From Fear to Faith: How We View the Unknown

 Story

Ten years ago I was in a very dark place in my life. I was awfully depressed, and my depression only grew with every attempt of trying to rid of it. My thoughts were driven by pessimism, and emotions of sadness and regret ran my daily existence. I tried all avenues I knew to help alleviate my suffering. I first turned to my family and friends to support me emotionally. I experienced temporary relief only to go back into a deeper darkness. I then turned to the individual practices that helped me many times before: reading my Bible and praying regularly. As I would unfortunately discover, neither did much to quell my depression. I lived in a constant state of fear that my previous life of joy was gone and gloom was my new reality. 

The depression eventually lifted, and I came out a transformed man. Until that happened, however, fear had its heavy grip on my life, and I was being held captive in my own self-created prison. 

"Fear of God"?

A major driving force of my depression was a belief I had that all suffering that befalls an individual was the result of his or her sin. I had made big mistakes that resulted in my suffering, and I held strongly to the view that I was being punished for those mistakes. Guilt and shame dominated my mindset, and it only made my depression worse. I lived in constant fear of God, believing He was watching and judging my every step. I found evidence that justified this "godly fear" in the Scriptures. As I would come to experience, however, this fear only enlarged my suffering.

The fear of God is one of the more dangerous perceptions Christians carry with them on their daily walk today. Scripturally, this fear made God a contradiction. God's very nature is love, according to the Scriptures, and if perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18), then fear isn't necessary to know God. And yet, we're told to fear God over and over. Many Christians will explain this as a "Godly" fear, but that reasoning doesn't resolve the contradiction. Fear and love are the complete opposites. So, do we fear God or do we love God? Where did this understanding of fearing God even come from?

In the ancient world it was usual for people to fear their deities. Just look at the ancient Mayans or Aztecs in the Western Hemisphere, or look to the Old World of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece; there's a great deal of evidence showing that those cultures lived in perpetual fear of their gods and goddesses. Most ancient deities were personified with a mixed bag of human emotions. One year they would be happy and bless you and your family with a bountiful harvest. The next year they would be angry and initiate a famine in the land. The ancients believed calamity was the result of human wrongdoing that offended the gods. These cultures created specific sets of rules and guidelines aimed to stay on good terms with the gods. This is why sacrifice became commonplace. 

This ancient mindset also applied to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. From the Pentetauch to the prophets, the writers of the Old Testament reveal that Yahweh is a God to be feared. Throughout the Scriptures God is perceived as extremely disappointed by human actions and very hard to please. He not only required animal sacrifices to be made, but he occasionally required human sacrifice to be made to appease His anger. Abraham is the prime example of this, as he was led to sacrifice his own son (although I would argue it was to the Canaanite god Moloch). It is easy to see why the concept of sin originated in the ancient mindset.

For most of the world today, the concept of fearing the deities has gone away. This fear has found a loophole in modern Christianity, however, and still haunts it's adherents, even after Jesus exposed its systematic flaws and gave us an alternative understanding of God as love and forgiveness. In an attempt to modernize the concept, Pope Francis gave a description of what fearing God may actually mean:

The fear of the Lord, the gift of the Holy Spirit, doesn't mean being afraid of God, since we know God is our Father that always loves and forgives us. It is no servile fear, but rather a joyful awareness of God's grandeur and a grateful realization that only in Him do our hearts find true peace.

Before we can experience God as pure love and forgiveness, however, we must assess the very concept of fear, that which God is not. 

Reactionary Fear vs. Residual Fear

There are two kinds of fears we must distinguish, because one fear is a natural human response to danger and the other leads to an unnecessary imbalance within ourselves. Reactionary fear is the oldest response mechanism we have and is shared with other animals. Reactionary fear enables one to respond quickly when detecting a potential threat. It's our internal alert system. It tells us that stepping on that viper could lead to a very unpleasant experience. It tells us that running out in the middle of a freeway is a bad idea. Reactionary fear is necessary for our survival. After a reactionary fear experience the initial adrenaline rush recedes, and our body, mind, and emotions go back to a state of equilibrium (homeostasis). 

Residual fear, on the other hand, is specific to the human species. Unlike reactionary fear that’s experienced in the moment of present danger and then released, residual fear is fear that’s left over from a reactionary fear experience and is stored in the subconscious mind. This internalizes fear and sets the stage for future anxiety and unnecessary fear-driven responses. After entering the subconscious mind, residual fear attaches to the body and the emotions. At this point the conscious mind can think of something else, but the fear is internalized within the individual. This creates a major imbalance of mind-body-emotion. Without intervention, this imbalance will lead to the deterioration of a persons mental, physical, and emotional health and opens them to the possibility of sickness and disease.

Reactionary fear is necessary and a response to a real, potentially dangerous situation. Residual fear is unnecessary and an illusion. 

As one acronym accurately depicts residual fear:

F - False

E- Evidence

A- Appearing

R- Real

Residual fear appears real to the one experiencing it. It’s powerful and seductive. It’s often more powerful than the initial reactionary fear experience. Why? Because the mind creates a more dramatic story around the stored fear. The same story replays over and over again of both the initial fear experience and the possibility of the same event happening in the future. The more the mind dwells on that created story, the more fear digs its claws into the soul and brings about needless suffering. 

Surprisingly, fear can signal to us that an inner awakening is about to take place. As 20th century American professor Joseph Campbell said, “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." Most people fear to enter that cave. It's dark, empty and has potential dangers. Yet, it also potentially holds great treasures and unlimited possibilities. 

That cave is the great unknown.

