Spiritual Confusion“To those who have, more will be given; from those who have not, what
little they have shall be taken away”. Mark 4:25 We live in an age of unprecedented spiritual confusion. During the past 100 years, mankind has uncovered staggering volumes of knowledge and achieved enormous technological advances. This progress has been so rapid that the religious institutions of our time have not been able to keep pace. All too frequently, church leadership has failed miserably to embrace or explain the dramatic discoveries revealed in these modern times. As modern scientific study continues to unlock the secrets of God’s handiwork, religionists ought to rejoice at the astonishing and wonderful revelations. Instead, scores of so-called spiritual leaders devote all of their efforts and resources to undermine and discredit the works of our loving Father in heaven. God is the absolute of love and logic. His truths are not to be feared. Yet, these leaders persist in their feervent efforts to judge and ridicule God's physical plans and laws. How is it that so many have devoted themselves to the worship of our Father, yet are unable to recognize His works? Is it not hypocrisy to profess love and unquestioning worship of our Lord while denying His material plans at the same time? Our loving Father in heaven draws us to Him throughout our life-long journey. As we strive to know Him, we are rewarded with insight into that which we seek. Jesus taught, “...Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.” --Luke 11:10. This passage continues, “What Father among you will give his son a snake if he asks for a fish, or hand him a scorpion if he asks for an egg? If you, with all your sins, know how to give your children good things, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” Luke 11: 11-13. Those who sincerely seek truth from our loving Father will be rewarded in abundance. But this promise is limited by the degree of our sincerity and the capacity of our understanding. Let us look to the fruits of people to determine the degree and nature of our Lords’ gift. First, remember that our Father in heaven does not bless His children with financial rewards. Generally speaking, wealth does little to further one’s spiritual progress. Too often, such prosperity impedes progress because of its potential distortion of material values. While one’s financial circumstances may indeed influence the opportunities of an individual, such prosperity is not a reflection of God’s favor. Indeed, if it is strictly monetary interests that dominate the cravings of an individual, then such person has a very long way to travel in his or her spiritual journey. If you wish to evaluate the merits of a particular faith or church, don’t be swayed by their relative financial prosperity. Wealth merely indicates the financial support of those who are members of that group. Such support cannot be equated with truth as taught by that faith. Instead, look for signs in the individuals of this group, that our loving Father in heaven has recognized the strength of their faith and has blessed them accordingly with greater understandings. What do we see among the churches today? Some faiths worship their Bibles with such literal fever that they deny the very fact of God’s evolutionary plan. Further, they confuse and dilute the powerful teachings of Jesus as they seek to justify the writings of others included in the Bible. The “Golden Rule”--we are to love our neighbor, is perverted to “love your fellow parishioner” and “pity those of other faiths” (for they are doomed). A “Fellowship of Christ” becomes the “Conceited in Christ”. The tragic result is they are unable to recognize and embrace Jesus’ revelation of our loving Father in Heaven. Contrast this with the revelations bestowed upon those engaged in scientific pursuits. Our Lord has revealed many of His secrets to those who have diligently sought such truths--EVEN THOUGH MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WOULD DENY HIM!! We ought to ask ourselves, “Why does God reward those who fail to recognize Him, instead of rewarding those who have devoted their lives to His worship?” The answer to this question is that both have been rewarded with what they have asked for--according to their own capacity and objectivity. We are able to see vividly the marvelous, physical accomplishments of the scientist. Their rewards are concrete and directly proportional to their imaginative desire and the rigorous embrace of their scientific method. The rewards for the modern religionist are no less real, but they are more difficult to see. Our loving Father in heaven seeks to give His children everything they have asked for, but His efforts are hampered by the child’s willingness to embrace confusing and incoherent ideology. As a result, the fruits of our Lord’s reward is a varied, mixed bag. Those individuals who seek our Father with the humility of a sincere child and pursue Him with unwavering drive and objectivity are granted the greater gifts. These individuals are the spiritual leaders of our time. They represent the beacons of light that truly stand out in our lives. They are scattered everywhere and may be found in all lands and all faiths. |
Questions? Comments?Bible WorshipAppostle Worship |