The spiritual climate in our country is radically different than it was just a few decades ago. Skepticism, doubt, and differing opinions about God are not new; however, in today’s world we have unprecedented access to these opinions. We are influenced from every angle by multitudes of philosophies, differing world views, and complex social issues. Not too long ago we had limited sources where we gathered information. Today we are growing up with the internet at our fingertips and we are interacting within a more diverse culture. This has led us to be less certain, more conscientious, and more understanding. Thankfully, this gives us the ability to better engage with those around us, and to better understand ourselves. Knowing what we believe about the world, ourselves, and God has never been more challenging or important. Because of the resources we have access to, we have an even greater responsibility then the generations before us to decide what we believe. More options make decisions that much more powerful. What a beautiful thing!
We are more aware of theological differences between religions as well as different atheistic and agnostic philosophies. We are also more exposed to challenging and complex issues such as same sex marriage, gender non-conformity, biblical interpretation, abortion, and so much more. Our experience with church hasn’t always been positive, we perceived contradictions in the bible, and we often fail to hear satisfying answers to the extremely challenging social issues that involve people we know and love.
For many people, their experience in church has been filled with guilt trips, simplistic answers, and teachers who do not know how to address issues in conscientious ways. The ‘gospel’, as it is often heard or taught, seems too narrow and simplistic to fully address the complexity we face in our everyday lives. Pat answers about heaven, hell, sin, holiness, and Jesus are unable to answer the genuine questions that our hearts face on a daily basis.
The multitude of questions that come with our growing awareness of complexity have led many to turn from their ‘christian’ faith (it’s lower case on purpose). Out of the confines of stringent doctrine, many find freedom in embracing a vague spirituality. This spirituality doesn’t necessarily answer questions, but allows individuals to engage life in ways their ‘christian’ experience never allowed. Maybe you find yourself there now. It is a place of comfort where one feels the freedom to engage in dialectical tension, differing belief systems, and complex moral issues. ‘Spirituality’ may include Jesus in part, but He is often just another way people interact with ‘the divine’, the ‘greater power’, the ‘universe’, or ‘god’. Many in our society have moved towards ‘spirituality’ because Jesus didn’t seem big enough, wise enough, or inclusive enough to make sense of our ever increasingly complex world. There are wonderful truths to be discovered in this ‘spiritual journey’; in fact, many people experience greater freedom then they ever did as a ‘christian’. Many do seem to become more loving and joyful when set free from the practice and expectations of ‘religion’. And yet spirituality falls short, it doesn’t answer questions, or truly bring restoration to our souls. I think many will be surprised that what they are really looking for is the one that they had purposefully left behind; that the desires of their heart that pushes for ‘spirituality’ are actually found in Him.
I believe that Jesus is big enough, real enough, and complex enough to help us understand the questions that we ask in our world today. In fact, He is the only answer to our hurts, our needs, our questions, and our doubt. No matter how inclusive or universal our belief system becomes, embracing a vague notion of ‘spirituality’ is almost always a compromise. Spirituality, is in some ways, the decision to ignore contradiction, hurt, and confusion. It isn’t really a journey towards something, but away from it; it is cowardice and fear masquerading as wisdom. Now more then ever, we need Jesus; we need God to enter into our world to show us what He is like. Over the next few weeks I want to explore how Christianity gives us what ‘spirituality’ doesn’t. To show that we need to see Jesus as the real, incarnate, image of God.
Jesus came into the world to a people group that had built their identity on the fact that they were the ones who knew the one true God. Yet he was a mystery to them, a contradiction to how they saw the world and how they perceived the nature and character of God. “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him (John 1:11).” They were so clueless, so far off, that the killed the God they claimed to serve and worship. This is astounding!
Jesus will forever be the one to reveal the truth about who God is. “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15).” We cannot embrace both Jesus and ‘spirituality’; yet He will equip us to love, understand, and engage in this complex world better than our ‘spirituality’ ever could. He is the answer to our confusion, the light in our darkness, the truth amidst relativity. He is real, tangible, relational, and more than enough. I think we will find he is more than capable of leading us to the truth about who this ‘God’ actually is. After all, that’s the very reason He came to us.
“All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no ones knows the Son except the Father, and no ones knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11: 27-30).”