Why does the unknown create so much fear and anxiety? Why do we avoid the unknown at all costs? Because the unknown can't be controlled. Fear drives the ego to maintain visibility, producing a wide range of thoughts and emotions that will enable it to stand out and survive in the cave. It doesn't want to lose sight of itself, so its only response is to speak loudly. The stronger the ego becomes, the more fear grows. But there is another alternative to fear when entering the cave; that alternative is faith.

Shifting from Fear to Faith in God

The image of faith has been restricted in many modern Christian circles to a mere belief that one has. For years I held strongly to the view that if you just mentally "believe" in Jesus as your Savior you will be saved from God's wrath. Faith was principally head-oriented, a "certainty" in the mind. But when traveling further down the Christian path one soon discovers that faith has a much deeper meaning. Belief falls exceptionally short when describing faith. What is the difference between belief and faith? 

Belief focuses on the seen; faith focuses on the unseen.

Belief focuses on thought; faith focuses on the heart. 

Belief looks for evidence; faith simply trusts. 

Belief is driven by pride; faith is driven by love. 

Belief can be conceptualized; faith cannot be boxed-in definitively. 

Belief shines only in the light; faith grows in the darkness.

Belief is what you know; faith is trusting God in the unknown.

As one faith acronym describes:

                                                                    F- Forsaking

                                                                     A- All

                                                                         I- I

                                                                    T- Trust

                                                                    H- Him

To grow your faith in the unknown, you must let go of control and let God lead you. You must clear room within yourself for God to work. God cannot work within you if you're congested with your own egoic fears. There is no need to fear. There is certainly no need to fear God, who loves and accepts you for exactly who you are. If you give all your fears over to Him and have faith in Him and His plan for your life, you will be led and transformed and come to know and love Him at a much deeper, spiritual level.

Personal Practice: The Route of Reformed Faith

Below is a practice that will help you transition from fear-based living to faith-based living. I encourage you to engage in it and discover the benefits for yourself. The first three steps are focused on self-awareness and necessary action addressing your fears. The next two steps are focused on letting go of your fears and letting God guide you through faith. The last step is an active rememberence of who you are. All six steps are a continuous process.

                                                                        

1. Reflect. In a journal, reflect on the following five questions:

What fears am I holding onto?

Which fear has the most impact on me?

How does this fear limit me?

What caused me to have this fear in the first place?

When does this fear usually show itself?

2.  Recognize. Awareness is the key of enabling you to move beyond your fear. Acknowledge your fear when it comes up in your daily life. Call the fear out when it shows its face. By making the fear conscious, you've done the biggest work of loosening fear's grip on your life. 

3. Respond. Act when necessary to those fears within your control. For example, if you are afraid of being in large groups, take the first action step and join a small group. If you fear for the safety of your child, take the necessary precautions. If you fear your spouse or loved one is upset with you, initiate a conversation with them and discuss the issue. This step is not easy, but it's necessary. Take action when appropriate so the fear is addressed right then and there and doesn't grow. When your fear is outside your control, however, move to the fourth step.

4. Release. What seems like the easiest step is maybe the most challenging: releasing all control to God. Your ego will fight you! Be aware of this. But keep this in mind: worrying about fears you cannot change leaves little room for faith. Release your fears to God. “Cast all your anxiety on Him for he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). Let go of your fear and let God take the lead. The freedom gained with this step is astounding once experienced. A huge weight will be lifted off your shoulders and you open yourself to the possibility of God's revelation.

5. Rely. Repeat the FROG prayer : 

Fully 

Rely 

On 

God 

This is the prayer of ultimate faith in the unknown. It requires no action on your part. All it requires is patience. Wait for God's guidance. He will lead you.

6. Remember. Remember who you are. You are a vessel of God, and He has a purpose for you. As God told the prophet Jeremiah, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.'" Meditate on these words daily.

Conclusion

During my battle with depression, there was a deeper truth I knew within myself. I knew there was a purpose in my suffering, even though I was unclear what it was. I knew that all things do “work together for the good of those who love God" (Romans 8:28). I couldn't see the master plan. Most of the time, I didn't even sense His Presence. Yet my faith grew in the darkness, and as it grew I began to let go of the former fears and trust God completely in my unfolding.

Fear and faith are two different responses to the unknown. The real question is: which do you feed?

Quotes:

"Fear is the lengthened shadow of ignorance."

Arnold Glasow

"Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world."

Ralph W. Emerson

"Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil."

Aristotle

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." 

Joseph Campbell

"Everything you want is on the other side of fear."

Jack Canfield

"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown."

H.P. Lovecraft

"Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death."

Unknown

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

1 John 4:18

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

1 Peter 5:7

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears."

Psalm 34:4

"Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof."

Khalil Gibran

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

Martin Luther King Jr.

"Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time."

Oswald Chambers

"Fear is the glue that keeps you stuck. Faith is the solvent that sets you free."

Shannon L. Alder

"The more you go with the flow of life and surrender the outcome to God, and the less you seek constant clarity, the more you will find that fabulous things start to show up in your life."

Mandy Hale

"Pray, and let God worry."

Martin Luther

"It is presumptuous in me to wish to choose my path, because I cannot tell which path is best for me. I must leave it to the Lord, who knows me, to lead me by the path which is best for me, so that in all things His will may be done."

Teresa of Avila

"We have very little faith in the Lord, very little trust. If we trusted the Lord as much as we trust a friend when we ask him to do something for us, neither we as individuals nor our whole country would suffer so much."

Elder Thaddeus of Vitovrica

"One's suffering disappears when one lets oneself go, when one yields- even to sadness." 

