I recently exchanged a couple of emails with a thoughtful person in my church who has spent some serious time mixing Christian faith and New Age philosophy. It really forced me to articulate the Truth as it relates to, er, resides in Jesus… Check it out
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Hi Seth,
Thank you for the invitation to email you with some questions/thoughts I have had for quite some time.
Yesterday when you discussed by believing in Jesus we receive a deposit of the Holy Spirit that then dwells within us, it got me thinking. I have a very naive way of looking at things and try to make them as simple as possible, and my knowledge of the scriptures is by no way as extensive or expansive as yours, and I wonder if I may oversimplify things.
To begin, I mentioned that I view God as the Creator of all things, and being such, when he brings things to life; creates us, would that not equate to his spirit being deposited in us? Meaning, are we all created with a deposit of God’s Spirit; a divine spark or potential, that waits to be ignited,? When I think of this I remember scriptures that say that we are a temple and God’s spirit dwells within. But to think of unity among all men, I think of the scripture we are all one in Christ; and not to consider ourselves seperated by creed, sex, race. Which I think also speaks to the possibility and hope of reconcilation between Gentiles and Jews; all mankind.
Having said that, Jesus is the truth, the life and the way. So here I think about the maturation of our spirit; our spiritual journey, through which we have to decide to use the free will God gave us, and make those choices in life that show our obediencne to God and surrending to His Way/Will.
You mentioned duality and I enjoy analyzing that and the duality that exists in each of us, the stuggle between flesh and spirit. I also think about the importance of the covenant of marriage, and the idea of one flesh. And after learning to love God first foremost, then learning to love our spouse with a perfect love, and serve them before ourselves. Again the duality; one of selfishness and selflessness. Jesus did this so perfectly, and I believe we are all called to do the same, let Christ’s love shine through us. A Chinese proverb I believe that pops to mind is ” We come to love, not by finding the perfect person, but learning to love the imperfect person perfectly”. I really feel in my heart this is where the foundation for unity flows from.
Also, my ideas of the reflection of the Trinity within us; body, mind and soul/spirit, and in pyschological realms the id, ego and superego and learning to bring things into harmony is something that gets my mind going. Just food for thought.
Seth, these are just some ideas I have formed over the years. I have read all sorts of things, attended different churches, read lots of New Age and metaphysical stuff, and I try make sense of what feels like the truth. But unity is a big thing for me and God’s truth in all things and every aspect of life. I would welcome any scriptures you would recommend to address these, or opinions, because I think I may over simplfy some very complex things.
I hope this makes sense, and I didn’t ramble, but I welcome any insights or thoughts you have. Thanks alot and have a blessed day…
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Subject: Re: Questions from last night
Thanks for your thoughts,
I don’t think you’ve oversimplified anything, nor do I think they’re so complex that you should be in fear of doing so. I think the crux of understanding God’s Spirit is understanding God’s story – the uniquely true story of redemption that is found in the Jewish and Christian scriptures. All other versions of truth have elements of it, but fall short of the definition of truth, which/who is a person – Jesus. All that he said and did, all that he embodied, was more than an example of a metaphysical truth identifiable in all things and/or all faiths . He was the Truth. I think that moment when Jesus stood before Pilate is important (Jn 18). Pilate was looking for truth as some disembodied reality that guides or ascribes meaning to humanity and goodness. The irony is that Jesus was standing there not just as an example of true humanity and goodness by the life he lived, but as the only MEANS to it. Not a path to truth, but Truth itself. Metaphysical truth is not in some way bigger than Jesus, which is what a lot of New Age philosophy teaches. Truth, which is about authority over all falsehood or partial truth, is contained in him (Rev. 19:11). It emanates from him. That’s really what faith is about. It says, “My search has found it’s conclusion in Christ alone. All that can be known about the meaning and value of creation is answered in him.” The questions we ask, the search for truth, have come from God. And so has the answer and the object of our seeking. That’s why the idea of the knowledge of Christ is such a key theme for Paul and Peter (2Cor 2:14, Eph 4:13, Titus 1:1, 2Peter 1:3) All true knowing is in Him – sometimes it’s the simple confidence that Christ is on the throne – a reality that can permeate our decisions and attitudes if we desire it. It may not give us intellectual light, but it does empower us to BE. And I think that’s the nature of truth: Not that it always informs, but it transforms us to be agents of Truth in a world replete with confusion and doubt.
So what makes him the Truth? He reveals both the central problem of humanity and is its singular solution. Humanity is fallen. Jesus is it’s redemption. The world is in utter darkness. Jesus is the one true Light of the world. Humanity is lost. Jesus provides the one Way back to the one place of our richest belonging – the Father’s house, the “garden” of his presence – yet again.
Scripture teaches us that every person has inherited a completely sinful nature from Adam (1 Cor 15). The image and likeness of God has been marred utterly by sin and separation. The spark has been snuffed out. In fact, there is no wick remaining. To believe in Jesus and receive his Spirit is to have the flame of true humanity and God’s image and likeness (even His righteousness) recast and “reignited”. Yes, we all have the potential, but God’s presence is not in us whatsoever by his Spirit before we accept the truth. We’d all like to believe that humanity is inherently good and needs just a little spiritual tweaking. But Scripture tells us we must be recreated as something entirely new. Born again (John 3). On a new order. Of a new “material,” even.
While love is a learning process as you’ve said, the perfect love we strive for comes only by our transformation through a relationship with Jesus – an acceptance of not only his ethics, but our inadequacy without him and his empowerment (weakness/strength). It’s not that we need what he teaches so that we can love. It’s that we need HIM.
As for unity, I think the essential unity of all humanity is our common need for redemption and our commonality as objects of God’s love. Whatever the creed, race or ethnicity. What being human tells us is that we are none of us better than others. That’s our equality. Not equally good, but equally fallen and yet loved by God. Worthy of equal dignity and respect and redemption in the sight of everyone. And so grace is what unifies even the believer and the nonbeliever because it is not our doing that saves us, but God’s alone. Our need for God. When I think of a spiritual unity between all people I think only of our need for God.
I hope this helps. Thanks for trusting me with your questions.
Seth
