, God alone.” But, so often our circumstances in life change our relationship with God or defy His goodness.
February 24, 2008 in “Our Daily Bread” titled “God is Good” it reads the phrase “God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good” is repeated by many Christians almost like a mantra. I often wonder if they really believe it or even think about what they’re saying. I sometimes doubt God’s goodness—especially when it feels as though God isn’t hearing or answering my prayers. I assume that if others were more honest, they’d admit they feel the same way.
The serpent planted a doubt in Eve’s mind about whether God had been good to her and had her best interest at heart. He said, “God knows that in the day you eat of [the fruit] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5). Satan tried to convince her to believe that God was holding out on her and not giving her something really good—more knowledge.
Do you feel as though God isn’t answering your prayers? Are you tempted to doubt His goodness? When I feel this way, I have to remind myself that my circumstances aren’t the barometer of God’s love and goodness—the cross is. He has shown how good He is by giving His only Son Jesus to die for our sin. We can’t rely on our feelings. But day by day as we choose to trust Him more, we learn to believe with confidence that God is good—all the time. — Anne Cetas
In all of our circumstances we have to learn to trust God even when life hurts, because He is still good in spite of. Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. James 1:2-5
One of the many fascinating events in nature is the emergence of the Cecropia moth from its cocoon — an event that occurs only with much struggle on the part of the moth to free itself. The story is frequently told of someone who watched a moth go through this struggle. In an effort to help — and not realizing the necessity of the struggle — the viewer snipped the shell of the cocoon. Soon the moth came out with its wings all crimped and shriveled. But as the person watched, the wings remained weak. The moth, which in a few moments would have stretched those wings to fly, was now doomed to crawling out its brief life in frustration of ever being the beautiful creature God created it to be.
What the person in the story did not realize was that the struggle to emerge from the cocoon was an essential part of developing the muscle system of the moth’s body and pushing the body fluids out into the wings to expand them. By unwisely seeking to cut short the moth’s struggle, the watcher had actually crippled the moth and doomed its existence.
The adversities of life are much like the cocoon of the Cecropia moth. God uses them to develop the spiritual “muscle system” of our lives. As James says, “The testing of your faith through trials of many kinds] develops perseverance,” and perseverance leads to maturity of our character.
We can be sure that the development of a beautiful Christ like character will not occur in our lives without adversity. The Goodness of God pushes us into His goodness that should be reflected in our relationships toward others regardless of our circumstances.
“God is good all the time, all the time he is good.” Let it be a meaningful part of your Christianity and not a mantra.
We may think we have true Christian love (or know God is good all the time) until someone offends us or treats us unjustly. Then we begin to see anger and resentment well up within us. We may conclude we have learned about genuine Christian joy until our lives are shattered by an unexpected calamity or grievous disappointment. Adversities spoil our peace and sorely try our patience. God uses those difficulties to reveal to us our need to grow, so that we will reach out to Him to change us more and more into the likeness of His Son.
If God is good, why is there evil and suffering?
There is no question that the world is filled with an appalling amount of evil and suffering. We are impacted by this reality every day on all levels: emotional, intellectual and practical. As such, it is not surprising that people have a difficult time reconciling this harsh reality with the idea of an all good, all powerful God.
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. Psalms 73:1
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Why I Don’t Go To Church!
Friends of mine, who doesn’t go to church any more, I asked if they could answer these questons for me. Here is their response….its long (25 questions in all) but very interesting.
1. What is your definition of church?
In a general sense the Church is made up of all those who follow Christ — both those who choose to gather together in a formal way and those who do not. The church is not buildings or clergy, it is people who love and are moving towards Jesus.
2. What do you feel is the purpose or aim of church? What should it be?
I may be cynical but in my experience of churches there is a vast difference between what I feel the purpose is and what it should be. Unfortunately I get the feeling that the church is losing its way. This is why I have chosen to remove myself from most elements of it.
To answer the question — I believe the purposes of the church should be numerous.
It should be in the business of creating spaces for people to connect with Jesus in a dynamic way. The church is not responsible for if people do connect or not, that is the individuals responsibility, but the church should be exploring relevant ways to help people on their journey. It should be a place that resources, supports and inspires people in their love and relationship for God.
The church should be in the business of growing community among its believers. Unfortunately this is an area where things often break down. If it wasn’t for the fact that we are all human it would work brilliantly!
The church should be in the business of impacting the world we live in. Call it mission, service or justice — I don’t care — but do it! Jesus constantly called his followers to impact their world — to preach, to heal the sick, to cast out demons and to accept the sinner and ostracised.
As I said — I think the church has become distracted from its core call in all these areas.
3. What issues do you think the church is failing to deal with adequately?
It is failing to grapple effectively with its purposes. I think it often names them. Every church I’ve ever been to has had a wonderful mission statement — but I’m yet to see one that is living it out — or even really attempting to.
I think many churches are paralysed by fear. They are afraid of change, afraid of the world around them (that they are called to impact), they are afraid of ‘sinners’ and they are afraid to commit to real community.
One of the big failures that I see is that they are called toinclusivity yet time and time again are exclusive. It staggers me that we follow a man who entered into community with the most ‘repulsive’ people in his culture, yet most churches are unwilling to even consider such an act.
4. How do you see the church operating in the future?
inclusivity yet time and time again are exclusive. It staggers me that we follow a man who entered into community with the most ‘repulsive’ people in his culture, yet most churches are unwilling to even consider such an act.
4. How do you see the church operating in the future?
I wonder if the church will exist there. If it doesn’t make some fundamental changes it will end up being an extreme minority.
