Another Substitute
One of the common experiences of people who’ve left religious institutions is to feel as though “I need to be doing something more than I am, moving forward in some (defined) direction.” They may be walking in love by the Spirit which always brings life wherever they go, but something tells them they’re not focused.
The religious system is so good at programming us to build something or to work toward a tangible goal that we feel worthless if we can’t put a finger on how our life sorts out objectively. The Gnostic concept of the continual need to achieve greater levels of “spirituality” fits well into religious Christianity. It effectively drives the psychological system of institutional values translating into something like, “we will build a tower.” Amazing how religion keeps people trying to reach to God in Heaven as if he never came to earth!
Living in a real relationship with the indwelling Christ should eliminate the need for continually searching for God outside of ourselves. But without that relationship we will constantly strive to do well and build something that solicits the praise and validation of others. Yet Jesus made it clear to the Pharisees that it was impossible for them to believe if they received the praise of men. (John 5:44) And that’s the bottom line impact of every substitute for Christ’s life. Genuine trust in him is destroyed so that eternal things are traded for the empty, temporal pursuits that set aside Christ and glorify man.
David F
Posted: January 23rd, 2009 under General.
Comments: 4
Comments
Comment from David W
Time: January 25, 2009, 8:31 am
Thank you so much for the words God has spoken through you. This is so true! And yet, I am beginning to sense father’s presence and his direction for me every day, even if I have done absolutely nothing but rest and have his peace.
Comment from Janna
Time: February 4, 2009, 2:11 pm
David, I think we’re afraid. Afraid that we won’t accomplish anything. Afraid that we will waste our lives for this strange intangible absurdity . . . when it seems like organized religion is, well, so much more organized. Like we could get more accomplished if we all just followed a well thought out program!
And yet I can’t help but hope that there is something more. That what we see around us really is a “matrix” . . . that the Something more, if truly surrendered to, will impact our lives and the lives around us more profoundly than any institution ever has or ever will.
Comment from Jim Robbins
Time: February 8, 2009, 10:48 am
David, what a helpful post. I had never thought how Gnosticism affected Christianity in the sense you suggest here: “The Gnostic concept of the continual need to achieve greater levels of “spirituality” fits well into religious Christianity. It effectively drives the psychological system of institutional values translating into something like, “we will build a tower.” Amazing how religion keeps people trying to reach to God in Heaven as if he never came to earth!”
No wonder we have church-growth models in which we must travel around the bases, each base assuming a greater level of spirituality. No wonder most believers, including myself have struggled with the indictment: “It’s never enough.”
.
Comment from Richard
Time: January 24, 2009, 9:31 am
David,
Thanks for your thoughts here, I appreciated them very much.
Is it any wonder that beyond simply having a natural, soulish understanding of “Who’s we are and who we are” that the Baskin Robbins religious flavours seems to fit the bill for so many?