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"There's nothing like suffering to remind us how not in control we actually are, how little power we ultimately have, and how much we ultimately need God."

Tullian Tchividjian

"Suffering is part of the human condition, and it comes to us all. The key is how we react to it, either turning away from God in anger and bitterness or growing closer to Him in trust and confidence."

Billy Graham

A Call for Those Tired of Doctrine-Driven Christianity

Story

My spiritual mentor, my great-uncle Bob Iverson, was nearing his 90th birthday when my mom and I went to go visit him for the last time up in Seattle. We loved visiting Uncle Bob, and we left inspired every time we had the opportunity to go see him up north. The last time we visited him he told us something that stuck with me and my mom to this very day: “Christianity is not about religion, it's about relationship.” As my Uncle Bob would say, “Wow!” 

I had heard the religion-relationship saying many times before, but it was different coming from Uncle Bob. Uncle Bob was an old-school preacher, very traditional but also open for new revelation. When he told me relationship was the most important aspect of being a Christian, I was assured of what I had come to know myself through my own studies and my own Christian walk. 

I've read the Bible my whole life, and I continue to find inspiration in it everyday. Growing up I read the Bible in typical evangelical fashion: the Bible was a story that showed God created the world, man brought sin into the world and damned us all to hell, and it was only through "asking Jesus into your heart" that you were officially saved and could go to Heaven when you died. Every time I read the Bible I could fit any passage into that common story.

I graduated from high school in 2006 and went to Seattle Pacific University, a Christian college near Queen Anne hill. As a Christian, I felt comfortable going here. I decided to go to college to become a teacher or pastor, two drives that inspired me since elementary school. As I attended classes in the fall and winter of the 2006-2007 school year, my understanding of God expanded. I was introduced to a variety of Christian history and theology. I realized through my studies that there was way more content in Christianity than I was raised in, some beliefs being very different than my own. My mind started to open to the reality that God is a lot bigger than any single belief system.

Within one year I had two major revelations. The first happened when I read C.S. Lewis's book Mere Christianity. In it he said, "Pride is the complete anti-God state of mind." It wasn't drinking alcohol, exploring other faiths or having sex as I was led to believe. Pride led to the fall of man, and out of pride all sin is manifested. 

My second revelation happened when I read Jesus' two greatest commandments: Love God and Love your neighbor. I read these words many times before, but for some reason I saw them with a different pair of eyes. While pride is anti-God, Love is God. Love is the ultimate reality of God and the primary Christian instruction. 

With these two revelations I began to read the Bible and see Christianity differently. Christianity became more universal, accepting, and spiritual. God became more relatable and accessible. Through this new lens I could see the corruption of the modern church, driven by pride in doctrine. I saw the manipulation tactics used by mainstream church leaders to bring more people and revenue into their churches. The pride-love dichotomy was very, very pronounced for me.

I read the same Bible, but I was internally transformed. 

3 Archetypes of Christians

There are three archetypes of Christians that I have encountered in my walk:

Religious Christians- The religious Christian highly values doctrines. Religious Christians believe that by being a Christian they are in an exclusive club that is saved while all others are damned who don't hold those same beliefs. Religious Christians are very criticial of new ideas and modern revelations.

Struggling Christians- Struggling Christians also value doctrines but they have an element of deeper spiritual truths that can only be understood through personal Divine encounter. They see the value of things like faith, hope, love, and transformation, but have a tough time shedding the doctrines and theologies that surround them. They hold strongly to certain doctrines but can also see how doctrines fall short. They are in a constant struggle between what the Bible says and what they experience, a battle between religion and relationship. They struggle in the middle ground.

Relational Christians- Relational Christians see little value in doctrine and value relationships above all else, be it a relationship with God or relationships with others. There is no separating love of God and love of neighbor for the relational Christian. They are the same. Relational Christians open themselves for Divine encounter and complete transformation, even if that means leaving traditional beliefs behind.

The Never-Ending Temptation of Doctrine-Driven Christianity

The Roman Catholic Church dominated Christian thought for nearly 1500 years. From Rome to the Middle Ages, being a part of the Church was the highest social value. The Bible and personal encounter with God was also valued but only under the authority of the Catholic Church. After Christianity was legalized and declared the official religion of the Roman Empire, politics and aristocratic greed began to influence its development. Very quickly the Church was led by doctrines that would best serve the empire and its leaders, and it made Jesus’ teachings a minor aspect of Christian life. Church leaders, aristocrats and government officials became intertwined. To add to the corruption, the Bible was only produced in Latin, an ancient language understood primarily by the clergy. Lay people couldn't read the Bible, so Scriptures could be picked and abused by the church authorities quite easily. The Church began to sell indulgences to the public, payments to the Church to reduce the amount of punishment one had for their sins or for the sins of their ancestors. The Church was on its high-horse heading into the 16th century. 

Then along came Martin Luther, a German monk and college professor. With the ability to read Latin, Luther was able to see how far the Church fell away from its original teachings of internal transformation based in the Bible. He criticized the Church and its selling of indulgences, and he called out the Church where he saw they abused their power. At this time, the Church held ultimate authority. Those that came against the Church were often deemed heretics and burned at the stake. It was a risk Luther was willing to take. Because of Luther the seed was planted for a major reformation in Christian thought. 

It made sense why Luther valued the Bible and gave it ultimate authority, also known as sola scriptura, or the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice. The Catholic Church lost its authority over Protestant Christians, transferred into the hands of popular Protestant leaders. Denominations started to rise in Europe under these various leaders.

