© 2005 susan mucklow
Journalizing the word of God is an exhilarating journey; even when it means stepping out of an imaginary box and stretching our borders in order to break bonds with religion. Christ leads apart from convention that we may discern truth even when the packaging is unfamiliar. Like a hummingbird, we are designed to reach for nectar deep within a blossom. The yield is freedom from limiting beliefs as we bravely look past the confines of modern day dogma.
It’s easy to cling to doctrines but adhering to the doctrines of man will not necessarily foster a connection with Christ. A set of standardized beliefs never ask us to think for ourselves, nor encourage us to query rigid points of view. Doctrines don’t require inward change because they’re content with outer conformity. Too often they point a finger at a manifestation, yet leave the source untouched and the cure undiscovered. A doctrine may easily address a symptom and yet do nothing more than create the illusion of spiritual wellness.
The Holy Spirit leads by truth, not doctrine. God anchors relationship to truth. Truth stimulates growth that goes beyond limited mind-sets and shallow belief pools. Truth is not interested in how things appear but rather insists that we see the way things really are. It goes after the root with little regard for outward appearances. Truth creates an intolerance for the “status quo” and continually bids us to go higher. Frightening, since an unknown path will naturally detach us from our familiar train of thought.
Blindly adhering to a list of rules does not resolve our questions and conflicts and yet we staunchly try to avoid the inevitable need to let them go. Challenging our beliefs, opinions, and interpretations is uncomfortable because it means we have to trust who Christ is in us. To develop our own Christ consciousness is to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We are slowly weaned off the need for others to teach us as we learn to trust Christ’s own interpretation of His word. The fear of error is deeply ingrained, but faith destroys its root system as we continue to dialog with Christ on paper.
Letting go of support pillars that we deem vital is hard, even when they’re crumbling. It’s difficult to acknowledge that the beliefs that guide us are insignificant if not personified by truth, and we trip over the fear of losing them time and again. Our challenge is to let go of the props that confine us to an actor’s stage so we can turn, take our bow, walk off that stage and into the great unknown.
Fear and angst re-visit, but through awareness we dismiss them. An indisputable trust in God’s providence is taking over. Feelings and emotions no longer indeterminably darken our mood. Letting go of the perceived need for control empowers the heart’s ability to lead us to our personal way of escape. Faith takes over and becomes a wall of discernment that filters fact from fiction. It becomes a hedge against fiery thoughts, feelings, and emotions that want to illegitimately interpret our surroundings and mold our perceptions.
The balance between the defense of Christian doctrine and the freedom to explore outside the box falls into the hands of a Sovereign God. Cling to the basic tenets with one hand and let go with the other. Allow paradox to mystify and clarify. Discover God in the box, out of the box, and consider the possibility that there is no box at all. Trust Him to be greater than our comprehension. We are grounded by that which is founded in absolute truth, yet unfettered from mere interpretation and conjecture. God knows the difference…and with the mind of Christ, we can too.