When we are alive, we have questions. Some are easily answered, like a child asking their parents about things they see. Or, like a student asking the teacher to clarify a point about the lesson. Or like the questions I deal with every day as an IT support person. I remind people that “Google is our friend”, but they are usually too lazy to try to answer their own questions.
My life experience has shown me that people, in general, are too lazy to answer their own questions. They are especially stuck for an answer when the issue is not about something physical, like how to reset security on a browser window or how to take out a stain from a silk blouse, but is deeper and more metaphysical or spiritual. Like, “Who am I?” “What is the meaning of life?” “Does God exist?” “Why did my loved one have to die?” “How do I handle someone doing me harm?” “How do I answer someone who I don’t like when they ask me to a party?” “How do I deal with suffering?”
And where do they go?
They go to Miss Manners, they Ask Amy, they write to Dear Abby, they read their Zodiac, now they go to Google! They go almost anywhere else but the best source for answering all our questions, the Bible.
This is a really short and simple Drash today. It is so simple I almost feel guilty about not going on and on, but more often than not, the simple way is the best way.
If you are unsure about your situation in life, about God, about suffering in the world (yours or anyone else’s) and especially about whether or not Jesus (Yeshua) is the real Messiah, you need to go to the Manual. The ultimate, absolute Manual for Life and Afterlife called Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
That’s the place to go. What is really sad and often the case is that even the people who do believe in God, whether or not they accept Yeshua as the Messiah, will go somewhere other than the Bible. They go to their religious leaders, and that’s not really bad because they are, after all, teachers of God’s word and people we should go to for instruction. However, as I say in my book (you should buy it and read it) our leaders are just as much traditionalists as their leaders were, and with all due respect to their training and devotion, we should, each one of us, go to God, first. God first, then if we are still confused, let God work through someone we trust and know. God often intercedes by using other people that He sends into our life.
So, go to the source. Go to the one who has the answers to all your questions, even the questions you don’t know you have yet. If you need an answer, ask God.
Don’t be lazy, don’t be stupid sheep following blindly, and don’t be convinced that just because someone has some degree they really know what they are talking about. They might, but the bottom line is this: you are going to have to answer for what you do and say. God will not buy that you were just following orders: that didn’t hold water at Nuremberg, and it won’t hold water at the Throne of Judgement, either.
You are responsible for yourself, so take charge of your afterlife and get the answers from the one who knows them: His name is God.
To the Church which Jesus Christ established:
Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
This quote is not a contextually accurate answer to the question I posed. Paul is talking to the Ephesians (mostly Gentiles) about how the good news of salvation was made available to the Gentiles. It is more about a specific statement regarding knowledge to the Gentiles about Messiah than the general ‘seek ye the Lord’ lesson I was trying to make. If we took your advise on where to find answers, i.e., only in the Church of Christ, then you have denied those who are not Catholic the opportunity to seek God in their own way.
Tsk tsk (smiley face). BTW…Yeshua did not establish a church; people made one and said He created it but, really, they did. He already had all he needed to bring salvation to people in the existing scriptures.
I thought you were simply taking a survey. So, I answered the question citing what I do and why. Sorry if I misunderstood.
Hm? If you took my advice, its because you decided it was the wise thing to do. :>
I only cited my preference. I didn’t say anyone had to follow suit. Nor could I enforce it If I wanted to.
So, Jesus didn’t mean it when He said, “upon this rock I will build my church” (Matt 16:18)? 😉
No apologies needed, except on my part for misunderstanding your answer. Mea Culpa.
As for Matt 16:18- I ain’t goin there! There are a number of different ways that this verse has been interpreted and I feel it was covered as much as I will cover it the other day with the first Pope discussion. Let’s leave that one up for another discussion, on another day. Have a good one!
I like your post. It is straight forward and presents itself as forthright and honest. Too, we are our brothers keeper and should be on the look out for our brothers and sisters who are suffering.
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless you and yours.