Sola scriptura is a concept that Protestant churches have held in the highest regard for the last 500 years. The problem with sola scriptura is it led to bibliolatry, or the idolization of the Bible. Jesus warned us of this (John 5:39), but we largely ignored his warning. This idolatry is widespread amongst Protestant circles today. In these circles, the Bible has sole authority, and questioning such authority or adding or taking away from it is heretical and potentially damns one to hell. What the idolization of the Bible did was allow mainstream Protestant denominations to create and promote new doctrines based on their own interpretations of the Bible, believing their own doctrines to be absolutely true and others to be absolutely (or partly) wrong. Legalism became the norm. Once again Christianity strayed away from what Jesus showed us: doctrines are a problem and so is the worship of anything other than God, including Scriptures. Sola scriptura also took away perhaps the most important ingredient of knowing God: personal encounter and Divine revelation. By placing sole authority in the Bible, an individual was limited from the kinds of Divine encounters they could have. Novel encounters were seen with suspicion. The belief formed that somehow, someway God stopped speaking to people as he once did to people like Abraham, Moses, David, Ezekiel, Paul, and John. 

From the Catholic Church to the Protestant churches, from priestly authority to written authority, the Reformation was an important step of peeling away religious nonsense and embracing God personally, but it wasn’t enough. The Reformation called out the corruption of the Church, but it didn't lead to mass spiritual transformation, as Luther had hoped. In fact, Christians clung tightly to their doctrines and refused to change just as the rest of the world was moving forward. 

Correlating with the Protestant Reformation was the world's transition from the Middle Ages to modernism. Modernism saw the rise of science and the separation of science from spirituality. Christians always seemed to be the ones to combat science, always the last ones to the party. 

Christians were the last to accept the sun as the center of our solar system. 

Christians were the last to accept evolution, and there are still many today who reject it quite profusely.

Christians were the last to accept medicine, claiming those who practiced medicine to be witches.

Christians were the last to accept contraception, even though it had numerous health benefits. 

Christians continue to be the last to accept the possibility of life on other planets. 

The craziest part is Christians have been in the majority all along! Now their numbers are dwindling, their influence decreasing, and it's happening quite rapidly. People outside the inner circle of Christianity refuse to adopt a religion that centers on an angry God who threatens to punish people to hell. People distance themselves from judgmental and condemning people, and people certainly don't appreciate being told that shame and guilt are virtues to know God. People in the 21st century are finding little value in the doctrines of Christianity. It is no longer taken seriously by the majority of people outside its inner circle. It has lost its effectiveness to transform lives and expand. The old methods are simply outdated. It's time for some serious changes in how we practice Christianity. We don't need to change our theologies and doctrines. We need to move beyond them altogether.

Jesus stood up against the corruption of his own religion. He never intended to create a new religion; he wanted to transform his own. He wanted his Jewish followers to open their eyes and see that there was a major difference between God in essence and the priesthood, temple, and Scriptures that attempted to put God in a box.

People are starting to awake to the corruption in the modern church. People are starting to read and understand Jesus' teachings, and not rely on the Church's interpretation of those teachings. People are starting to study the history of the Church and the abuse it has caused. People are starting to study the history of the formation of the Bible and see that it too falls short in the end without God. People are starting to wake to the fact that God can speak to them today, as He never changes.  

We are living in a postmodern world, and we're beginning to see science and spirituality integrated together. If we Christians want to regain our status as the light of the world, we got to make some big changes. Instead of hoping for change collectively, however, we need to start at the individual level. All sustainable systematic change begins within the individual. Changed individuals change the culture. I'm calling on Christians from all different denominations who feel called to go beyond doctrine and encounter the mystery of God directly. I'm calling on those Christians to shift from a doctrinal worldview to a worldview of Love, if you haven't done so already.

Let Go of Religion and Let God Transform You in Love

Years ago I came across a word, metanoia, that totally transformed the way I understood Christian conversion. In the original Koine Greek, meta means "beyond" or "after" and nous means "mind". It can translate as "beyond the mind" or "transformation of mind". Second and third century Christian scholar Tertullian said that metanoia is best translated as change of mind.

"In Greek, metanoia is not a confession of sins but a change of mind."

Metanoia can thus be understood as spiritual conversion. The understanding of metanoia can go further and indicate a transformation of the whole self, a shift in a person's entire being: the old self dies and a new self is born. Metanoia is translated ten times more often than the next word we'll look at, metamelomai.

Metamelomai means to "repent" or "regret". Other translations show it means remorseful regret or painful sorrow. Metamelomai is strongly associated with the feelings of guilt and shame. It is used when describing Judas' remorse after betraying Jesus. The result of such regret for Judas was suicide.

Metamelomai is how I previously understood Christian salvation. It's how I was taught. According to this theology, one must feel extremely guilty and shameful of their sins in order to humble oneself before Christ to be saved. I remember how this belief gave me extreme anxiety and very low self-worth.

When the Bible was translated into English, metanoia and metamelomai were translated similarly as "repent". Why is this important?

In Matthew's gospel there's a verse well-known to most Christians that has driven evangelism. 

"Repent, for the kingdom of God (or heaven) is at hand." 

Matthew 4:17

When one goes back to the original Greek translation in the verse above, however, metamelomai is not used; metanoia is. So let's change the translation to its original Greek meaning:

"Change your mind, for the kingdom of God is at hand." 

There is no indication of guilt and shame. There is no repentance. John the Baptist called for transformation. 

"Change your mind otherwise you won't see God." 

