I'VE BEEN THINKING...about the search for God
11/24/2009 11:43:39 PM
November 5,2009


Good Day~

 
How do you know that you are living your life with some basis in reality?  Consider the area of religious faith----how do you know yours is the right one?  I mean, what if you were born in another place, to a different family. . . would you likely believe what you do?  I mean, after all, there are so many other religions. . . how do you know you are in the right one?  How do you know what you believe is true?  Do you believe in religious truth?
 
This morning I finished  The Search for God at Harvard,  a 1991 book, written by Ari Goldman, an observant Orthodox Jew and religion correspondent for the New York Times.  In short, Goldman went to Harvard Divinity School for a year-long study of Christianity and eastern religion, so that he would be better equipped to write about them.
Goldman’s retelling of his own Orthodox upbringing was intensely interesting and informational.  I loved reading his thoughts and impressions of the various religious experiences he had, though even stepping foot in a Christian church was a breach of the Law for him.  ‘The Law?  Yes, the same 613 points of law we discussed earlier in our study of Galatians—the same Law Paul was begging young believers to leave behind in favor of freedom in Christ.  Goldman wrestled with managing his devout Judaism and the demands of his journalistic calling, and knew at some point, he would have to leave one or the other.  
 
While Judaism believes in one God, Christians also believe in one God, who is triune; Islam states, “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His prophet.”  Then there is Hinduism, which boasts of many gods, and each Hindu is free to choose his or her own god or goddess.  Buddhists’ whole thrust is to free themselves from desires, yet the religion makes few demands on its adherents.  Interestingly, Buddhism seems to hold some appeal with Jewish-Christian couples; rather than try to work through all their differences, the couple takes on a new faith open-minded enough to encompass the practices of the old ones.  Throughout his study of these religions, Goldman never wavered in his Jewish faith, though he became comfortable around adherents of all the different faiths, including Islam.
 
As I closed the cover, I was disappointed to see the book come to an end—I loved the story of Ari Goldman’s exploration into the deeper beliefs of ‘the faithful’, and his adventures in Cambridge.  It was so interesting to read some of the rules that the Orthodox still follow, though Christ came to set them free two thousand-plus years ago.  In the end, I am so thankful that I serve a risen Lord, who is alive and desirous of relationship with me—now and for eternity!
 
Yesterday we finished the book of Galatians, where do we go next, and why?  First, turn around and look at where we’ve been. . . after studying about the life of Jesus in the gospel of Luke, we studied the birth of the Christian church in the book of Acts. . . what an amazing account!  The Acts of the Apostles has it all—the ascension of Jesus into Heaven, the coming of the Holy Spirit, miracles, prison-breaks, stonings, shipwrecks, sorcerers, Jews, Christians, Romans, the all-important conversion of Paul, and the first missionary journeys into the Mediterranean lands and beyond.  And then. . . we heard from Paul himself, as we studied his letter to the Galatians.  We could imagine the passion in his eyes, the fire in his belly as he pleaded with the new believers to walk in freedom.  Next we will got to Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, as we learn more about our Christian faith, and participate in the great divine exchange—our time and attention for the divine impartation of the holy Scripture into our human experience.  Powerful.
 
How do I know that Christianity is real?  How do I know that it is truth?  Why would I not want to try Buddhism, since hearing Goldman talking about it?  Hmmm. . . Why should I believe Jesus when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father but through Me”?  (John 14.6)  Because Jesus was truth.  Everything that had been foretold of Him in the Old Testament came to pass with His coming in the New Testament. (60 different prophecies fulfilled)   Much of His life is corroborated by historical sources—both Jewish and Roman.  And then. . . Jesus told the truth.  Jesus did what He said He was going to do. . . He died, was buried, and rose again.  But in the final result, I know that Christianity is real because of its truth in my own life. 
 
I know the power of answered prayer. . .
     I have experienced the miraculous!
  I have felt the love of my heavenly Father. . .
     I have experienced the peace of the Holy Spirit. . .
        I carry the joy in my heart of loving and being loved by Jesus Christ.
 
Rest assured, you are right in the middle of the grace of God~
            Reach out, and grab a hold of it, Friends.
                        Grace and Peace, 
    Christine