... and why I believe.
I don't believe because it's scientific. I don't believe because I can prove it. If those were my reasons I probably wouldn't believe.
I believe because I'm a broken human being. I can't keep it together. I can't be perfect as much as I try. I can't figure out what being perfect is. I still feel that way and am that way.
It is apparent to me that our brokenness is due to us missing something and I believe that missing thing is a relationship with God. What Jesus has been recorded to say in the bible transcends criticism. He taught love and a relationship with Him... that missing thing.
God's love is my motivator. Love is the greatest motivator. I can't think of any good reason the disciples would follow so diligently and sacrifice their lives for a friend but for the fact that they knew Jesus loved them. I used to believe that they were just really committed and willed their way through pain.
We lost our relationship with God when Adam and Eve broke their relationship with Him and we've been missing something (like a limb) ever since. God has an open invitation to us all to restore that relationship. It's just a matter of asking.
That's the best way I can put it with what abilities I have.
7 comments:
Aaron. I am really enjoying your philosophy. If you don't mind if I challenge you a little I would enjoy doing that for my own sake. Just let me know if that's something your not up for. I want to ask you one thing. I get why you believe. That is why I believe. I just don't get why Christianity? Why isn't the christ story, the adam and eve story all just metaphor? Just those certain people's at that certain time, explaination for those things that humans have looked for. Not that they don't have value, they have tons of value. Why is it the only way with value though? That really is my main question.
Aaron, I really appreciate this explanation. Did this longing only exist after Adam and Eve sinned? If God created Adam for his companionship, did he not create Adam with a desire for that relationship as well? I need to read it through with that thought in mind I guess.
My response to Molly's question.
How is it that more than one truth is possible? I understand your difficulty with persons who use their confidence in their belief for power. Self righteousness is dangerous and runs rampent. However, the error of humans does not falsify the truth. If there can only be one truth the possibility exists that Christianity is the one and only truth. I beleive it is. You are not negating the benefit that non Christians faith or practicies may provide them (i.e. peace and calmness, structure, hope) by beleiving in Christianity yourself.
However, the fact is that many Christians believe that without Christ in their hearts, others will never know what it is to have that void in their hearts truly filled.
Christ was God in the flesh. God knows what we as humans endure here on earth. He faced temptation. When we cry out for help, we ask a God who knows from experience how hard it is to be human.
I think my first response to your question "how is more than one truth possible" could have two answers. Carolyn and I have argued this often and she would say that truth is relative. I know how hard to accept but really who gets to decide what things are "out there" just being true. It's true that murder is wrong right? But is it always? Apply that to everything and you begin to wonder what truths, if any, are absolute. I'd like to think that somewhere out there is some absolute truth. That's usually why I argue with Carolyn The second choice is that maybe it's just different ways of getting to the same truth. Just seeing truth through the goggles of our own experiences and life circumstances. So maybe Christianity is your way to God and someone elses is something else. Not just something to make them feel good, have peace and calmness etc but an actually way to God, or truth. I don't think that Christian's do negate the benfits of other faiths and practices. And I don't think that having one true faith that works for you does that either. That is what I'm looking for. One true faith that works for me. I just feel like even when I find that faith I'll know that's it not the one true faith for everyone. Thank you so much for letting me push you guys. I enjoy it and learn a lot from each exchange. I don't see any of you as being self riteous about your beliefs either. Actually reading Aaron's blogs has made me see how the philosophy of the New testament can really push and stretch you as a human-being.
Now I ask you. Why aren't you God in the flesh? Isn't god experiences humanity through being one with us every day? Wasn't he doing that before Christ? I'm just wondering where our belief systems start to diverge.
Aaron
I just read your brother-in-laws (I think?) post about living in or out. I loved it and the comment section. Loved it. Thanks for sending me there.
Help me clarify. You are saying truth is relative to how a person wants to look at the situation. Maybe? But what I was refering to is reality. What is true history and what is interpretation or human error. The jewish God and the arrival of Christ on Earth is what I believe to be real history. Other faiths' histories are real as well, but Jesus is in my belief the one and only God in flesh, savior sent to show us mercy and forgiveness of our sins so that by accepting him we are given eternal life.
I hope I'm not butting in here, but this is one of my favorite conversations.
Is it possible for a person to accept the historical accuracy of Adam/Eve and Jesus, and still not be "believe"?
Ok, I'll answer my own question. Yes, it's possible. Happens all the time. How could that be?
Because "faith" isn't the cumulative result of accepting a bunch of particulars as accurate. We tend to think that we could wrestle with enough details to come to a point where "Ah, now I'm convinced--I think I'll believe now."
Maybe we shouldn't worry about Adam and Eve for now or historical accuracies.
Let's talk about Cinderella. What does this story tell us about the general longings of our race?
--That we all have suffered some great loss. We identify with Cinderella's suffering, don't we?
--That we all long for rescue.
--That there's something beautiful under these torn clothes and cinder soot.
--That rescue is possible, even when it looks unlikely.
--That rescue will be opposed viciously. There is a darkness standing against us and our restoration.
--That in the end, love is the strongest power in the universe.
Why do we connect with it so deeply? Why does it play out this way in so many movies, books, and stories?
Because it's our story too.
The reason I am drawn to the story of Jesus is because it restores my hope. It plays me like the story of Cinderella, because it is the story of Cinderella.
It's this simple:
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And now this same guy is now the King of the Universe. And He has invited us out of our slavery to the wicked step mother.
Above all, it maintains my hope.
Can I guarantee that Adam/Eve were real? No. Can I prove that Jesus came and did all that stuff? Maybe or maybe not, but proving something doesn't precede or lead to faith.
Living, hoping, loving, losing, longing--those things precede faith.
The way Aaron said it was, "I'm broken. I can't be perfect. I can't figure things out."
The good news is this: that the story of Jesus doesn't demand anything of us. Because at its core, it isn't a new set of commands. It's the most irrational of all faiths.
It's an invitation.
An invitation to be restored to a rightful place. To live again in love and hope.
It's an invitation to the royal ball. And the clock will never strike midnight on the dance.
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