Faith is a LivingThing

Today in Metaphysics Theology class we mentioned that faith was a living thing. I had never stopped to consider that before. In my mind, faith is never changing:  it is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow.  However as I think about, it’s not faith, but, God that remains the same.  The more I reflect,  the more I realize that Faith is always growing and evolving and is, in fact, an active, living thing.

 

In my own life-time I’ve notice how faith and beliefs have changed, not only in myself, but in my culture as well. I can remember a time, not to long ago, when it would have been sinful for a woman to step into a church wearing pants; a time when a divorced couple would be asked to leave the church, or at least, step down from all leadership responsibilities; a time when stores, by law, would be required to remain closed on Sundays; a time when people were forbidden to live together before marriage; and a time when women who had children out of wedlock were shamed into hiding their child or giving them up for adoption.

 

In my own personal life, I’ve seen my faith change. When I was a little girl, I would get down on my knees beside my bed and pray to a big god out there. (At the time, God and Santa Clause were, kind of on the same level). As I grew, my faith became more personal, and as I continue to grow and learn, my faith continues to change.

 

Religious reformer, Martin Luther’s faith had grown so much that he boldly proclaimed,

 

             “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain

              that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.”  

       The Bible states that we just need faith the size of a mustard seed, because the write knew that faith this minute, when nurtured, can grow into a mighty faith capable of moving mountains

     Like everything in nature, our faith and beliefs are constantly growing and adapting to the world around us,  While these, changes and adaptation may, or may not,  be thought of as beneficial, it is clear that, good or bad, our  faith is an active, living thing.

 

 

Finding Freedom Through Understanding

One of the most important concepts I am taking away from Theology class is that, no matter what your faith, to effectively speak in Spirit, Power and Truth, it is important to understand where your faith comes from and to understand why you believe what you believe.

 

I hear so many people say, I know what I know, because God reveals it to me. They’ve learned the truth from the community around them, and that their inner knowing  confirms the Truth.

 For years I had an inner truth guiding me and leading me to believe I was unlovable, unwanted and inferior to the rest of the world. You couldn’t convince me it was anything but the truth, because I felt it, I knew it, and everybody told me so. Therefore, I accepted it as Absolute Truth.  Then I signed up for counseling that gave me more information. I learn new thought along with new skills and different ways of coping. What I, originally thought in my heart to be the truth was changed, by bring in more information. I’ve become a more competent, whole person for bringing in that knowledge.

 

A similar experience is happening as I am studying, learning and challenging my theology at Unity institute.  In my course, I am exposed to the most influential beliefs that have impacted and molded our Christian faith. We examine everything from the early Hebrews, to Plato to Tertullian to Charles Fillmore. We not only examine, but, question, and even challenge, their beliefs and teaching.  In addition, we are asked to examine and challenge our own beliefs and understand where they came from. 

When I went to counseling, I learned that thoughts of inferiority and being unlovable, were wrong thinking, coming from something I had been told--even though they felt like truth.

As a theology student I have come to the same conclusion. What may feel like the truth, in light of evidence and new information may, in fact, be an illusion.

 

I’m still a first semester student, with a lifetime of learning ahead. Sometimes it seems the more I learn the less I know. However, just like going to counseling, it seems like the more carefully scrutinized scholarly information I bring in, the more competent and whole I am becoming in by faith.

What Gives Me the Right to Call Myself a Minister?!

In class today, Dr. Tom asked us what gives us the right to be ministers?  What gives us the right to counsel? What gives us the right to give spiritual guidance?   Sometimes I ask the same question of myself as a mom.  What give me the right to bring two children in the world, to guide them, to give them spiritual counsel? My impact on them can be passed on from generation to generation.

So I ask, again, what DOES give me the right? 

 It seems that each one of us has something we are innately drawn to. Perhaps we are drawn to be an artist, an engineer, a doctor, a singers or a great chef. From the time my youngest son started crawling, he never wanted to play with his toys; he was more interested in taking them apart to see how they worked.  This need to see how things worked seemed compellingly innate.  It was as if there was something drawing him to do it. (As an adult he hasn’t changed. He still loves working with cars and ripping them apart).

 

When I look at my son and see his passion, I know he is doing what he is supposed to be doing- he is simply doing what he is drawn to do. I guess that’s why I feel I have a right to be a minister, a mom, a wife and a friend.  I can’t always explain it, but I’m doing what I feel I am innately compelled to do.

Wrestling with Life after Death

   This week, I decided to wrestle with an angel and tackle the question of life after death. To help me with this brawl,  I pulled out Dr. Thomas Shepherds,  Glimpses of Truth.

  

 Theologians throughout the century  have wrestled with the concept of what happens when we die: The Pharisees believed in life after death, the Sadducees believed in extinction. Feuerback called the hope for eternal life wishful projection with Freud concurring calling the idea unrealistic and psychologically immature.

    Perhaps I’m egotistical, but I resonate with Hans Kung’s  statement that the belief in eternal life gives it meaning. And I echo Dr.  Shepherd’s statement, “If death ends it all, life itself is the ultimate absurdity in a scandalously wasteful, bitterly cruel Universe.”

 

   As I ministerial student, I try to combine scholarly research, wisdom of the ages, and my inner Knowing to come up with the best conclusion possible. However when it comes to life after death, I have no clear answer.

   From judgment to reincarnation to extinction to universalism, there are many theories on life after death. Some theories are sounder than others. Most of us hope there is something more after this life, and I join in with that crowd--it just seems to make sense. But in the end, all eschatologies are educated guesswork: none of them can be absolutely proven.

   As Truth students, there are times we have to admit, there are some things we will never know for certain. So what can we do to navigate this uncomfortable field of unknowing? Perhaps we can take a cue from Dr. Shepherd and make a decision to make our lives count.  We can grab a pen and a notebook and make a list of things we could do that would allow us to say, in the end, we had life worth living.1

---

1 Shepherd,Thomas W. Glimpses of Truth. Unity Village, Mo: Unity, 2013