In 2011, I specifically remember starting a venture of self and God discovery. I’ve heard it said and I know it to be true. The more you pursue knowing Jesus, the more you learn who you are. We live in a culture and society that promotes self-awareness, self-actualization, and self-identity. In general, I am not opposed to these ideas, I just think the world has taken the wrong route in this path of discovery. In order to truly know ourselves, we must first learn our Creator, the one in whose image we bear.
Even though I knew my belief in God was not in question, I began to question everything I believe. Looking back, I have no doubt this was a God-planted idea that came to me. I began to ask questions and search for answers. Why do I dress the way I do? Why do we gather religiously how we do? What does the Bible actually say about patriotism? So on and so forth. Too many questions to list here (and is not really the point of today’s post). I am so thankful for this journey over the past ten years. I know my relationship with and faith in God has grown exponentially because of it.
I also remember around the same time (although I cannot remember exact dates), my pastor began to teach and preach on Thursday nights about Abraham. How God called Abraham to a land he did not know with an unknown destination. The point pastor emphasized was that it was okay, even healthy, to ask God the tough questions and search out his boundaries. Abraham did not know what the boundaries would be of the land God was leading him into. He only knew God had called him and would show him His boundaries throughout the journey process. Carry this over into the spiritual realm. God is completely fine with us asking Him questions and even questioning things we have always been taught. How else will we know it’s God and not just the voice of a man (or woman).
That brings me to today’s scripture reference: Mark 7:6-9, 13.
ESV – And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! …thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
MSG – Jesus answered, “Isaiah was right about frauds like you, hit the bull’s-eye in fact: ‘These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it. They act like they are worshipping me, but they don’t mean in. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy, ditching God’s command and taking up the latest fads.’ …You do a lot of things like this.”
It is imperative that we know the voice of God for ourselves, that we know His Word through revelation of His Spirit. The scriptures were originally written under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. It still today takes the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to understand them.
I’ll end with this. It is ok to ask questions. It is ok to question what you have always been taught. Just make sure you are asking the One who is Truth and knows the correct answer. We go astray when we ask other men (and women) their opinion on another man’s opinion. That is not to say we can’t gather information from others, just hold God in the place of final authority and knowing.