Some persons tend to practice experimentation for much of what they do. We may commend the procedure if it is understood in the light of the nature of the person adopting it, and the contexts of the areas in which it is practiced. It is not usually effective in religion. One of several reasons it does not serve well in faith matters is that most religions enhance the better sides and dimensions of mankind, rising above common levels of decency and values sufficiently well to attract and hold adherents. Finding balance and peace in the elevations, accepting logical problems related to the context, and noting emptiness of humanism left to itself – settle on what they find available to ideals and values. Obedience to true faith discovery is singular. Even in rejection of faith some of the values of history are folded into the patterns of a new context in emerging adult life. Admirable Christianly-life may be adopted by some unbelievers.
The Huffington Post accented the story of a minister who emerged after a year of experiment in challenge of the faith he held, during early years, to ministry in his denomination, and with wife and children. The headline: After a Year Without God, Former Pastor Ryan Bell No Longer Believes. The story continues by noting that he is now engaged in finding homes for the homeless – so serving others as a hangover from that he believed as a Christian person. His turn, he explained, was because: the intellectual and emotional energy it takes to figure out how God fits into everything is far greater than dealing with reality as it presents itself to us. . . . That probably sounds very nonrational . . . I’d just say that the existence of God seems like an extra layer of complexity that isn’t necessary. The World makes more sense to me as it is, without postulating a divine being . . . . Bell’s responses to the interviewer about his family, and the general views of the atheist groups he encountered were gracious and favorable. He tended to accent the good side of atheism while depreciating some Christians for accenting the negative side of atheism. In any context of subjects there are believers and unbelievers among whom there are differences in approaches and attitudes that embarrass us. Right or wrong is not found in the graces of either the affirmative or negatives defenders, but in matters themselves. I would not support or be opposed to an idea or action based on the package in which it is presented. The gift is the reality. The wrappings are discarded. Further, the effort in working through spiritual issues is far easier than trying to find meaning for an earth that everyone admits was once without form and void. Bell is right about the goodness of the earth. God said the creation was very good. What do we expect to find? Bell’s problem is a common one in that we can’t resolve the complexity so accept in faith that offered and promised of God. In Christ the personal conditions have been met, and there is award at the end. There is a Christian humanism, and that practiced by Jesus Christ, but he accented the redemptive story that truly sets free for ongoing life. The human context, great while it lasts for those who manage it well, offers no retirement benefits.
The first meaning of Christianity is to address the mystery of spiritual life to immortality. (In the same edition of the Bell story we have a person arguing that she dreamed and saw God: She’s black. (That was a popular joke told forty years ago.) In another panel: Author Exposes Uncomfortable Facts About Jesus. It is interesting that Jesus used parables, understood by virtually all persons, but objected to by Bell, who may believe that the Greek emphasis on inductive/deductive reasoning is the only way to conclusions. Many persons, even collegians, can’t put together a meaningful syllogism. Parable includes all cultures. Christianity begins for us with the individual person – not the world. It is obvious from the evidence that mankind is faulty in relationship to holy God. Jesus Christ offered adoption of any individual who believes that mystery of God, through faith rather than by physical senses, that the redemptive message of Jesus Christ is effective based on the incomparable, eternal love of God for humanity. Any resistance to that message, no matter how honest, gracious, in logic and emotions, loses empathy with that massive population that holds out for the hope (immortality) of the gospel. If I were unbelieving of the gospel I would like to believe I would admit no hope beyond the grave as part of my story. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020