The Groundwork
Although this is one of the two topics (the other being politics) you are not supposed to discuss, I have overcome my reluctance to talk about faith because of its crucial importance. I am not here to evangelize for a specific faith tradition, even though I have hitched my wagon to one. I am here to encourage you, not to earn any heavenly Brownie points.
Faith is belief in a higher power, commonly called God. Faith acknowledges that there is more to our existence than we can perceive and requires belief in something without proof.
The next steps are to determine what it means to believe and its consequences. A common thread across the faith traditions is love – between oneself, God, and our neighbor. God loves us, and when we accept that love, we are transformed into lovers of all.
Doubters
Some nonbelievers assert that natural disasters and violent crimes are inconsistent with the existence of a benevolent God. Believers explain them through free will (found in many faiths) and a fallen world (a Christian concept). However, the victims’ powerful expressions may be the most compelling.
You have heard a tornado victim who lost her house and narrowly escaped death praise God for delivering her from peril instead of blaming Him for the destructive wind. Likewise, many Holocaust survivors who lost their families and suffered unspeakable torture profess that God was their only source of hope and the only thing they had when everything else was taken from them.
You can find “evidence” for or against God’s existence, but your answer will be based on your experience and reasoning, not on any concrete proof.
Resistant
Some say faith is unnecessary; they get along fine without it. If so, is faith worth pursuing? Again, we turn to the examples. Have you ever heard someone regret becoming more faithful? Spiritually mature people seem to have a large measure of the meaningful things: love, peace, joy, etc. Also instructive are wealthy people who do not need God for any material purposes but recognize that faith provides something essential that money cannot.
Religion is a system that frames one’s faith and guides its practice, but it is not faith itself. Humans practice religion, and unfortunately, man’s poor behavior undermines faith’s promise. Societies have used religion to justify wars and atrocities against their fellow man. Greed, crime, pastoral idolatry, discrimination, and every other human foible are present in religious groups. Most importantly, however, these issues do not indict faith but its practice. Despite what you hear on the news, the bad occurs less frequently than the media leads you to believe, and wonderful religious communities predominate.
Many also fear that a faith’s standards of conduct are burdensome, do-good obligations and restrictions on pleasurable activity. Rather, the “thou shalt and thou shalt not” mandates inspire virtuous activity and protect us from our own devices. Speaking truthfully is peace-giving, and avoiding adultery protects us from self-harm.
Finally, some resist faith because they feel unworthy or believe they must “get right” before pursuing it. Fortunately, God’s love extends to wherever you are, so you can start right where you are. You will address whatever you need to along the way.
Begin by spending time (prayer) with your higher power. If you listen, you will be guided to your next steps, whether that be through literature, courses, or community worship.1
While I extoll the virtues of community worship in The Wandering Worshipper, the overarching faith journey is about the loving relationship with God that enables me to give and receive love abundantly.
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Pursue your faith, and you will inevitably reap its precious rewards.
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1 There are abundant resources on the World Wide Web. Or, you can contact me; I am happy to help.