When you see John's words as a call for transformation and not a call to repentance, the whole understanding of salvation shifts. Salvation requires absolutely no guilt or shame. Fear is not a requirement to know God. Salvation simply requires a willingness to be transformed through Christ by Love.

When you read the words and actions of Jesus, it is recognized that Jesus preached transformation through Love. He preached that Love of your neighbor and Love of God are the greatest commandments (Matthew 22:36-40). He said that others will know you're his disciples by Love (John 13:35). He even radically commanded that we love our enemies (Matthew 5:34)! Paul and John the Evangelist also emphasized Love. John says in 1 John 4, "Whoever does not Love does not know God, because God is Love." Paul says you can have all the knowledge, perform miracles and have faith that can move the mountains, but if you don't have Love you are nothing. (1 Corinthians 13). Paul even valued Love over faith, which mainstream Protestantism still identifies as the ultimate pathway to God. Faith isn't the way to God: Love is. Faith is the fruit that arises out of Love and can deepen your Love of God, but Love is the ultimate reality of God that also includes Love of those He created. If you seek to be transformed, you do it by Love. If you seek to "make disciples of all nations", you do it by Love. If you seek to transform this world, you do it by Love. If you want to know God, know and practice Love. God and Love are the same.

Is Love the image of a Christian to the outsider? 

In my future book, I will be writing about seven mindset shifts that need to happen to ensure Christianity's survival going forward into the 21st century and beyond. These mindset shifts begin with YOU:

1. From Original Sinner to Unique Creation (How We View Ourselves)

2. From Paradise to Presence (How We View the World)

3. From Judgment to Understanding (How We View Others)

4.  From Concept to Mystery (How We View God)

5.  From Belief to Transformation (How We View the Christian Walk)

6.  From Fear to Faith (How We View the Unknown)

7.  From Separation to Inclusion (How We View the Church and the Great Commission)

These mindset shifts will enable the willing Christian to see oneself, the Bible, the world, people, and God through a different lens. Same soul. Same Bible. Same world. Same relationships. Same God. Different mindset.

Albert Einstein once said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." 

Christianity can lead the change moving forward, but to do so we must abandon doctrine-driven Christianity and embrace Love-driven Christianity. We must officially move beyond the confines of religion and embrace an open relationship with God. May God guide you in this journey.

Quotes

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful." 

Seneca

"A religion that is small enough for us to understand would not be large enough for our needs." 

Grenville Kleiser

"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness." 

Dalai Lama

"I reject any religious doctrine that does not appeal to reason and is in conflict with morality." 

Mahatma Gandhi

"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." 

Susan B. Anthony

"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful wihtout having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" 

Douglas Adams

"Morality is doing what is right, no matter what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told, no matter what is right." 

H.L. Mencken

"God has no religion." 

Mahatma Gandhi

"Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet. Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich." 

Napoleon Bonaparte

"I belong to no religion. My religion is love. Every heart is my temple." 

Rumi

"Love is my religion"

Ziggy Marley

From Paradise to Presence: Shifting Focus to the Present Moment

My Story

Growing up in the evangelical church I always viewed the world through the lens of the rapture. Questions like, "When will Jesus return?", "Will I be raptured to heaven?", "Will my loved ones make it?" and "Who will be left behind?" dominated my thinking. It created in me a fear that I didn't witness in other people. 

Back then, the world really served no purpose to me, other than to give me an opportunity to witness to people, warning them to accept Jesus in their heart or miss the chance and suffer through the seven year tribulation and go to Hell for eternity (unless of course you get guillotined as a martyr- then you'd go to Heaven!). I also feared for myself in every moment, that if I didn't ask God to forgive me right then and there of any sins I committed since my last confession that I was in danger of being left behind and could face God's judgment and tribulation as all the other sinners which I distanced myself from. I had no real inner peace. I was led by fear.

As we transitioned into the new millenium, there was constant talk in the media and my circle of family and friends that the world was going to end. My cousin and I found this very exciting. We used to talk about the second coming everyday. We saw the world was going to hell and we put all our attention and focus on the rapture. We anxiously awaited for Jesus' return, mentally and emotionally preparing ourselves so we were stainless in the eyes of God in that very moment of rapture. I remember when the new year hit nothing happened, and quite frankly, we were a little bummed. Maybe it was because our expectations were not met. Maybe it was because we wanted to see what rewards we were going to get in heaven in our attempts to "win souls for Christ". Or maybe it was because we hadn't quite escaped the pain of death. 

My grandpa believed he wasn't going to die and was going to be raptured, as have countless Christians before and after him. People lived and people died, many believing they wouldn’t. Yet, the world remained, as it has for 4.5 billion years.

It took many years to free myself from what I came to discover was a fear-driven mindset. It had nothing to do with God and everything to do with saving myself from God's wrath. I see how selfish I was now.

A Shift from Afterlife Living to Present-Moment Living

The concept of an afterlife has been on the human mind since the development of the frontal lobe and saw notable growth with the rise of civilization. As humans, we all desire to live a long life and wonder what will happen after we die. I personally believe there's life after death, although I can't say what that looks like. There are multiple perspectives on the afterlife, many of them based on personal near-death experiences. With so many differing stories it's tough to tell which one is correct. Perhaps they all are. We won't actually know the truth until we die and experience it for ourselves. 

This for many Christians is unacceptable. The unknown creates too much anxiety. The unknown brings forth an inner fear that many feel needs to be buried and ignored. The guarantee of an afterlife is an absolute non-negotiable for the majority of Christians, who over a period of 2000 years developed a theology that assured them that the afterlife is guaranteed and going to be way better than the present life, at least for Christians. To them, focusing on heaven was more important than stewarding the world. Mystery was not a value, and in fact was seen as a problem.

