The people you influence are hungry for the answers to life’s three basic questions. They may not know how to put these questions into words, but behind every cry for help is a deep need to know—at our core—the answers to these questions.
(1) Who is God?
No, we don’t want or need a theology lesson. You can list the attributes of God all day long, and our minds wander. What we need is something more primal. Does God even know I’m here? Does He care? Why is He so angry? If He really cares, why do people suffer so much? Am I just part of some cosmic experiment for Him? Am I just a joke? Or, alternatively, is God so serious that it’s no fun to be around Him at all?
People don’t trust God because they don’t know Him. Would you trust someone who is aloof, angry, arbitrary, abusive? I sure wouldn’t. But this is the only God most people know, and they’re desperately hoping that somewhere in the universe there is a God who cares, a God who can make sense of this mess we’re in, a God who can lead us all to a better place.
(2) Who are we?
Do we even matter? Are we just a chemical equation, a random aberration of of the universe? Are we nothing more than a tiny blip on the radar screen of time? If there is a God, do we disgust Him as we sometimes disgust one another? Are we sinners, or are we saints? Are we lost forever?
We act out of our identity. We become who we believe we are. If we aren’t clear on who we are, then we are doomed to live out some other identity, an identity that was never intended for us. This again, is something we need to understand at the very core of our being.
(3) Why is there a disconnect between who we are and what we do, and what can we do about it?
Most Christians—to say nothing of those outside the family of faith—are clueless. We screw up. We’re sorry. We’ll try harder. We’re trying harder, but it isn’t working. We feel like giving up. Why can’t we get this right?
The old try harder message is pounded away week after week, but it isn’t producing results. Do we understand why? Do we understand what repentance really means, and how God transforms us? Do we understand the difference between Christian cliches and the real thing? If we are to lead people to a better place, we need to know.
Answer these questions well, and you will lead confused and hurting people safely home. You will reconnect them with the God who loves them, and empower them to experience His transforming presence as an everyday miracle in their lives.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
PS. Have you seen my article, “7 Freedoms—Your birthright as a child of God”? Check it out here…
The third question had me reflect the most. I am confident of who the One true God is and who I am in Christ. But the third question… The disconnect between what we do and who we are. Great question! I think it goes hand in hand with the second question rooted in identity. We may see who we are but not know how to function. This is where complete dependence on the Spirit, God’s Word, prayer, faithful men and women mentors are so important. Consider this, before Christ we were like a worn out 1987 Ford temp. When Jesus made us new through faith BAM a 2015 Mercedes. We can know what it looks like but might need the manual and some time on the road before we get a grip on our new ride. I think question 3 touches on the doctrine of progressive sanctification or “Puting off the old self” as Paul stated. Thanks for the article and opportunity to share.
Sharp thinking, Jeff. Thanks for the insightful comment!