A few weeks ago, I asked myself a question. “Subomi, are you religious?”
I did so because of an encounter I had with God.
For some days I tried to read my Bible in the morning as is my usual practice. But I felt a resistance; a prompting to read my journal instead.
In my notes I compile the promises God gives me, then I categorize them by year in chronological order. When I kept deferring to my Bible despite instructions, I heard God say, “Are the words I have spoken to you any less than my words in the Bible?”
I felt like someone had slapped me. You see, my years of Christian upbringing had programmed me to view the Bible as a sacred book. I forgot they were letters inspired by God but written and canonized by men.
In some biblical chapters, the prophets documented the words God had communicated to them. Yet here I was discounting the words God had directly spoken to me as inferior.
In my religious mindset, I elevated other people’s experiences as more important. I forgot that the Word of God is really a person – Jesus Christ the “Logos“. The “Rhema” as revealed in scripture, captures a snapshot of God’s mind but it doesn’t document everything. It is like a cup of water taken from a vast ocean, but it is not the whole sea. It is akin to a letter written by a lover but it doesn’t replace the beloved.
God keeps revealing his thoughts, opinions, perspectives, and plans to his children on a daily basis.
The Bible is priceless. It is a useful framework that helps us to test and judge principles. It teaches about the character of God and the primacy of love. But when we resort to saying a prayer of repentance if we drop the Bible or take it to the toilet, then there is a problem.
There is a place for history and ancient landmarks. Recognition of fundamental precepts. Then there is the dynamic nature of a walk with God. A trusting of his daily word to us.
Taking everything in the Bible literally is why we assume the first model of the church is the design we should still be using in the tech age. It is why some pastors were slow to create digital churches until COVID-19 forced them to.
The Bible didn’t change but they realized other formats were possible. Having a digital church did not become more spiritual. Rather, Christians became more contemporaneous.
You will not do big things for God if you insist on formulaic scripted Christianity. This is because an established pattern does not require faith – it is predictable. Glory and wonder do not reside in safety. They are not risk-averse.
God wants his children to demonstrate faith and challenge established norms. He desires that they walk with him in unknown spaces. That they believe incredible things and entertain unusual thoughts. For this is where true innovation lies. And that is how Christians will change the world so many more can be saved.
PS: I continue this series here.
For more, please read Religion is not Required for Good Governance
[bctt tweet=”You will not do big things for God if you insist on formulaic scripted Christianity. This is because an established pattern does not require faith – it is predictable.” username=”subomiplumptre”]