Perhaps this is where the problem lies. By focusing primarily on the afterlife one begins to adopt a detached view of this world. According to most Christians, this world is not our real home. This is Satan's world. There’s no need to put much attention here. One can justly say this eschatology is the lead cause of the world's present state. Please reflect on this: if you are wrong about Jesus coming back within your lifetime, and you don’t even attempt to better this world now, your kids, grandkids, and descendants will inherit that same world you neglected. You could have done something about it, but you didn’t. That will be your legacy.

There is a minority of Christians, though, who see the world in a totally different light. To these Christians, Jesus didn't come into the world to condemn the world but to save it through him (John 3:17). Former pastor and author Brian Mclaren once brilliantly said, "The gospel is not an evacuation plan for heaven. It's a transformation plan." Wow! 

Jesus didn't come to save us from the inevitable torment from a pissed-off God. (most ancient cultures had this relationship with their gods and goddesses). Jesus presented a radically different view of God. 

Jesus was a healer; he restored life.

Jesus was a teacher; he taught the way of Gods love.

Jesus cared for others; he would dine with people seen as inferior.

Jesus was a prophet; he could see the wrongs of the world and the wrongs of religion.

Jesus was a mystic; he had a unique relationship with God that made him a light to many. 

Jesus came to transform this world and bring heaven to earth. Jesus brought the world a new divine consciousness (the Holy Spirit) that can be tapped into and experienced at anytime and anyplace, even right here, right now. By embracing this worldview, you will see the world in a totally different light. You will see beauty where others cant. You’ll see God everywhere. The earth does not belong to Satan anymore. It belongs to God.

Franciscan friar Richard Rohr described how many Christians’ worldview starts with Genesis 3: the fall. When a Christian starts viewing the world through the lens of Genesis 1 and 2, however, a different worldview begins to unfold. One starts to see God in all things, in all of creation. One can see the internal fingerprints of God in a bird, in a worm, in a tree, even in a rock. One will begin to see God within not only the joys and good times but also within the sufferings and bad times, perhaps. The world suddenly becomes enchanted. In Genesis 1 God declared the world is good six times, and in verse 31 God declared "it was very good". Everything in the Garden of Eden was acceptable. Subsequently in chapter 2, God made the seventh day a day of rest and appreciation of His creation. Every time we stand in awe of the beauty of world we are resting in the Sabbath, appreciating the world as God does. Then man was created to steward God's "good" earth.

This world is a physical expression of God, every animal, plant, fungus, and non-living thing. So much diversity, so much beauty! Even in us humans, where the divine spark is most often suppressed, there is abundant beauty. Theres beauty at the core of your being. Theres beauty in your differences. There's beauty in the diversity of human expression. There's beauty in the diversity of religions, appearances, and cultures. There's no two humans that are the same. There will never be another YOU. How magnificant is that?

Then comes Genesis 3. As the story goes, the serpent manipulated man to see himself as higher than all things, including God, and as a result sin entered the world. The fall was a result of man's pride, believing his intelligence, his beliefs, his emotions, and his life was above all else. The root cause of all sin is man's pride, not his nature. As man's pride took over his consciousness, man lost touch with his Creator and His creation, and in essence, lost touch with the divine spark that was within himself. Pride became the mask, and the ego the identity. Man fell further from God when man decided God was found in temples and books; man lost the ability to see God in all things. 

Pride is the sin that leads to all other sins. As C.S. Lewis states in Mere Christianity, "Pride is the complete anti-God state of mind." Pride arises out of the human ego, the thoughts, emotions, and beliefs which form a person's identity. Once a person begins to see themselves as this identity, they lose touch with their divine nature. They lose touch with creation. They lose touch with God. And as living and breathing humans, pride continues to bang on the door of our consciousness.

But pride can be checked. How? By living presently. By focusing on the present moment, no longer are your thoughts, emotions and beliefs in the drivers seat. Your consciousness is, and God is much closer to you than you realize. Conscious-awareness is the doorway to a major transformation.

Seven Personal Benefits of a Shift to Present-Moment Living

By shifting your focus to the present moment, several benefits will begin to emerge in your life as they did mine:

1.  If you live presently, you will value the earth and all its inhabitants.

We are extremely blessed to live here. So far, earth is the only verified planet that has life. All life is here for a segment of time, to live, to breath, to express, to create. There's so much diversity of life on this planet! By being present, we return to God's original intention of the Sabbath. We appreciate all life on this earth wherever and whenever we can. By being present, we are also called to better take care of this earth.

2.  If you live presently, you will create deeper and more meaningful relationships.

As a father, I absolutely love to spend time with my two daughters. However, I often find my mind wandering elsewhere or I’m multitasking and my attention is off the girls. They can sense this, and they’ll then try to get my attention another way: by being naughty. Every single time! These moments make me immediately realize I’m not being present with the girls. What a difference presence makes. With presence you start to value every moment you have with your loved ones. By being present you're free to love them and accept them for exactly who they are, not for who you think they should be. 

3.  If you live presently, past pain and future anxiety disappear.

This one I came to experience myself after four long months of depression. I tried everything to relieve my suffering but nothing worked. Then one day I decided to focus consciously on my step. As I took a single step I focused merely on that step, nothing else. When I did this all the grey that I was living day to day disappeared momentarily, the most relief I had in months. I continued to take a few more steps and again my depression lifted briefly. Over time my focus on the present moment grew, and my depression went away.

