It is now more than 15 years since I was forced (for the second time) to reconsider just about everything I had ever been taught. It has been a long wilderness experience - a time of detox - and now at the age of 75 (with a faith that I do not have to defend) I simply want to share some of the basic questions I have been considering over the years, and encourage people to THINK for themselves about the nature of God, the purpose of life and other similar questions.
What is the foundation of our faith? Why do we believe what we believe?
Individually we see only a small part of the overall picture - and as we consider our own thoughts we sometimes find ourselves reconsidering something we previously thought we understood. There is I suggest, a close parallel with the way our understanding grows and changes as we move from childhood to teenage; from teenage to young adult; from young adult to a more mature view of life that may continue to change over the years.
This thought is developed in "Stages of Faith" (see sidebar).
How for example, would you define the purpose of life? Some would say that this is a mystery that we are not meant to understand, but if we don't have an answer to that most basic of questions, what is it that motivates us? My thoughts have changed enormously over the years. For some 30 years I can now see that my faith was based almost entirely on 'head knowledge' and very little 'heart awareness'. That began to change only some 7-8 years ago. The Bible suggests that we should be growing in grace and knowledge. How many of us reached that point where we thought we knew most of the answers?
So much has been written about the Christian RELIGION but how well do we understand the foundational truths of the Christian FAITH? At the risk of over simplification I am suggesting that there are very few fundamental questions that need to be considered:
What is the foundation of our faith? Why do we believe what we believe?
Individually we see only a small part of the overall picture - and as we consider our own thoughts we sometimes find ourselves reconsidering something we previously thought we understood. There is I suggest, a close parallel with the way our understanding grows and changes as we move from childhood to teenage; from teenage to young adult; from young adult to a more mature view of life that may continue to change over the years.
This thought is developed in "Stages of Faith" (see sidebar).
How for example, would you define the purpose of life? Some would say that this is a mystery that we are not meant to understand, but if we don't have an answer to that most basic of questions, what is it that motivates us? My thoughts have changed enormously over the years. For some 30 years I can now see that my faith was based almost entirely on 'head knowledge' and very little 'heart awareness'. That began to change only some 7-8 years ago. The Bible suggests that we should be growing in grace and knowledge. How many of us reached that point where we thought we knew most of the answers?
So much has been written about the Christian RELIGION but how well do we understand the foundational truths of the Christian FAITH? At the risk of over simplification I am suggesting that there are very few fundamental questions that need to be considered:
- Would a loving Father really allow anyone to end up in hell simply because they had never heard or understood the real truth of the gospel message? See "The Battle over Hell" for an article that had a big impact on my thinking ten years ago.
- How much do we know about God, and how well do we know God and his plan and purpose for mankind in general?
- What is the real meaning of ‘church’ and why are so many committed Christians being drawn outside the walls of traditional Christianity?
- Why do we have so much divisive denominational theology, and is there a difference between the Christian religion and the Christian faith?
- What does the Bible really say (see sidebar) and what is it that we really believe?
- Do we see the Bible as the Word of God or Jesus as the Word of God?
- What is the place of leadership? What about the priesthood of all believers? See "Dorothy on Leadership"
- Where is the growth that follows transitions?
- What place myth and symbolism? What is the significance of the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? How do we understand the story of Genesis? What is the significance of the "Fall of Adam"?
- What is the real meaning of sin? Is it possible that it might better be described as a lack of love or missing the mark of what Father wants us to be?
- Do we understand the significance of justice, mercy, grace and suffering?
- Justice = we get what we deserve (is that really the biblical meaning?)
- Mercy = we don't get what we deserve
- Grace = we get what we don't deserve
- What is the real meaning of repentance, righteousness, salvation and forgiveness?
- How important are the 'Stages of Faith'?
Some might wonder why I didn't include any reference to the two great commandments, prayer and worship. Our understanding of these will surely vary to a significant extent, depending upon our understanding of the purpose of life, and at what stage we might be on the journey of life? How secure is our foundation?
