So it all began for me in 2006. I found myself on my knees crying out to God for forgiveness and asked Him to enter my heart and offered Him my life. Ever since then He has carried me along constantly revealing Himself. I think deep inside my mind I always knew that something was missing. And when I was truly honest with myself I could identify the problem. For some reason though i was unable to repent until then. I mean, time and time again I would apologize to God, and soon there after go right back to whatever it was I was doing. This time, in 2006, it was different. I guess you could say i was tired of trying on my own.
I think the first book I read was one that my mom had given me several years prior. this book kind of gave me an idea of what a purpose driven life looked like. I still wasn't sure exactly what Gods plan was for me, but I knew that i had certain gifts and talents that He had given me. So I figured the first thing i should do is get plugged into a church. After all, where else do you learn about God besides the church i thought. Even though i lived literally a block from my parents church i chose to drive 35 minutes across town to attend with my brother. It didnt take long and i was involved in everything. You name it, college group, mens group, prayer night, worship team, youth group outings. if the doors were open i was there. I needed to be fully immersed in order to get out of the rut my life had been in. This new church i was going to was great. I had no trouble fitting in and making new frineds. Clearly God was leading the way. Doors seemed to open at every turn. For the first time in my life i was able to be taught by a pastor who had a gift for teaching. I was like a sponge. I would spend the week between sunday sermons studying to understand what i had been taught.
Right after my 30th birthday I was baptized (for the second time). It was the first baptism of the year (outdoors) that was offered by this particular church. To say i was hungry for truth was an understatment. I wanted to know all there was to know. Quite frankly I thought that this church was the same as the one i went to growing up. Come to find out they weren't the same. At least they weren't exactly the same. I started to wonder why i was never taught certain things growing up that seemed to be core beleifs at this new church i was attending. I was committed to seeking Jesus so I had to find out why there were differences. The more questions i asked the more i discovered that churches all over the place have slightly different belief structures. Sure they all professed Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, but when it came to the Kingdom, Israel, end times, gifts of the spirit, resurrection, heaven, hell,etc.. They were ALL different.
What Gives? Is it possible to have all these different outcomes from the same book? Something inside me refused to just ignore this obvious problem. I decided to ask my pastor what his thoughts were on this topic. after all, he has been to school for this sort of thing. He basically said if i studied the scripture i would arrive at the same understanding he did. therefore it must be true. For a while i accepted this because i didnt really understand the bible and he was sort of an authority on the subject. My idea of bible study early on was this: drop the bible on the table and look over the page it lands on. If something jumped off the page it meant that God was trying to speak to me. Eventually i met other people who were serious about the Word, who took me under there wings so to speak and coached me in how to study. These folks were further along in their walk and mature in their understanding of scripture. It didn't take long and i was easily arriving at the same conclusions that they had also arrived at. I was zealous with this new knowledge and eager to convince everyone to see things my way. I guess you could say i was happily drinking the kool-aid served at this church. Still a question lingered in my mind of why are churches so different and seemingly divided on the topics listed above.
Interpretation. The answer to my big question is interpretation. In order for any literature to be understood it must first be interpreted. Down through the centuries men with different interpretations founded different sects and we call them denominations today. Realizing that interpretation is the root of the division I decided to be open to other views in order to determine for myself what made sense. It wasn't long after when i was strongly encouraged to not look into other views for fear of being led astray. I kept remembering that Jesus said He would never leave me, nor forsake me Det 31:8. And that the Holy Spirit would guide me to all truth john 13:16. So why were these elders in my church discouraging me from exploring different views? Did they lack true faith? Only God knows.
The Jesus that has been revealed to me through His Word is much greater than what i was taught in church. The purpose of this blog is for me to express what i have learned so that you also can break the chains of the tradition you adhere to. Mark 7:13 "making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."
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