4.  If you live presently, you will manifest the fruits of the Spirit. 

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) can all be experienced right here, right now. You don’t have to wait to experience the fruits in the afterlife. Experience them now by being present. Experiment for yourself. Your life will cease to bring forth the Spirit’s fruit if you put change into the future.

5.  If you live presently, you will experience healing.

My great-grandma Anna was known as a healer. There were many stories I heard growing up of when she prayed over someone or some animal, a healing miracle took place. One time Anna had a cow that got a potato caught in its throat, eventually losing oxygen and falling over onto the ground. Anna went over to the cow and prayed, "By the name of Jesus, potato go down!" The potato went down, the cow got back up, and went off grazing. How did this happen? Anna declared in the moment. She didn't say, "God, if you can heal my cow, I would really appreciate that." She didn't say, "Well, the cow had it coming. She should've chewed her food better!" No! She declared in that very moment. By being present then and there, God was able to use her to heal. Presence has this awesome authority.

6.  If you live presently, your life calling is clearer and you can see it being fulfilled moment by moment.

Ecclesiates 9:10 says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." 

You weren't put here on this earth to waste your life away and just go to Heaven. You have a unique calling. You weren't put here to be like everybody else, to think like everybody else, to feel like everybody else, to believe like everybody else. You are a unique creation of God, full of strengths, passions, dreams, ideas, and insights that are directly tied to your calling, a sort of hardwiring from the direct hand of God. Embrace it with all your might! Not only will you be aligned with your truest nature; others will reap the benefits as well. You are a necessary part of the "Body” of God.

7.  If you live presently, you will discover God.

God cannot be put in a box. God is not bounded by thought, belief or written word. All fall short of describing God. God is not bounded by space or time, and God doesn't need space or time to be experienced. The present moment transcends both space and time. The present moment is, just as God Is. When Moses asked God in the burning bush who was speaking (Exodus 3), God replied, "I Am that I Am." God didn't say "I was” or “I will be." We use the word presence for a reason when describing the Spirit of God. You don't have to wait for the afterlife to experience God. You can experience God here and now. 

Conclusion

All of us have lost loved ones and want to see them again someday. I believe we will. Perhaps they're even amongst us in some mysterious way. Regardless, this shouldn’t take from your present life. 

You can believe in an afterlife and not be driven by it. You can be prepared for Jesus' return (literal or symbolic) and still live presently every day, every hour, every minute, every second. We must be prepared for anything and ready to adjust in every given moment, but never should we be driven by fear. That is not the consciousness of God. Love is. You don’t have to wait to go to heaven to experience God’s Love. You can experience Love HERE AND NOW.

Spiritual Practice

Contemplation: I describe "contemplation" as a way to become aware of God right here and right now. It doesn't matter where you are. You can get started anywhere!

In Hebrew, the word "ruach" means breath, wind or life force and the Greek equivalent "pneuma" means breath or spirit. Essentially, spirit and breath are the same thing, according to Biblical Hebrew and Greek. When God breathed into Adam He gave him His Spirit. As you give your last breath, you give your spirit back to God.

Focus on your breath. Do this for 5 minutes. If your mind starts to wander (and it will), bring your focus back to your breath. This is your spirit. This is your connection to God. This is where the Holy Spirit dwells. This is where revelation happens. Expand and start to see the outside world, and if you decide to move, focus on every action you do in the moment, whether it's taking a step, brushing your teeth, or petting an animal. Do this everyday, whenever you can. As your practice grows, so will your awareness. As your awareness grows, the benefits will reveal themselves in your life.

You may also want to go on a nature walk. The Japanese call this shinrin-yoku or forest bathing. See the new sights. Smell the unique smells. Touch the plants and the ground. Taste the edibles when possible. Listen to each unique sound. Appreciate everything. 

Reflection Questions:

1.  What benefits am I gaining by focusing on the afterlife?

2.  How can I get these same benefits while living presently?

3.  What benefits could there be if I shift my focus to the present moment?

4.  How can I be more present in my life?

 

Quotes:

“Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.” 

Wayne Dyer

“Live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find eternity in each moment.”

Henry David Thoreau

“If you are depressed, you are living in the past; if you are anxious, you are living in the future; if you are at peace, you are living in the present.” 

Lao Tzu

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in tne moment, live in the breath.” 

Amit Ray

“Do not dwell on the past; do not dream of the future; concentrate the mind on the present moment.” 

Buddha

“Eternity belongs to those who live in the present.” 

Ludwig Wittgenstein

“The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is.” 

Eckhart Tolle

“The great science to live happily is to to live in the present.” 

Pythagoras

“Learn from the past, prepare for the future, live in the present.” 

Thomas Monson

“That is why those who are not capable of being there in the present moment, they don’t really live their life- they live like dead people.” 

Thich Nhat Hanh

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” 

Omar Khayyam

“If you think your afterlife will be better than your current life, you’re not really living. You’re just waiting to die.” 

Unknown

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” 

Matthew 6:34

From Original Sinner to Unique Creation: How We View Ourselves

Classroom management is always one of the more challenging aspects of being a grade school teacher. As I give lessons, I am often interrupted. Sometimes students ask me a random question or have a random comment when I’m in the middle of saying something (don’t you love when people do that!?). Other times it’s a student trying to get the attention of a friend. Every day I find myself constantly reinforcing social etiquette, and every day I remind students that there’s a time to listen and there’s a time to talk. Every year I tell my students:

You have two ears and one mouth for a reason. You ought to be listening twice as often as you speak, otherwise you won’t learn anything.

