FRUSTRATION WITH FAITH

I am a nerd.  I look at everything through the lens of I have a ton of pure-hearted friends with great intentions…really solid, and hard-working people who are curious about faith.  The question and concern comes down to “am I really saved?” and “What religion or ism should I follow?” 

Being the curious man I am, I ask “why”?  They always come back with their struggle with sin, to be set free from thoughts, and the desire to walk like Jesus as we discuss on Sunday mornings.  We so deeply desire to be free from sin, but we’re trapped.  At the PhD level we are talking about the three Augustinian theological concepts of non posse non peccare, posse non peccare, and non posse peccare.  This is especially when we compare and contrast Jesus against all of the other “religious leaders/elites.”  Look it up as it assists in defining our own faith.

       I simply ask them, as I ask of myself, how many people have the exact same disposition as them?  I compel them, GO OUT THERE….got to the schools and universities and see what is being taught.  Go to your job and analyze all that is done and compelled through policy and HR. 

       I ask a simple question, “How many are truly broken over sin?”—going back to my Augustinian debate.  Christians wanting to be more like Christ but truly sad over their failures.  I do it all of the time…no matter how hard I try.  For me in my exegesis of the Scripture it comes down to the definition of “repentance.”

       Secondly, the question of what religion or ism to follow.  As you all know by now I am vehemently against organized denominational religion as I view it as a Ponzi scheme of power, control, and money.  I keep it simple and just tell people to read their Bible, starting with the Gospels and the entirety of the New Testament.  I also recommend the ESV and NASB Bibles for the accurate translation to assist in understanding.  Once a person is grounded in this, THEN, read the Old Testament with what I call “New Testament eyes”—somewhat like watching a movie backwards.  Remove all dogma, opinions, passions, and focus on the hermeneutics of God’s guidebook, then find your church that continues to teach the Word of God and not tickle your ears or your emotions.  Therein lies the deeper faith.

       My conclusion is that all I have done is whether or not God has really done anything in my life.  The average non-Christian friend does NOT care what God has done in your life as they don’t want to follow what God has said or directed.  Sadly, when they break God’s laws they boast about it.  Again, putting the adjective before the noun of “Christian.”  Either you are a Christian or not.  I often eaves-drop on my wife’s business, conference calls and have found that we make choices in life.  Be technically and tactically proficient or be political.  We both have chosen the first as the second is dark, oily, and shifting…like using AI to guide your day according to trendlines rather than long-term success.  When you are “called” to do the right thing, there is a burden associated with that and it requires intense work and study. 

       So, I ask you for those who want to walk in the light of God and the Scripture…God’s got to do something in your life.  This is the difference between “saved,” floating on a raft of grace and doing nothing, or fully being repentant and obedient.  REAL Christians come to me and ask me questions.  “Why is this so hard?”  It is.  Just like working out.  It is spiritual combat.

       Ask your friends what struggle they have?  Money, marriage, junk, porn, anger,…stuff,….I worry about nothing except the work God has put on my plate.  I simply don’t worry because of what God has implanted in my life.

       Lastly, I will contend that strong men cannot be theologically sound men without Scripturally strong women.  Just can’t happen as men will be isolated.  Iron strengthens iron in both gender categories.  My amazing wife and I go back and forth, but I realize there is NO ONE to strengthen her or me but one another.  This is sad and our life in the ministry.