People Want To Be Told What To Believe

One of the things I’ve noticed during my shift in faith is that my lack of answers makes people really uncomfortable.

I was looking through my Facebook memories today and I was STRUCK by the many, many people who used to “like” and “love” my posts 3, 4, 5 years ago. I would post Bible verses and make theological declarations that aligned with the norm of what everyone is used to hearing and because it fell within the confines of what they were already comfortable with and what they had already signed on to, they liked it.

I had their support.

I had their praise.

I had their attention.

Now, though, those same people will “angry” my posts. Not much has changed about what I post (I still post about God and faith and the Bible), but today I don’t post theological declarations as much as I post questions or ideas that poke holes in some of the pieces of doctrines that the Church says are unquestionable.

Hell.

Salvation.

The Cross.

“What do these things mean, really?”

“Is there really a hell?”

“Is salvation really about going to heaven?”

“Did Jesus die so that I would believe the right things about him and go to heaven?”

As more and more people dislike what I share and “angry” my posts, it makes me realize that people not only like assurance, but they like to be told what to believe so much so that any sense of ambiguity or question is forcefully and adamantly rejected.

They like to go to church.

They like to read books.

They like to listen to sermons.

… That leave no room for doubt, no room for questions, no room for the idea that maybe there are other ways to think about God and the Bible and faith that are different than what my pastor told me about while I was growing up.

My thoughts about God and the Bible feel spontaneous and free to ME, but chaotic, disorganized, and sinful to them not because it’s evil and terrible or I’m evil and terrible, but because it defies the theological boxes we’ve been taught are necessary for the Christian life.

I’m not sure how I got here, to be honest, but perhaps this quote from David Hayward (the Naked Pastor) says it best …

“For me, my theology suddenly found a peaceful place to rest. I came to a place where I knew I didn’t know the answers, but this was a place of great serenity, peace, and contentment.”

I’ve never been more UNSURE of who God is or what faith is all about, but I’ve also never been more content and at peace in my walk with God and my faith in him/her/whatever.

I tell you all of that because if the world around you slams you and mocks you and angry faces your thoughts about God because they don't align with what they consider to be the norm … it’s OK.

Breath.

Put one foot in front of the other.

And keep moving forward.

Much love,