Most all of my posts to date have been political or news in nature. However, I have spent the greater part of today contemplating more spiritual issues, so that is what I shall post on. At one point I had sent an email to a friend thanking them for their friendship and expressing the value that I found in our friendship. One of the aspects that I felt added to the depth and value to our friendship was our ability, and even desire, to occasionally discuss spiritual issues. I would say spiritual discussions are not something I typically have with people and the more I think about it, the more I believe that spiritual discussions or acknowledgment opens us up for pain and sorrow. We may become the target of disdain, bigotry or even ostracism, none of which we do well with. Just like a rejection from a lover or potential lover can cause us to become withdrawn and protective, so it is with religion and spirituality – primarily in regards with one’s own relationship with God.
My tendency to guard or “hide” my beliefs and degree in which I have may have come back to haunt me. I never gave it a lot of thought, but I stumbled across a couple of texts in the book of Luke which has caused me some discomfort and food for thought.
“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. (Luk 12:8-9 ESV)
Could it be that my failure to acknowledge my faith in Jesus Christ has resulted in Christ denying me before the angels of God? Then again, how much faith do I actually posses if I am not compelled to speak of it? If one truly holds a strong faith in something, do they not usually speak of it in a fairly open and determined manner? Perhaps we have a society whose faith lacks a connection with reality, causing us to live a guarded and quiet existence, not sure of our faith at all.
Then again, maybe this is all me and just my problem exploited by an overactive mind.
Good post, Rob. You can’t forget Revelations in this, where we are advised to be either hot or cold for the Lord. This is a great excerpt from a sermon on Crosswalk.com based on Rev 3: http://www.sermonsearch.com/content.aspx?id=16835
Rev 3: 14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin F12 of God’s creation: 15 “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Such a great post. It’s always difficult to know what the right circumstances are to talk about faith. Thank you for your honesty!