This saying was taken from a leadership conference I attended in 2016 in Orlando, FL. Listen first; above all intentions, when communicating with another seek to understand. Not only will you find yourself more influential, you'll also find great joy in learning about another person holistically. One starts to see that the world becomes a much bigger and diverse place, full of wonder and excitement, when one seeks to understand another exactly as they are without some pre-conceived judgment or expectation. 

One of the biggest problems I’ve found in Christian thought is the destructive theology of original sin. Still held by many denominations today (but seeing a decline in numbers), in this view Christians consciously and subconsciously view people as fallen, sinners needing redemption and repentance. This includes newborns who have no life experience. It’s a belief that I grew up on. It’s a belief I held. It’s a belief I later found limiting and destructive to the soul, a “glass half empty” mindset. Instead of seeing the good in people, the belief in original sin leads Christians to see the bad in people first before they see them as blessed. This view has led to the slaughter of countless individuals based on misunderstandings and/or different belief systems. This is the view that has ultimately led to dualism, of separating oneself from another, and the dysfunction of human relationships.

An alternative Christian view is seeing all people as God’s unique creations, each as an expression and an aspect of God. When this mindset replaces original sin, a major shift happens internally. Instead of seeing another as fallen, one begins to see beauty in every person. Instead of belittling people and seeing oneself as better or closer to God, one begins to build and encourage people in their own walk, even if it’s different than their own. Instead of being driven by judgment, which Jesus clearly told us not to do, one is driven by LOVE, which God is and was Jesus’ primary message. And yet we still judge anyway, believing it’s our right as Christians (or non-Christians), and justifying our egoic beliefs through contradicting Bible verses.

It still takes years and years, perhaps a lifetime, to retrain the subconscious mind.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is plank in your own eye?

You hypocrite; first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Matthew 7:1-5 

Why so many Christians don’t live this teaching of Jesus, whom they say they follow with all their heart, I do not know. Even if one pridefully thinks they’ve taken the plank out of their own eye, there are still  egoic blockages within the subconscious mind, planks that cannot be seen. We are human, and until the day we die and totally lose our ego (thoughts and feelings), there will be planks still tainting our perspective. This isn’t a teaching for just Christians (remember Jesus didn’t teach Christians; he taught Jews). It’s a teaching for everyone. DO NOT JUDGE.

In contrast, there are countless authors in the New Testament who talked about LOVE, something Jesus and his first followers over-emphasized. Reflect on the following:

If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. 

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. 

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 

This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us. 

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 

And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

1 John 4:7-21

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all yoru mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:36-40

God is LOVE. And if Jesus is God (as Christians proclaim), then Jesus’ is LOVE. And if Jesus is the Way, then LOVE IS THE WAY. LOVE is Jesus’ message.

What would happen if instead of fearing people we loved them? 

What would happen if instead of seeing the worse in people we started seeing the best in people? 

What would happen if we stopped viewing people as “sinners” and started viewing them as God’s unique creations?

What would happen if we stopped identifying others by their inevitable mistakes and instead seek to understand others wholly and exactly as they are right now?

There is no person who is a mere sinner, nor is there one person who is a mere saint. We’re both saints and sinners. We have both successes and faults. We have both strengths and weaknesses. When you catch yourself glorifying one individual as a saint, remember that they are human and have their own faults, even if you can’t see them. Likewise, when you catch yourself judging an individual, remember that everybody is doing the best they can with the knowledge, resources, and experiences they’ve had. Many people have less knowledge, fewer resources, and more tragic experiences. Love them anyway.

I still find it strange how we focus primarily on Jesus as a person and not the message he was trying to teach. As a teacher, I would find it very weird if a student told me after a lesson, “Mr. Rothwell, you’re the best teacher. I don’t really know what you taught today really, but I think you’re really cool.” A student that says this missed the whole lesson I was trying to teach! If Jesus were to see people worshiping him but ignoring his teachings, I think he would call us out very quickly. Jesus didn't want to be worshiped; he had a message to deliver.

It’s time for a shift in human consciousness (especially Christians). It’s time for a spiritual revolution that emphasizes the teachings of Jesus, not doctrine. Original sin was not a teaching of Jesus. That doctrine was created much, much later, first thought by Augustine and later formalized in the 16th century Council of Trent and adopted by many protestant churches. LOVE was Jesus' primary teaching. If we call ourselves Christians, LOVE is THE WAY of Christ. If we don’t call ourselves Christians, LOVE is the way forward that will transform human relationships. We certainly need this mindset shift in the 21st century. 

We are all unique creations of God. If we truly understand this, LOVE will come naturally.

Quotes:

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. 

James 1:19

“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”

C.G. Jung

“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” 

Aldous Huxley

“Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.” 

Marvin J. Ashton

“Try to understand men. If you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and almost always leads to love.” 

John Steinbeck

“No matter what happens in life, be nice to people. Being nice to people is a peaceful way to live, and a beautiful legacy to leave behind.” 

Marc and Angel Chernoff

“You’ll always be disappointed when you expect people to act as you would.” 

Unknown

“If you want understanding, try giving some.” 

Malcolm Forbes

“If you wish to please people, you must begin by understanding them.” 

Charles Reade

“What better way is there to make men love one another than to make men understand one another. True charity comes only with clarity- just as mercy is but justice that understands. Surely the root of all evil is the inability to see clearly that which is.” 

Will Durant

“Whenever you feel like criticizing any one…just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” 

F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Be not disturbed at being misunderstood; be disturbed rather at not being understanding.”

 Chinese proverb

"To add value to others, one must first value others." 

John C. Maxwell