“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV)
I remember one summer when a couple of my friends and I took our motocross sons down-hill trail riding on the West Virginia ski slopes. While our sons typically went road riding to maintain/increase their endurance, they were up for the mountain challenge with their physical strength to power them.
The two other moms and I were sitting at a table when a man walked up and, with no invitation to do so, sat down. He looked around the table at each of us and said, “I want to talk about two things—politics and religion.” One of us replied, “Haven’t you ever heard those are the two things you’re not supposed to talk about?” He ignored the comment and moved forward with the current presidential condition. I can’t recall if we agreed or didn’t agree with his basic overview of if we wisely did not engage him. He then moved on to religion.
He shared that he didn’t believe in God, because when he was growing up he watched his father beat his mother on a regular basis and no one ever helped her. He said she had one of the toughest, if not the hardest, life he’d known anyone to live. It was clear to me that his biggest problem with God was that He hadn’t stepped in when clearly, from the man’s perspective, He should have. I can even imagine a young boy praying for God to intervene and seeing no indication that his prayers had been heard.
I wondered if he blamed God because he was living with the burden of guilt at not being able to protect his mother. Obviously, he had been but a young boy and, especially during that era, there would have been no way he could have intervened. In those days, even under normal circumstances, if you raised your voice or indicated you might raise your hand, you were asking for a good old-fashioned whooping (which is a more physical altercation than a whipping).
I have no clue if any of our input changed his mind, but I do hope it pushed him to go deeper into his understanding of who God is. Parents are supposed to introduce children to the goodness of God by modeling the heart and love of God. This man’s earthly father had done him a huge disservice to say the least. His behavior was so far from the truth of God’s nature and further solidified my understanding that we cannot hang our belief on who God is by the tangled and distorted interpretations modeled/voiced by other people.
Over the years I’ve had the chance to talk to many different religious believers. I ask all kinds of questions, but the ones I am most curious about have something to do with one of these four categories: where did we come from, why are we here, where are we going, and what about this sin thing. Many religions can answer some or attempt to answer all of these questions, but only Christianity can answer all four in a clear, united way.
I am genuinely interested in people’s personal take on these questions. One of the main reasons I ask these specific four is because I test myself; do I really believe what I say I believe? In other words, does what I believe hold up under the weight of other viewpoints? I don’t want to spend my whole life believing something false, so I listen and I learn how Christianity cohesively stacks up against other world views.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t interrogate people, and I’ve never had an argument with anyone about God. I’ve enjoyed each of my conversations, and I hope I am given the opportunity to have many more. I offer truth from the Fountainhead of truth, and I humbly lay my input at their feet for their (hopefully) respectful consideration.
I hear honest confessions on why they cannot believe or how they’re working hard to earn God’s approval. The responses that break my heart the most are the ones where their beliefs can result in only a partial knowledge of who God is, because in some religions you cannot question God or know whether or not He accepts/loves you. You just keep working toward approval and hope for the best.
There was one time this man’s anger was so tangible I asked him, “What has God done that you cannot forgive Him for? When was the time you cried out to Him and He did not show up?” He did not respond, and the conversation was over. Whenever I think of him, I pray for his heart to be healed, his mind to be set free, and the dreadful weight of unforgiveness to be lifted from his spirit. I pray and I’m hopeful because I know that God redeems the hard, dark places we think we hide away.
I love raw, authentic people, so I’m not threatened or afraid to hear their blunt answers. I’m not here to change them. I’m here to love them, especially if we don’t feel the same. People are interesting and layered. They’re sincere and on their own beautiful journey to faith. They are worthy of my respect whether we believe the same or not.
My conversations with people of differing opinions are easygoing, honest chats. I’m not pitching or selling anything. I’m sharing my heart because I want people to know how good God is. A personal relationship with God allows people to live as though they’ve never sinned. They can thrive while living a life of purpose and reward. As believers we have the opportunity to fulfill our destiny and leave an amazing legacy that has eternal value.
My intentions are sometimes questioned even in my best attempts to love on people. And because, let’s face it, I too am broken, they will sometimes draw incorrect conclusions of who God is or is not. But the fact remains that the God of the Holy Bible can never be measured by my performance or my inability to add value to who God is. It will always be about relationship—the one where we get to personally know the heart of God, to know His secrets and the joy of His presence.
Besides, the burden is off our shoulders because you nor I will ever be able to give someone eternal life. We share the love of God, but Holy Spirit will lead people to the knowledge of their separation from Christ, and everyone still must choose whether they agree with their need for forgiveness. In short, none of us will be able to tell God, “I didn’t choose You because so-and-so said this/did that/told me (fill in the blank).” His response will be, “Never mind what other people are saying about Me. What did you discover about Me? Did you personally invest your time to experience My heart, My love for you?”
The God of the Holy Bible is about restoration. He is about building relationships and loving on His children no matter their age. His heart is for the one who does not yet know His goodness. He longs to show the hurting that He is not like the bad examples you’ve seen modeled, and He’s not like the lies and bad things you’ve been told. His Fatherly heart is for you. He wants every one of us to know Him personally, for us to know that He loves us. He will never be afraid of anything we’ve done or said. He will not hesitate to walk right into the middle of our hot mess and grab hold of our hand. If we allow Him, He’ll transform our lives.
Without exception, God has chosen everyone. The question remains: will everyone choose Him?
NOW LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession.
This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take what you discover and hold it up to the Light to evaluate it against who God says you are.
- Is there a sin someone can commit that they cannot be forgiven for?
- Have you been forgiven of all your sins?
- Is it easy to love people with whom you believe differently? (This could be a difference of religious beliefs or any issue of differing opinion.)
- Do you ever talk with other people about their religious beliefs?
- What is the biggest hurdle to sharing how we can know God intimately vs a religion?
- Have/do you personally experienced the goodness of God? If so, in what way(s)?
- Could you share with someone your examples of how you experience the goodness of God?
- If you were unable to verbally speak, what message are your actions modeling about who Christ is?
Use God’s word to take control over traumas in your life. Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts, take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises found in His word.
Print, then cut and carry this Scripture with you and/or post it in places where you will see it often. Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!
Here is what God’s word says to encourage you and to give you an example of His unfailing, relentless, unending love for you:
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV)
When you read God’s Word say to yourself: Every day I model who God is. I need to be patient and gentle with people. God’s Spirit is One of unity and peace. I can learn to walk in that Spirit of love and peace by renewing my mind and heart every day with instruction and wisdom as found in God’s word.
Now LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
