Oh Nadia. I want to hit that little heart button about a hundred times. This is such a loving response and, FWIW, my solo gratia Lutheran heart (I cannot by my own reason or strength) just wants to hug you, but the part that really sings for me was this: “I have experienced it all to be true and am unconcerned whether or not it is fact.” Thank you for taking time to speak to the whole person who asked a question that is all too frequently answered with abstract apologetics.
Thank you, Nadia. I hope Joseph got a half what I got from you here, and I hope he got much more. I’m rather new at Christianity and I’m really glad you are part of my experience of God.
Thanks, Nadia. Your ministry continues to help me trust the spirituality I've been cultivating for a decade or so. Too many Christians I know (some are among my siblings) act like gatekeepers of the faith. Actually, I tend to think of them as Frog Christians because they tend to say "Yeah, but..." a lot. (Say that a few times fast -- yeah-but, yeah-but, yeah-but -- and you'll start to hear the *ribbet, ribbet, ribbet*.) This is in the context of:
Me: God loves everyone.
FCs: Yeah, but you still have to .... (insert dogma here).
Me: God forgives everyone.
FCs: Yeah, but ... (dogma).
I'm still hearing the frog sounds in my head, so maybe I need to let go of those memories, too.
I can remember having a heart-exulting experience I couldn't explain. I knowingly chose to label it an encounter with a loving God. From there I stepped out in faith, hoping I had made the right choice! My life changed as I began to try and live a Jesus-guided existence. I found that such a focus brought me increasing joy, peace, and groundedness. That's not to say there haven't been "dark nights for my soul," but I've also learned they don't last forever and can actually help me along the way. My Jesus focus has become my Jesus friendship and my Jesus security.
We can't force ourselves to feel or believe any certain way. Choosing to believe in God's limitless love has been so healing for me. Nadia, like you wrote, it was hard fathoming that a loving God would choose to actually love so few. And even though I felt like I belonged in that group, I constantly feared God's rejection if I did whatever, didn't do such and such, or I wore the wrong clothing, failed to witness, etc. Trusting myself and holding to an indefinable beyond that I will always question feels strange yet somehow like home and peace. Questions connect us.
Thanks for your thoughts. I’m a new reader and find your writings refreshing.
I’m an old white guy who had the same questions mid-life. I learned to be still, shut off the noise of our world and only then heard God. Our Deity is always present but we have to be present in His realm to hear them. Your reward will be peace and happiness. Plus God will bless you many ways.
I am clergy and I occasionally ask myself why or what I believe. And God knows that the Powers that Be in my denomination and on various review boards are always asking the questions to make sure I have answers for people who will ask ME the same question. Thanks for asking the question, Joseph, and I often feel like the short answer Nadia provided - God IS. Some press for answers or think that my "knowing" isn't enough. But I know that God IS.
Thank you for this. Reading it made me realize that I’ve been doing that heart-“protecting” thing that I do when there is anger afoot because I think I can’t deal with it openly.
Thank you for the reminder that faith in all forms can see one through a lot and that keeping an open heart (which always seems to come with an opening of the mind) is actually easier than trying to protect it.
I'm 70 years old and I still question am I in the right church, where are you God, how can there be so many religions (all saying their path is true). Like Nadia, I have come to the believe that I am where I am because that's where I'm supposed to be. And I question that.
This just reached out and lovingly hugged my heart. I recently went back on social media. And on Threads, I followed a lot of accounts of people deconstructing. As a result, I also seem to get a lot of atheist and wounded former Christians in my feed as well. There are snarky comments, challenges to ideas that I've held my whole life and some really good and loving people in the middle of it all. My faith has been stretched and even challenged and I felt a bit unsteady (I am in that deconstructing process too). This lifted me up. It reminded me of the one core reason I still believe: Jesus. I can't get past him or around him. He's everything. No one comes close. And because of Him, I hang on to my belief and lean on others.
You, my dear, are very wise, gentle, compassionate, authentic, open minded, loving, and more. I left religion a while ago but I’m aware of Presence within me — it just doesn’t belong to the God of any religion. I am also keenly aware that I would not be the person I am today without the 60 years in religion and all the internal conflict (and some damage) that came with that. You are, in your own way, also clearly made new and made better by your experiences with church/religion. Thank you for being honest about it.
Oh Nadia. I want to hit that little heart button about a hundred times. This is such a loving response and, FWIW, my solo gratia Lutheran heart (I cannot by my own reason or strength) just wants to hug you, but the part that really sings for me was this: “I have experienced it all to be true and am unconcerned whether or not it is fact.” Thank you for taking time to speak to the whole person who asked a question that is all too frequently answered with abstract apologetics.
Sola gratia. Grace alone.
Amen.
Both those answers - long and short - were gorgeous and profound in their simplicity, Nadia.
Thank you, Nadia. I hope Joseph got a half what I got from you here, and I hope he got much more. I’m rather new at Christianity and I’m really glad you are part of my experience of God.
