will on November 10th, 2009
Usually on Tuesday nights you can find me at a Starbucks somewhere in Midtown attending Touch and Agree- my weekly prayer meeting. However, after an unsettling discussion at the meeting two weeks ago, I’ve decided to take a little break.
The topic that arose that week revolved around who, in the end, will gain entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. One of the members of the group was explaining a book she was reading in which the author references the Torah, the Koran, and the Bible in an effort to accurately trace, back to Abraham, the lineage of the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian religions. As I sat and listened to her description of the book, a question began to surface in my mind: “What happens to those who don’t believe in the teachings of the Bible when they pass on?” I posed this question to the group and was met with a variety of different answers- which then sparked a rather interesting discussion.
At first, when I offered the example of someone living outside of a modern civilization who has never heard of Jesus before, I was told that in their case, Jesus would simply look at what’s in their heart when deciding whether they should be let into the Kingdom. Fair enough. I pushed a little further and asked about those who made up other religions- Jews, Muslims, etc.- as well as those people who have no religion, but are more spiritual- Buddhists and Yogi’s. This is where things got heated. We talked about what these other religions believe that is in opposition to the Christian belief that Jesus died on the cross and is the risen Messiah. Everyone at the table was very adamant about Christianity- or the belief that Jesus is the risen Messiah- being the only way to gain eternal life. The Bible was quoted as saying (and I’m paraphrasing for I am not well versed in scripture), that the word of God will reach the 4 corners of the earth; every man will make a choice, and those who do not accept that belief will not be allowed passage. One girl went as far as saying, “I know with complete certainty that if you don’t believe then you will not be allowed into the Kindgom.” This is where I just shut down!
Excuse me? You know with complete certainty? I don’t think so. Yes, you may believe with complete certainty, but there’s no way you could possibly know for a fact who will and will not gain entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. I was so floored by that statement, and over the conversation as a whole, that I just sat there in silence. I didn’t reply- especially as I was the only one at the table who seemed to disagree. But that comment, and the subsequent backing from the rest of the group, took me back to why I stopped going to church and became spiritual over religious in the first place. There is nothing wrong with believing the teachings of the Bible and leading your life accordingly; but I take serious issue with a number of Christians who shut out and condemn any person or thinking that differs from what they “know” as truth. This girl, and what felt like everyone else at that table, was ready to send countless people straight to hell for not believing what she believes- just because of what the book that sat in front of her said. Suppose she wasn’t a Christian. Suppose she grew up as a Jew reading the Torah. She would have no idea about the teachings of Christ, and would have a completely different set of values and beliefs. Would she then believe that she was going to hell? Not at all.
I brought up my recent foray into Orpah’s Spiritual podcast channel, which drew more of the same type of commentary. Most threw out the whole idea of general Spirituality saying, “no…you can’t just wrap everything together and call it the Universe- someone’s in control. He has a name, and you should respect that and call him by his name… it’s God.” Eckhart Tolle’s book, “A New Earth”- a book from which I’ve gained a great deal of insight- was brought up in the discussion, and someone mentioned that she advised a friend who was reading it to throw the book out- calling it “the devil’s book”- and asking how can you be a Christian and go by something that doesn’t claim God or follow the Bible? By this time I had had enough. We had to break the discussion because the diner we were in was closing, and as we scooted out to find another location, I took the opportunity to excuse myself and go home. I haven’t been back to the group since.
I am a believer- let me make that clear. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, was buried, and that he is the risen Messiah. But what I don’t believe is that acknowledging and believing that is the only way to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and gain eternal life. If God is omnipresent and can commune with us in many different ways, then why can’t we do the same? I’m not saying that all religions and methods of spirituality are acceptable- I don’t know for sure what is and isn’t valid- but I do think that the road to knowing, believing in, and following God, and eventually getting into the Kingdom, has many lanes and many passages.
will on November 9th, 2008
i went to church this morning. i really needed it. i’m not a frequent church-goer, but every so often, life takes it’s toll on me and i find myself in need of a visit to the house of the lord.
one thing that always holds true whenever i go is that i never know what to expect. every time i go to church, i have a different experience; but the message given is always one that i need to hear. today was no different. i arrived sometime around 10:15 and walked in to a very crowded church (everyone came out today- i’m assuming to thank God for our new president elect). the service had already begun, and i was instructed to head to the balcony where there might be some extra seats. a group of us latecomers reached the second floor, and some were immediately seated, and others, like myself, stood around hoping that when everyone sat down more seats would appear throughout the crowd.
as everyone sat down, intercessory prayer began and my focus shifted. finding a seat was no longer important. i looked for one of the surrounding “prayer warriors” to catch my eye, and when a nice young woman did, i asked her to pray for me. she reached for my hands, said “good morning,” introduced herself, and asked what wanted to pray for. i gave her my name and stuffed as many words into 10 seconds of speaking as i could. i wanted her to touch on everything! i mentioned that my life is in transition right now, and i really need guidance as i look for a job and promote my book. i also told her that i feel very stuck and stalled right now. she then smiled, said, “ok, will,” and went to work! i got so wrapped up in our few minutes of prayer that i didn’t realize, until she was finished, that i had been crying. i thanked her for praying for me and she gave me a big hug and went on to pray for someone else. a few minutes later, she came back and told me that she prayed for a financial blessing for me as well. score!
i finally, just before the sermon started, found a seat in the first row of the balcony in the center. God really wanted me to hear this message. those of us lucky enough to be in church this morning were treated to a guest preacher who taught and spoke in reference to the book of Malachi, chapter 3, verses 8-10:
8. will a man rob god? yet ye have robbed me. but ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? in tithes and offerings.
9. ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10. bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the lord of hosts, if i will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
at first, my mind went directly to “oh, this is one of those sermons where they try to get us to give them more money;” but it turned out to have an entirely different point of view. we all know about the request God has of us to give Him 10% of the money we are given- a small token of appreciation for all He does for us. how many of us actually tithe on a regular basis if at all? i know i don’t. today’s preacher (i really wish i remembered her name) spoke to us about how we spend our money. “there are 3 people who want your money,” she said. “God, satan, and you!” we need money to survive, and we never seem to have enough, but we often forget that the money we do have is a blessing and gift from God; and by not paying tithes- giving our 10%- we’re really doing Him an injustice. in reference to satan, we learned that he wants our money simply because he’d rather see it wasted than paid back in gratitude to God.
i used to tithe all the time- but never 10% of my income. nowadays when i come into some money, i immediately pay some bills, and then usually spend the rest partying, drinking, and engaging in other money-wasting activities. satan loves that! he can keep me in those moments for a long period of time, and revels in the thought that the same money i spend on all of those drinks is the same money that i should be tithing in thanks for the blessing of having this money to begin with. i am cheating God and robbing him- in his face- of his just due. i have been blessed up and down the street all my life, but it occurred to me, through today’s message, that i’m possibly stalled in my life and career right now because of my disobedience. i could very well be tithing on a weekly basis, but i’m so busy partying my money away, only to turn around and wonder why i’m not in a position of earning more. hmmm… maybe because i’m not giving enough back! bringing 10% to the storehouse is the least i could do in payment for the force that’s ordering my steps, supplying my needs, and keeping me alive and well. it became increasingly apparent that it’s time for me to straighten out my monetary priorities.
the preacher spoke of 3 types of “tithers.” all three get the same paycheck, but one of them tithes a little when they can; another sets a few bucks aside after paying thier bills; and the third runs to give God his 10% up front. i’m shooting to be the latter type. it’s really only fair. and the benefits are overwhelming! 
