Old Time Faith In A Modern World

We obviously are having difficulties as believers interpreting our faith in contemporary times. Though we say all the time that God is unchanging, which is indeed true, we are so confused that we sometimes seem to describe God as a constantly evolving personality like us. We struggle so much that we would almost rewrite the entire bible as some more recent versions of the bible appear to be attempting to do, just to make “God more relevant” in contemporary times. After pondering very deeply on this issue, there is no doubt still in my mind that God remains the same so that His word also remains the same. They are both unchanging. Instead it is the world that is constantly changing which is a fact that we are all aware of since we accept that earth rotates but the seed of God inside of a man remains unchanging because that seed is God. I wonder - can the maker keep changing to align with the work of His hand? I think it is the creature that needs to keep been re-molded until He aligns with the thoughts or is a reflection of the mind of the creator. Our God is not insecure and desperate for acceptance; He has always insisted that man becomes conformed to His image. I wonder if this faith was ever easily accepted or appeared relevant in any generation.  Man seems to have always had problems with accepting God the way He is. His ways have always been different and seemingly unsuitable for living in every generation.

Isaiah 55: 8 – 9 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Hebrews 13: 8 – 9a “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace.”

It is sad that we forget that our faith is not a religion or a movement, it is who we are. One of the things that distinguishes our faith is that it is real because it is more than words but a being and His name is Jesus. The word that describes our faith is life which is why it has transforming power; totally changing the life of a person even physically because it is alive. This is not mere words from one man's brain but "living word" who has a mind of His out which the entire world was created; how can that word then be so reduced that it is made subject to the interpretation of the mind of its own creature who are lesser beings? God forbid that our God who is highly exalted be made so small that He allows Himself to be made and remade by man the work of His hand. For that is the prerogative of the Almighty God who Himself is the porter and has the power to mold and re-mold man. In our attempts to make this "faith more contemporary" we appear to be re-creating God which is not possible. The words that we attempt to amend are not mere words.

John 6: 63 “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

I do know that some serious scholars of religion and historians have made deep researches on the word of God and the times described in the bible. I am also aware that such researches have thrown greater light on some of the things written in the bible making it easier for us to understand the word of God. However, no matter how empirically conclusive a fact appears to be, if it distorts the truth as revealed in the word of God, then it can never shed greater light on the word. If such facts then become the basis for modifying scriptures, it would be sad because they can never reveal God but instead, mislead those of us who take them in as truth. Such facts, logical and intelligent as they may sound, do not have the power to transform or quicken any life. They are not spirit and have no life. They will only add to draw us away from God. The best they can do is make us look more intelligent to people who are going "nowhere." God wants us to understand Him and the knowledge that comes from Him enlightens our spirit man and makes us even more humble.

Jeremiah 9: 24 “But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

 One thing is certain, neither the world nor an unbeliever except one to whom God would specially reveal Himself, are able to describe the God that is revealed in the bible. There is no mind that has the capacity to grasp fully who God is which is probably why He reveals Himself in part to people. Anyone that claims to fully understand God, believer or not is most likely a liar or probably a little crazy and does not know it yet. Let us accept what He reveals in His word as the truth of who He is. Only the Son of God who has been with the Father and is the Word of God can alter the written word which was written under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That same Holy Spirit reveals Him only to believers even in contemporary times and shows us how to live as He would even in this present evil world. If we do it in our strength, we will of course fail, which is when we attempt to alter it, but if we let the Holy Spirit help us, it becomes fun and easy.

John 14: 17 “He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”