Location: Again in the sleeping apartment at the other end of Thursday, the wee morning hours of Friday, 19 June in Oradea, Romania.
One reader emailed me a question that echoed my own questions from my past:
If I had been born somewhere else, would I be following the God I now follow?
Here is an unpolished response; maybe you will find it helpful...
The question is excellent. You should know, too, that you will never be satisfied with an answer, but you will only be satisfied with God, Himself. So do not worry too much about looking for true answers; instead look for Truth itself. That is when you will find God, and the answers will come along in that relationship.
This question stunned me, because it is almost the same question I asked myself when I was questioning my faith. In fact, I had to think carefully, because I thought maybe I had written it somewhere in the blog. Here are some of my thoughts about it, as you read them, pray, and the Lord will give you the wisdom to recognize what is true. Check what I say with what the Bible says, for I, too, am only human.
I have friends of many different religions or non-religions, it is true: some of them seem more "Christian" than the Christians! So I, too, asked myself if I would be a Christian if I had been born somewhere else. I believe the answer is YES!
No one can know God except if He reveals Himself to them; and the Bible even says that God revealed Himself to those who were not seeking Him (Isaiah 65:1 and Romans 10:20). The problem is that people think being a Christian means following the Christian religion. Sometimes that is the religion of their family, of their community, of their people, of their nation, of their friends, etc. And though community is a very important part of Christianity, faith is intensely personal. We have a personal God who knows each of us by name. This means that no one can be a Christian for someone else; we each have to make the decision to follow Jesus ourselves. Sadly, there are many people in the Church who do wonderful things and go to worship regularly, but who do not know Jesus as a friend and brother. They are the ones who will say, "Lord, Lord, we did many works in your name!" but to whom He will reply, "I knew you not!" (Matthew 7:22).
All religions, even Christianity (when it is a relgion), are they same: they are humans trying to work their way to God. Usually this is by doing good works or following special rituals. But true Christianity is a relationship with a loving God who knew that we could never be righteous enough to make it to Him, so He came to us in the form of His only Son, Jesus. That is different than every religion! While we were still sinners, Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8) And God looks at our hearts, but humans look at outward appearance. From the outside, there are many Muslims, Hindus, Christians, atheists, humanists, environmentalists, etc. who are doing wonderful things for many people. But what good does it do to save an entire continent from HIV and AIDS, or to extinguish poverty and hunger in the whole world, if all of those people still end up spending eternity apart from the God who loves them?
See, it is not about what we do, or even about who we are--it is about who God is.
As I asked myself this question, I thought about what it means to be God.
Philosophically speaking, one god (not two or more) seems to be the only possibility to me. Why? Because as long as there are many gods and hierarchies of gods, none of them is perfect. By definition, there can only be one truly complete, perfect thing or person. If there were two or more, you would not be able to tell them apart, because they would be identical. If they were not identical, one would be more perfect than the rest. And if we had a God who was not perfect, that would mean there was the possibility that another god who was more perfect could come along and take over the first. Finally, if we could not know God, it would not matter if there was a God or not. Therefore, I think there must be only one God, and I think He must be perfect and knowable.
I thought about the many religions in the world, and there are five primary ones: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. Since I believe God is knowable, it makes since that He is not hidden, worshipped only in a small corner of the world by a handful of people. It makes sense that many people have heard about Him, and that some of them know Him, and some of them are mistaken about what they know about Him. Of these five religions, three claim to be related: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These three all claim that there is only one God, but only Christianity demonstrates that God as intimately knowable. Finally, many details of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus and the facts of the Bible have been substatiated through very reliable evidence, which also supports the truth of its claims.
This information is profond and overwhelming, but it gives my mind something to think about. Ultimately, though, it is not my mind that must decide, it is my heart. Even if I understand all of this in my mind, but I do not know Jesus, it is worthless. If this makes sense, or even if this does not, just pray to God (who is seeking you and me) and ask Him to reveal Himself to you in a way that you understand, if in fact He is who He says He is. Better than an answer is the one who knows all the answers.
We cannot judge for or against a god based on its religious followers. In fact, if God is really God, who are we to make a judgment about Him at all? Instead, look for God Himself, and when you find Him, encourage those who know and follow Him, and have mercy upon those who are still searching in the wrong places.
I hope this helps--let me know if I can clarify anything!
I bless you in the Name of Jesus the Christ!
This blog is your opportunity to travel with me wherever I am in the world, during both the mundane and exciting moments of life that I humbly recognize as holy. As I bare my life to you, may your reading take you beyond my words to the Word, beyond my life to the Life, beyond the chaos to the Truth, and beyond teachings to the Teacher--the Rabboni. I promise it will be an adventure, and by the end, may you, too, truly know the Way!
A Rose From Home
My Story (As prepared for my church congregation this spring--2009)
I have a story to tell you. I am the main character, but the story is not about me. I have traveled several parts of the world, but my adventure has been closer to home. I am twenty-six years old. My story begins like many of yours…
I grew up going to church. I had been born into a family who labeled themselves “Christian,” in a country that labels itself “Christian.” Every Sunday found me attending a worship service and Sunday school in a mainline denomination church. I served as an acolyte, attended Vacation Bible School, helped my dad count and record the offering money, sang in the youth choir, was a leader in the youth group, and occasionally served as liturgist. Baptized as an infant, I was confirmed at the age of twelve, thus becoming an “official” member of the church. Then, hurt by the church, my family left to find another.
Have you ever been hurt by the Church?
