"We must realize that leaps of faith are the junk food of the spiritual realm... An authentic leap of faith may become the first step of a new beginning, but taking that step feels more like the culmination of a long and engaging journey."
Eric Elnes ~ Gifts of the Dark Wood
Continuing on our series about the tangible ways of faith, today we'll discuss different motivations for seeking after God. Thus far, we'd discussed conversion and moments of experiencing the divine.
Too often, we assume that the journey of faith is all about mystical and mysterious happenings and experiences. While, in some regard, these do instances may occur, they are not the norm. Yet, we usually use these supernatural events as a gauge for spirituality and depth.
Religion has groomed us to believe that one of the key ingredients for experiencing God is a leap of faith or some grand gesture. This ideology of risk is often a recipe for abuse, pain, and trauma.
I'm not trying to negate the impact of a spiritual experience, per se, but we must realize that these are often only the beginning point of a journey. These moments are not the goal or a place to camp and make a home.
When we seek God, we must ask ourselves, "what or why are we seeking Her?"
Many seek God for purpose, significance, or affirmation. Others may seek Her out of selfish ambition or pride. Either way, it's missing the point, but humans often excel at that virtue.
The road toward experiencing the divine should lead us to a greater understanding of ourselves. This requires introspection, healing, and dealing with our biases and baggage as we begin to embrace seeing the world through the lens of Jesus.
This journey also grants us something unexpected. As Peter Rollins puts it, "For while we do not grasp God, faith is born amidst the feeling that God grasps us." Understanding and embracing this fact will lead to deeper personal transformation. It also arms us with a robust amount of humility and grace.
These are the necessary tools for the road ahead. Without them, we'll never understand the Kingdom of God.
We'll talk about all that and more snark!
This week's Christian Crazy also features Greg Lock, Shane Vaughn, and Kat Kerr!
Show notes
Episode Timestamp:
Snarky start: 01:43
In the News: 06:00
Christian Crazy: 23:40
Main Conversation: 30:00
Big thanks to these outlets that make the Christian Crazy possible:
Books Referenced:
Spiritual Theology - Diogenes Allen
Gifts of the Dark Wood - Eric Elnes
Articles:
https://julieroys.com/macarthur-shamed-excommunicated-mother-take-back-child-abuser/