For The Spiritual
Does What We Believe Matter?
Imagine a person held a very specific belief about the sun. He or she is convinced that although it is beautiful, they did not feel that direct sunlight could harm them in any way. What will happen to them if they stare into the sun for five minutes?
The answer is simple.
They will go blind.
Could I possibly be more ridiculous?
Yet what are the implications of what we believe when it comes down to spirituality? Could there be truth in the spiritual realm that has profound implications for each one of us? Can that truth be known?
Does what we believe matter?
Are You A Spiritual Person?
Some individuals that I have spoken with state that they believe that there is some higher power out there that is above mankind, but they clearly do not hold to or practice within the confines of any one “organized” religion. Perhaps you formally believe in God but feel that ultimately, all religions lead to the same god.
Could It Be So Black & White?
Someone in my family is a Christian who believes that Jesus was the son of God. Yet she also has a hard time reconciling that fact that Christianity, much like Islam, is a mutually exclusive religion. In other words, the scriptures teach that if a person doesn’t abide by certain teachings of the religion, they go to hell. She can’t believe that an all loving God “would send millions of good people on the earth to a fiery grave” if they didn’t get it quite right. So is she right in her thinking? The list of questions would be long…….
Why are so many human beings on this earth compelled to spirituality? Some claim to have counted over 4000 religions on the planet, most of which fall into one of (or a version of) the main religions: Christianity, Roman Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism. There are other smaller unrelated religions as well.
So which one is right? Does it matter? Is there a universal God out there that just wants all of us to co-exist and be “good?” If that is the case, and good people go to heaven, what is the standard of good? How can you be sure that you are good? If Hitler is our standard, then heaven will surely be overflowing. If he is not the standard to measure by, what is? If there are 100 valid religions, whose version of god gets to choose the standard?
Why Polytheism Doesn’t Work.
I have stated elsewhere that, in my opinion, the spiritual world does exist and it is hard for me to believe in polytheism (mulitple gods). In short, I believe in a monotheistic faith and by now you are well aware that I believe that Christianity is the one and only true world religion. I feel strongly that the God who created the cosmos, and all of us, would be highly invested in and most capable of setting Himself apart from the myriad of man made religions that would arise over time. When you examine the three main world religions; Christianity, Judaism and Islam, it doesn’t take long to realize that they are all mutually exclusive. If you find yourself an adherent to one, the others would find you lacking the requirements of salvation.
CLICK HERE to read about what I feel are the unique fingerprints of God. Those characteristics that set Him apart from all other gods.
Back in the year 2000, I took my first step from agnosticism toward faith in God. I was totally ignorant, but just curious enough that I found myself starting to pray. It was very uncomfortable to pray to thin air. I informed God that I had no ability to wrap my mind around faith in Him, yet asked Him to reveal Himself to me, if He was really there. My open mind and heart was all He wanted from me. He honored those prayers and I have never looked back.
Why would you not consider doing the same?
If there is a heaven and hell, you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by reaching out to Him for guidance.