After months of searching, we settled into a very large independent church. Things were different there, and I was quickly welcomed and at home among new friends that truly had a passion for Jesus. The Word of God was taught boldly from the pulpit, and I was introduced to a missions-aware lifestyle. So it was with regret that I said goodbye only a couple of years later to move with my family to another church. I purposely remained aloof, not wanting to make new friendships before I left for college a year later. Besides, I was loosing my faith—or so I thought—and I didn’t want anyone to know. I was asking scary questions like “Is there really a God?” and, if so, “Is He the Christian God?” and “Would I be Christian if I had been born in another part of the world?”
Have you ever asked yourself unsettling questions about what you believe?
So I headed into college under a cloud of confusion that only worsened for the next two years. Though I didn’t know what I believed anymore, I continued to go to church every Sunday, and to help lead worship in chapel. Most importantly, even during this questioning, I continued my morning habit of daily study of the Bible. I had begun at age twelve, reading at first a chapter per day, then ten minutes each morning, then an half-hour, and so on. So, only by the grace of the very God I doubted, I remained anchored in His Word and in His community, though I felt like a fake most of the time. Since then I have learned that “fake” is the worst insult the world can give us; that is why the label of “hypocrite” is so offensive.
Have you ever felt like a fake?
Six weeks with missionaries in South Africa followed by a year in France began to teach me what life with God is all about. I began rebuilding my faith, this time it belonged to me, in contrast to me borrowing the faith of my parents, church, or anyone else. In my parent’s basement in 2003, on either Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, I invited Jesus to live in me; perhaps I had done so before, but I didn’t recall—but since 2003, I have never forgotten that moment. Unfortunately, nothing changed. I continued to do my best to act like a Christian, as I had done for so long.
Have you ever found yourself “doing your best” to be a good person, or to act like a Christian?
Though I did not realize it at the time, I was quenching the Spirit, even though I had welcomed Him into my life. During the next few years, the LORD continued to nurture me, and slowly things began to change. Several tough months in Idaho birthed my prayer-life. I spent three years being humbled in a job that was my informal seminary training. In 2007, a short stint in Mexico helped me to see things as they were, and not long afterward, I was baptized by immersion. No baptism of any kind can save a lost soul—only Jesus can do that. However, this baptism was an important covenant between me and God, symbolizing not only my death and resurrection with Jesus and my public profession of faith, but it also my life change, the beginning of my bearing fruit. “For each tree is known by its own fruit…”according to Luke 6:44. During the past year and a half, the LORD has provided me with an informal pastoral internship in my church, teaching me every aspect of discipleship. Simultaneously, I have been studying unceasing prayer and worship. I am now very different than I was five years ago.
In the Book of Acts (which tells the story of the earliest years of the Church) every time a person decided to follow Christ, two things took place—though not always in the same order. Each person experienced a life change, which I call the “baptism of repentance,” as well as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which I call the “baptism of the Spirit.” Looking back, I realize that the Holy Spirit was living in me in 2003, but it wasn’t until I surrendered everything to God, as represented by my immersion, that I allowed the Spirit to have His way in me and transform my life. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now life in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20)”
Have you invited Jesus to live in you? Have you allowed the Spirit to transform your life?
I tell you this story for two reasons. First, I tell this story in order to boast in the LORD! May God our Father get all praise and glory forever! Second, I tell this story because it is relevant to you. Likely you have heard that I am leaving the country: I have let my light shine before you; please let your light shine within the Church, too! This congregation is in revival, and as each of you allows the Spirit to revive you, the entire Church will be revived and utterly transformed, to the glory of the Most High God. And for His glory is the reason He created us; the reason He sent His only Son to reveal Himself to us; the reason He became Sin for us and died for us on the cross—while we were still sinners; and the reason that He conquered death and offered us eternal life with Him.
It will cost you a lot—in fact, it will cost you everything, your very life. But if you have never surrendered your life to Christ Jesus, if you have never invited Him to send His Spirit into you and to transform your life, then do it right now. Just let go of everything to which you are desperately clinging; stop trying to do it yourself! This is the very reason you are still breathing in this physical life—God has been delaying His judgment of this sinful world because He is waiting for you—2 Peter 3:9 says He wants none to perish!
If you have already invited the Spirit into your life, then live like it! Bear fruit! Anyone and everyone who meets you or knows you or sees you or hears you should know immediately and clearly that Jesus the Christ lives in you and loves them! That is how stark the contrast should be between your life and the world around you!
Have you immersed yourself in God’s Word and in prayer in the last twenty-four hours?
If you call yourself a follower of Christ, then there is no excuse for not communing with Him daily! Anchor yourself in the Word! God has revealed Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Bible is a complete and accurate record of that revelation. And prayer is humbly letting Him love us. Let Him love you! God doesn’t need us, but He wants us! God doesn’t need us to live for Him—He wants to live in and through us! Let us love and fellowship with one another, even when you disagree! Pray for each other—the names in the church directory are a great place to start! Church, we are not only the Body of Christ, but we are the Bride of Christ. We have allowed ourselves to get bedraggled and stained—now let us stand to the glory of God! Let’s let Him purify us, restore us, and love us!
My dear Brothers and Sisters, if you have ever once been blessed by God our Father at work in me, then I urge you, please, take seriously His desire to love and work in you, beyond anything you can ask or imagine! I have told you the beginning of my story—may it end in glory to the Father, in the Name of Jesus, by way of His Spirit.
Now, what is your story?