“If we are to believe Jesus, nothing is more dangerous than people who presume they already see [and have Christian life all figured out]. God can most easily be lost by being thought to be [already fully attained].”
- Brother Richard Rohr, from his book ‘Everything Belongs’ (with our emphasis added)
The ideal of having a very certain and secure faith-system has perhaps become less and less useful in our postmodern age. The younger generations of Christians long to go beyond quick, simple, and pat answers to engage the messy questions of faith and life, and I think we need to endeavor to meet them there.
Whether young or old in the faith, it can be all too easy to fall into some unhealthy certitudes (some perhaps as damaging as the zeal of the Pharisees and Saul of Tarsus before his conversion). For some it’s a particular way of doing church, for others it’s too strong a conviction on a non-essential piece of theology, and others might be wrapped in an ‘I’m Saved’ shield that keeps them from letting their faith penetrate the deeper areas of their lives. Such overly-strong certitudes become especially prevalent when it comes to engaging others in fruitful dialogue between faiths, denominations, or generations.
To reinforce our particular certitudes we tend to cling to ‘stand firm’ verses like this one in Philippians when we strongly defend or dig our heels in on a particular issue or interpretation:
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!” - Philippians 4:1, NIV
But Paul greatly qualifies this ideal with the reality that none of us, himself included, have fully arrived yet:
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:12-14, NIV
Yes, we’ve come to know so much deep truth in our relationships with God and our studies of Scripture (and should give great thanks for it), yet we cannot presume to know it all. We need to remember, the God of the Bible is to be continually sought after and continually known.
If our default posture is ‘I’m a Christian. I know the Truth. I have everything I need in my faith and in Scripture,’ then we’re not residing in the daily reliance and relationship with God for which we’ve always been intended. Instead we can fall into an awkward self-reliant kind of Christianity that saps our growth and vibrant service as Kingdom citizens.
We have to remember, it is daily connection and partnership with the Divine that is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Today, take some time in reflection and prayer to recommit yourself to the mystery of our ever-knowable God.
(If you have extra time, re-read Philippians 3 & 4, and ask God to draw your posture and life-focus heavenward.)