Considering the mysteries of godliness, in a sense, I am an agnostic.
The truth regarding Christ and the salvation He offers (the mystery of gospel) has been revealed. I agree. But the mysteries of unanswered prayers, fleshly desires, pain, sickness, tragedies, the extend of God’s love, fore-knowledge, prophecies, spiritual gifts etc. are puzzling. I have tried to come-up with dogmatic explanations on these subjects but was never satisfied intellectually. As I pursued answers, I found more questions. So, eventually, just to keep my proper dogmatic religious position, I bypassed, ignored, and rejected the difficult questions. I started disliking those questions and the people who asked them. Questions scared me!
Grace taught me a new thing: It is perfectly alright to have unanswered questions.
So, now after much struggle with my brain, I am kind of satisfied with the unanswered questions surrounding spirituality. And, by doing so, the mystery is always alive in my heart and at the same time, I am not anxious about all the answers. “I don’t know” is my answer to many of these questions.
I think that is the point. Love overtakes mysteries. Love soothes troubled hearts, not so much with the answers, but with the peace which surpasses the abilities of human brain. God’s love satisfies our curiosity in a mysterious (there that word again!) way. I don’t know how, but I know that it is a fact. I am at peace with my questions. I still have thousands of them, but I am not afraid.
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 have not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)
Love answers all the questions! Knowledge without love is meaningless. Love allows us to have questions. Love is not scared. Love can answer them all! ... in a mysterious way!
5 comments:
Great words of wisdom here. I used to be quite the dogmatist. Looking back, I see that I knew very little, but yet I thought I had the answer to everything.
Now I realize that I still know very little but it's ok to not have the answer to everything. I think we can share what we do know with confidence, but yet humbly, knowing that we don't have all the answers.
My biggest concern when I began walking in grace was not understanding all the other verses, especially New Testament verses, that didn't seem to line up with my understanding of grace! I had so many unanswered questions, and it was really frustrating and even scary at times. A lot of that has passed now, and I'm resting much more easily these days. I think of lot of it has helped me to meet others right where they're at, whether they simply don't agree with me on doctrinal issues or whether they simply don't "get" where I'm coming from. We've all got preconceived ideas about God, and it's a lifetime (and beyond) process of learning of Him and knowing Him.
We can rest even though we don't understand the fullness of the mystery of God.
Wow, I have actually never heard this topic discussed as in depth as you did Bino! I have always been afraid of people's answers than actually answering! It's weird but when I would go and ask something serious about God, it would scare me to think that they, (who ever they were) knew the 'right' answer and it usually was a fear of condemnation than anything else, especially about the last days and the tribulation! I just got to the point where I was satisfied not knowing anything about that or asking people because it all sounded 'bad' to me! Honestly, I would rather be naive and wait on the Lord about that kind of thing than take anyone's word on it!
Great topic bro!
In Freedom, Nicole!
Oh, and I about having questions! I have a lot of them, but rarely do I use them to find a correct answer but live more in depth with Father as he unravels the answers that I have questioned! Usually this happens through what you said Bino, through the love that Father portrays to me every single day!
:)
Joel and Nicole,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I just found a great post by Steve McVey which surprisingly deals with the same subject. Here is one statement which stood out to me:
God: "I'm not a puzzle to be solved, but a mystery to be explored."
Here is the link to the post:
Unanswered Questions
Bino,
I saw that post of Steve's at the same time I read yours. Very interesting. :D
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