EDIT: This post was created but not completed a long time before I actually posted it, about a week or something after the Boston Marathon bombing as the post suggests. Just for context. I completed the ending points recently but most of the rest is in tact from the original post.
Okay, I have a challenge for you. Explore the depths of your faith. It's easy to say. But in reality we rarely do it.
As I write this post, we are in the midst of a Facebook riot (what's new), about the upcoming gay marriage legislation. We are also only days out from a terrible act of violence against Boston, when 2 bombs exploded as the Boston Marathon came to a close. A lot of people are looking closely at Christianity, as this country usually tends to do in the wake of a disaster or tragedy. At the same time, a lot of people are declaring Christianity without looking closely enough at it. So I have to ask:
Where is the beginning and end of your faith?
As easy as it is to ask such a deeply theological question like that one, it's a little hard to put it into application. So let's break it down briefly.
The beginning of your faith
Have you ever stopped to think when you started believing? Not just in God or Christianity, but anything at all, from political ideals to parenting ideas, to personal opinions on anything. Most of us have certain opinions, beliefs, or values that we assume that are our own, but in reality are passed down. Is that faith?
Belief comes from a reasonable conclusion. Faith comes from transformation.
Non-Christians-If you are not sure about your faith or belief, have you felt a strange curiosity about God? Like you knew something is bigger than you, or even this world? That is the first step to belief, the desire for the truth.
Christians-Did you have that "ah ha" moment? Where you felt the power of Christ in your life undeniably? This is the transformation that leads to faith.
I'm not saying that you have to have an absolute supernatural experience, or a breakdown moment in your life in order to live for Christ. What I am saying is that there is always a moment you can trace your faith back to, when you knew the presence of God undeniably. If you haven't, then explore your beliefs. Read the Bible, and I am convinced you will find the origins of your real faith.
The end of your faith
What is the point and purpose of your faith? Do you believe because you want to go to heaven? Do you believe because you like the morals? Because it's what your parents believe?
The motivation behind your beliefs tell us everything about your faith.
Ready for my shocking statement?
There are some Non-Christians who are more justified in their beliefs than many Christians are in their faith.
Wait, what?!
Seems crazy to even say it, I mean we're talking about people who supposedly DON'T believe in God! But that's where we get to our point and challenge, so I'll repeat myself: The motivation behind your beliefs tell us everything about your faith. For some, the motivation behind their beliefs is happiness, longing, fulfillment, responsibility, morals, etc. Truth be told, that's a poor excuse or reason to believe something isn't it?
But then there are others, Christians and Non-Christians alike, whose purpose in believing what they believe is the pursuit of what is true. Now that-is a justifiable reason to believe something. The only difference is that Non-Christians that search for the truth but don't believe in God, haven't had a transformation moment yet. No one has come into their life to show them the truth that is Christ. But let's not get it twisted. The motivation behind a Christian belief is either the pursuit of truth, or it's rubbish, crap, useless, nonsense. Search for God because it's true, NOT to make yourself feel better, more fulfilled, happier, etc. The knowledge of what the truth is naturally yields those things, because it's an AMAZING truth.
Christians-Pray for truth. Seek truth. Read and study, both the Bible and other texts. Think and deeply contemplate on why your faith is what it is. Grow your faith by growing your mind and your servant's heart, by spreading that knowledge and having conversations and debates, with open hearts and open minds.
Non-Christians-Pray for truth. Seek truth. My advice is the same, but with a caveat. Do not seek truth with the intention of forcing your beliefs to be true. If you have doubts about God, don't let them rule over your objective thinking. Open your mind to the real and legitimate possibility that God exists and it's all true. Then seek the truth.
Seeking the truth will reveal your belief, and grow your faith.
What's your end game? What are you trying to accomplish by believing? Is how it started, and where it's going, serve the purpose of seeking and spreading truth?
