8 days and 8 nights in the Holy Land; and I feel like I was left with more questions than answers. How can so many different people practicing so many different faiths all believe they own exclusive rights to God? It puzzles me how a person can have red hot zeal for the Creator while at the same time express unmitigated hatred toward their fellow created brothers simply because they differ in tradition? I don't see how prayers and Molotov Cocktails can mix, but in the Old City of Jerusalem, they sure seem to? Is not God love? Shouldn't his followers be as well?
"Religion, religion everywhere and not a drop to drink!" Can people make claims on God? If I grow my beard long, or wear black garments with tassels dangling low, or chant evening prayers in a Arabic verse is God then obligated to become my soul possession? Is he a genie dwelling in a religious bottle ready to appear to the next person who rubs the lamp the correct way? Can I coerce the Almighty to take my side? Does the most pious man win sole rights to God's heart? Everyone in Jerusalem sure seems to think so: From the woman dressed in a white head scarf who kisses the stones where Jesus may have stood to the priest waving incense over a grave from long ago. The Jews may own the Wailing Wall, but the Christians own the Tomb. The Muslim Salat may be shouted five times a day across the Old Jerusalem streets, but the Catholic Nun is caretaker of the upper room. So who is right? God's pie surely is big enough to go around? One day while visiting Bethlehem on the West Bank, I asked a Palestinian Christian how they survive as a community when it seems the Muslims own the majority share in Palestine? His answer caught me off guard, "We are the chosen people. Every group that is oppressed is the chosen. The Jews are no longer chosen, they had their chance, but we are the new chosen. Just like the millions living on the streets of South America, and the urban poor in the big cities of America, God dwells with the desperate and downtrodden, they are true chosen." Again, another person claiming special privilege, another slice off the side of God. So many opinions, so much fire and flame. So much anger. But in this grand tug-o-war no one seems to care about what God thinks. Does he have a right to choose who will be his? Does he have a say? John the Apostle seems to think so, " But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13) The invitation to gain an interest in Him is clear: Faith in the Son. Personal striving and racial claims mean nothing - - you can not curry favor with God through effort or heredity. God must first seek you out first, he chooses whom he wishes, and his choice is not based on. . . - Blood: Who your daddy is. - Will of the Flesh: What you have done for him lately. - Will of Man: Building great Cathedrals, kissing stones or crying at a picture of Mary. God, through his Spirit, opens eyes and hearts of who he will to believe. He possesses us, we don't make claims on him. God is not impressed with how long I grow my beard or how dedicated I am to my morning prayers. He wants me to simply receive him...to love him. And when you love him you stop hating. You don't fight for rights, you don't raise your flag and say, "This part of God is mine!" You don't need to win because you know deep down inside you are his. He makes claims on me, I become his child. I am at peace. Are you at peace? Or are you comparing, arguing, fighting, hating, striving, and proving? God will not give himself to the pride of man, he is not a piece of real estate to fight over, you cannot place your flag of ownership on him. He will only make claims on you. Has he?
3 Comments
Dave Cumings
11/4/2015 05:01:46 am
Couldn't help ponder the question re our people at KCBC and our community. How many diverse views are represented here? Not legalism stuff but important stuff like salvation, sanctification, social values that s/b Biblical, place of Israel in our scales of values, what does all the extreme events of current life mean in God's scheme of things. It will be exciting to hear more of your thoughts and observations of and about the Holy Land and Middle East.
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Chris
11/4/2015 07:39:31 am
Great questions Dave, a lot to think about. I have really pondered much of the same things you bring up here and my trip to Israel just heightened my questions!
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Tom Tom
11/5/2015 05:20:51 am
Thanks Chris! Wow! If the world could see that they are trying to own God (and create him in there image) instead of He owns them and is who he is then there would be no religious conflict. One God (Father Son and Holy Ghost) always the same never changing he is who he is. Yes he owns me but sometimes I forget that and try to re-create some of his perfect aspects the way I would like them to be. When I do that I think that the world owes me something. I have fear about the future, if he will really take care of all my needs. Again thanks for this insight. My faith is secure in him and I should need nothing else because he can do all things in me that need to be done.
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