When it comes to spirituality, who is it all about?
Our culture’s answer: YOU. What YOU like. What makes YOU comfortable. What fits in with YOUR lifestyle. What YOU have time for. What affirms how YOU are living YOUR life. What agrees with what YOU think is good or bad. What gives YOU a warm and fuzzy feeling.
In other words, YOU are God. You decide what spirituality is all about. And if you believe in a creator, YOU decree who he or she is and how he or she is going to assist YOU.
In this scenario, God is your servant, the one who gratefully helps YOU achieve all YOUR ambitions and YOUR wishes to be happy and fulfilled.
At this point, I hope you’re getting a little queasy. Because here is the truth:
“It’s not about you,” are the first words in the first chapter of Rick Warren’s 2002 bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life.
“The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions.
“If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.”
Looking for evidence? Consider these words from one of the earliest followers of Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is the Son of God): Everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible … everything got started in Him [God] and finds its purpose in Him.
If this makes any sense, then you’ll have to admit that:
- You are NOT God.
- You don’t really have the powers that our culture insists you do.
- REAL spirituality is about discovering your place in God’s world.
So how do you discover your place in His world? Start by establishing a relationship with Him. And yes, that IS possible, through Jesus.
Indeed, in one of the original-source biographies of Jesus’ physical life on earth, He declares “I came to give life—life that is full and good”.
In a real, growing relationship with Jesus, you will realize that your abilities, your strengths and weaknesses, your passions can and will be used for a much greater good. For the good of all humanity, in this life and in the life to come.
I’m evidence of that. After 26 years in print journalism, I now use my writing skills to tell people about Jesus, how believing in Him and following Him translates into strength, purpose, energy, resolve and a capacity to do more, love more, care more than any of us can do on our own.
This writing is more valuable than anything I ever did in newspapers. It’s the most important writing I’ll ever do.
Does the relationship I’m writing about sound interesting? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.
Frank's Cottage 
Still writing great stuff Frank !! Right to the point and makes me think
Excellent piece Frank!
Yes, Frank, you are writing the Right Stuff now! I am so glad God gave me a talent for writing, too, that I now use to glorify Him in my blog and in my novels. Blessings!
Thanks for writing.I enjoyed reading it. I think the number one goal of any religion should be to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Once I know a person believes in that premise, I feel I can trust them.
Amazingly, some people really twist that around. It’s OK to gossip because I’m entitled because I’m correct in my statements. It’s OK to cheat on my spouse because he/she doesn’t watch his/her weight and doesn’t pay attention to me anyway, so…it’s OK. It’s good enough. It’s not as bad as what those other people are doing, so it must be fine.
Some people act like small acts of kindness are amazing, but I wish that lacking kindness was seen as terrible.
Thanks for your comments, Sandie. I should point out two things:
1. There IS a difference between the “Golden Rule” in Christianity and in other faiths. Other faiths speak of not doing to others what you don’t want done to yourself.
But in a section of the Bible, called ‘Mathew’ Jesus Christ said “Do for others what you would want them to do for you”. Notice the difference? Jesus is talking about doing something — something positive.
2. Christianity is not a religion. It’s a relationship. This blog explains the difference: http://wp.me/p2wzRb-i9
Hi!
Thank you for this piece! We can never become tired of being reminded of this truth, with all the misleading information around us. Please keep writing!