5. If you were to change one thing about church, what would it be?
I would infuse it with love. What’s love got to do, got to do with it? Love casts our fear. Love is at the core of everything Jesus talked about. Love, love changes everything. Hands and faces, earth and sky. Love, love changes everything. How you live and how you die
6. What do you believe to be the necessary actions/behavior of a Christian?
A Christian is a person who is in relationship with and moving towards Jesus. They are not someone who has it all worked out and they have not ‘arrived’. They ‘sin’ but they continue to seek God and allow her transformation and healing in their lives. They seek to live lives of love for God, others and self.
7. Why are you a non-church-goer?
Complicated question. There are many reasons, let me try to sum up some of them (watch out, this could be messy!)
After years of church going I became frustrated by the way it has become institutionalised. It frustrates me that it has become so rigid and closed to change and fluidity. Jesus gives a radical call to follow him, the majority of churches have become too comfortable, they have become like clubs and they have lost the passion. Like you (ed: Darren) said last week on your site, read Matthew 10 and compare the call of Jesus to his disciples with the way your church operates. Read Romans 12 and tell me where there is a church in the West grappling with that stuff! We’ve lost the plot — I have become disillusioned with being virtually the only person in a community of faith that wants it to be more than a nice and safe place to come and feel all warm and fuzzy with my middle class privileged life. Attending church sucked life from me — I figured that it was not healthy for me to continue to go.
8. What role did those who were in the church have on your decision to leave?
I wasn’t asked to leave, although I’ve heard since that some people are happy that I did. I attempted to discuss my frustrations with others in the community including leadership. They just asked me to ‘tone it down’.
9. What or who finally ‘pushed’ you?
Two reasons.
The church I was a part of began to talk more and more about money. It was subtle, but it became more and more obsessed with raising money for its new building. The current building wasn’t being utilised, we were not growing, and it was proposed that the reason was we needed a new flash looking building. A campaign started to raise the millions needed to make it so that our community would flock onto our turf to be saved. Related to this was the topic of money in sermons. Our pastor read the book called ‘You need more Money!’ written by a prominent Australian pastor. Some of these ideas of prosperity began to gradually creep into his sermons. I cannot remember Jesus telling his disciples to accumulate resources, buy property and get all the latest and greatest technology in order to further the kingdom. It all made me feel physically sick.
The church rejected one of my friends who was brave enough to tell a pastor that he was struggling with homosexuality. He was told to either leave and not associate with anyone in the church or to repent and change. There was no offer of counselling, there was no understanding that he needed time to talk through what he was going through, there was no acknowledgement of God’s love for him — he either had to change instantly or leave. I felt physically sick.
10. What did you find most hurtful?
I watched my church slowly become obsessed with money. I also watched my friend reject God.
11. What feelings accompanied your decision to leave?
I left feeling broken and emotionally burnt out. I still feel drained years later.
12. Do you think you connect with God more, less or the same amount now as you did when you attended church?
I go through stages of closeness to God, but this is no different to when I attended church. Overall I feel more connected to Jesus now.
13. Do you still regularly meet together with other christians/groups/organisations? If so, please describe.
Not formally. I regularly connect with Christian friends for meals, to see movies, to pray and to talk about faith issues. But it is not formal. I would call it church though.
14. What other groups, organisations do you now go to to meet the needs that church did….if any.
I am very involved in community groups. I volunteer considerable time to local groups that have a social justice outlook on life. I will always serve my community — not just because I’m a community minded person, but out of my faith. I also am involved in a book club which is a place of community building and where we often talk about issues of faith. (although I’m only one of two Christians in the group)
15. How has this changed your relationship with non-christians?
I have so many more relationships with non-christians (I hate that term). I now have more time to connect with them as I’m not totally consumed with church activities. I also feel more free to talk about faith without them worrying about me trying to drag them to church to be saved. Since leaving the church I have had three non Christian friends become Christians. Two have joined churches, one meets regularly with me and another friend to pray and learn.
16. What do you miss about church now?
I cannot honestly think of anything. I feel so much more free now.
17. What is it about church that doesn’t connect with where you’re at?
I’ve said it all I think. Oh…I hate singing, I always found it to be an experience that stressed me out and made it difficult for me to connect with God. Why can’t church have ‘bush walking worship’?
18. Would you go back? Why or why not? Would anything make you go back to church?
I’ve considered it. I actually feel that one day I may go back, not because of what I’ll get out of it but for what I can offer. Not that I feel I have anything much to offer, but I see some little new churches starting in my city that I’d like to support. It scares me though.
19. Which would you prefer – people inviting you to attend church, or leaving you alone in your decision not to?
My old church friends do not talk to me any more because I associate with unacceptable types. So I never get such an invitation. It doesn’t bother me.
20. What are the most important/effective ways for you to sustain your christianity as a non-church-goer?
Prayer, service to others, eating with others. I celebrate life in the small things and see God in them every day.
21. What is the vision God has given you for your life?
In the normal things that I do, every day, I have the ability to be a light, to help others connect with the life that God offers. I always try to find what God is already doing in the world around me and to join him in it.
22. What do you say when people ask you “What church do you go to?”
‘I don’t go to A church’.
23. What question don’t you like other Christians asking you?
Is your belly button an inney or an outy? Mine is a major outy…they always want to see it.
24. What question do you wish other Christians would ask you?
Nothing springs to mind. I think I’ve said enough!
25. Is there anything else that you’d like to mention?
No — thanks for the questions.
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