Not many years ago I went through a radical change in my faith as a Christian. Christ didn't change, he in fact has always remained the same, however my view of how Christ works in the world, and how our lives should look because of him changed. I was frustrated with the evangelical church, yet I still loved the people who are a close part of it, and I still loved Christ. I felt as though we had all been living fearfully, afraid at any moment God would change his mind about our eternal status. It seemed as though people had lost the opportunity to truly discover their spiritual selves because they were being made to believe things that capped off spiritual growth the same way asphalt keeps a plant from springing up.
You see, you can't bog down the heart with rules and regulations, though in moderation they are a part of life. You can't put a lid on love when it is growing.
Jesus talked about the seed growing among thorns and getting choked out as it tried to grow. I felt this way in my walk as a christian. I wanted more, wanted to grow, yet when I tried I felt choked by talk of hell and the damnation and fear of other people who believed differently than me. My heart was burdened by the thought of my brothers and sisters on this earth parishing under the arm of a cruel God who told us that rules were more important than love. I just couldn't accept this. And I didn't. I began exploring Jesus. Who HE said he was. My eyes never left Jesus, even in my frustration with the christian church.
"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
But I realized Jesus said LIFE, not salvation or heaven. LIFE, as in HERE AND NOW. We all seem to be living for something that is too far away and Jesus was simply asking us to choose the narrow path that leads to life.
After living in the city my eyes have been opened to massive amounts of greed and things about humanity that I would often rather not be aware of. But because I choose to walk with God I see these things, and I live amongst people who are seduced by things like this. I now see so much of what Jesus talked about in his teachings. The gate IS narrow. So many people aren't choosing life because they are actually choosing things of this world: money, lust, selfishness. THIS is why it's narrow.
After living in the city my eyes have been opened to massive amounts of greed and things about humanity that I would often rather not be aware of. But because I choose to walk with God I see these things, and I live amongst people who are seduced by things like this. I now see so much of what Jesus talked about in his teachings. The gate IS narrow. So many people aren't choosing life because they are actually choosing things of this world: money, lust, selfishness. THIS is why it's narrow.
When I search, I see people living the narrow. They are quiet and helpful. Loving and modest. They are bringing humanity back into an inhumane system. They are taking care of people. They are ushering in the brilliance of nature into a concrete jungle to help awaken the spirits of broken, disconnected people. They are in touch with the human heart and what it needs to feel alive and to connect with God. They are the narrow.
All this has been spurred on by Rob Bell's new book "Love Wins". I haven't read it yet (it comes out tomorrow) but have watched the promo video and read many of the critics opinions on the simple idea of writing a book with the subtitle "Heaven, Hell and every person who's ever lived." I'm going tonight to hear him speak and answer questions about his book and truly look forward to it.
It seems as though even some of my brothers and sisters in Christ are still trapped by fear and haven't let true grace absorb into themselves. I even sometimes revert back to fear as a safety, because true love and being liberated means that we must live life fully! I try to have just as much grace for the things that frustrate me about people I don't necessarily agree with, as I hope they would for me. I want to try my best not to criticize others. Surely we can agree on loving people, loving God, being good stewards and taking care of our neighbor. Even people of other religions can agree on that.
It does make sense to be fearful that the bad choices we are making are leading us away from God. I simply don't agree with fear being anywhere present once we've found Love. Yes, It's always present in this world, but when we realize that fear has no power over our spirit that's when we find freedom. The road to life may be narrow, but Love isn't narrow and reaches out so far that there is more to be learned about It each and every day.
It does make sense to be fearful that the bad choices we are making are leading us away from God. I simply don't agree with fear being anywhere present once we've found Love. Yes, It's always present in this world, but when we realize that fear has no power over our spirit that's when we find freedom. The road to life may be narrow, but Love isn't narrow and reaches out so far that there is more to be learned about It each and every day.