Welcome, Jeanie!
Thank you, Nadia. Reminds me of Fr Richard Rohr who says the opposite of faith is not doubt; it’s certitude.
Most of the people I know can't handle the Trinity. They ask how can I believe.
Only, recently, I woke with that 'deep feeling'
You cannot fake it. I've been hunting God all my life. Faith wasn't automatically attainable.
I had to let go some of wrong knowledge I'd
been collecting.
I think of scientists and most do believe, have faith. How? By working on the scientific for
years. One day they reach 'ground zero'
the way down deep and they know someone else is running the show! Faith doesn't interfere with science.
I've been told that you start where you are,
at your own pace. Just keep on keeping on!
Beautiful
Thanks, Nadia. Your ministry continues to help me trust the spirituality I've been cultivating for a decade or so. Too many Christians I know (some are among my siblings) act like gatekeepers of the faith. Actually, I tend to think of them as Frog Christians because they tend to say "Yeah, but..." a lot. (Say that a few times fast -- yeah-but, yeah-but, yeah-but -- and you'll start to hear the *ribbet, ribbet, ribbet*.) This is in the context of:
Me: God loves everyone.
FCs: Yeah, but you still have to .... (insert dogma here).
Me: God forgives everyone.
FCs: Yeah, but ... (dogma).
I'm still hearing the frog sounds in my head, so maybe I need to let go of those memories, too.
Yep. Grace is nearly impossible for humans to get on board with.
Frog Christians!! I can't wait to apply this one. Glad you've found a way to laugh at your pain or at least make others laugh.
I have sat in those conversations. I can hear it.
I can remember having a heart-exulting experience I couldn't explain. I knowingly chose to label it an encounter with a loving God. From there I stepped out in faith, hoping I had made the right choice! My life changed as I began to try and live a Jesus-guided existence. I found that such a focus brought me increasing joy, peace, and groundedness. That's not to say there haven't been "dark nights for my soul," but I've also learned they don't last forever and can actually help me along the way. My Jesus focus has become my Jesus friendship and my Jesus security.
Beautiful!
Just like Luther - nailed it 😉. Seriously, you've captured the essence of why we stick around and keep trying. Blessings always. 🙏❤️
Your short answer just „killed“ me- positively spoken! 🥹
Killed all those “churchy” characterizations - as you put it.
Thank you for this
Love these responses.
We can't force ourselves to feel or believe any certain way. Choosing to believe in God's limitless love has been so healing for me. Nadia, like you wrote, it was hard fathoming that a loving God would choose to actually love so few. And even though I felt like I belonged in that group, I constantly feared God's rejection if I did whatever, didn't do such and such, or I wore the wrong clothing, failed to witness, etc. Trusting myself and holding to an indefinable beyond that I will always question feels strange yet somehow like home and peace. Questions connect us.
Thanks for your thoughts. I’m a new reader and find your writings refreshing.
I’m an old white guy who had the same questions mid-life. I learned to be still, shut off the noise of our world and only then heard God. Our Deity is always present but we have to be present in His realm to hear them. Your reward will be peace and happiness. Plus God will bless you many ways.
Faith is a journey not a destination.
I am clergy and I occasionally ask myself why or what I believe. And God knows that the Powers that Be in my denomination and on various review boards are always asking the questions to make sure I have answers for people who will ask ME the same question. Thanks for asking the question, Joseph, and I often feel like the short answer Nadia provided - God IS. Some press for answers or think that my "knowing" isn't enough. But I know that God IS.
Yes!
Thank you for this. Reading it made me realize that I’ve been doing that heart-“protecting” thing that I do when there is anger afoot because I think I can’t deal with it openly.
Thank you for the reminder that faith in all forms can see one through a lot and that keeping an open heart (which always seems to come with an opening of the mind) is actually easier than trying to protect it.
Man, do I relate to this!
I'm 70 years old and I still question am I in the right church, where are you God, how can there be so many religions (all saying their path is true). Like Nadia, I have come to the believe that I am where I am because that's where I'm supposed to be. And I question that.
This just reached out and lovingly hugged my heart. I recently went back on social media. And on Threads, I followed a lot of accounts of people deconstructing. As a result, I also seem to get a lot of atheist and wounded former Christians in my feed as well. There are snarky comments, challenges to ideas that I've held my whole life and some really good and loving people in the middle of it all. My faith has been stretched and even challenged and I felt a bit unsteady (I am in that deconstructing process too). This lifted me up. It reminded me of the one core reason I still believe: Jesus. I can't get past him or around him. He's everything. No one comes close. And because of Him, I hang on to my belief and lean on others.
This was just so beautiful. 💗
You, my dear, are very wise, gentle, compassionate, authentic, open minded, loving, and more. I left religion a while ago but I’m aware of Presence within me — it just doesn’t belong to the God of any religion. I am also keenly aware that I would not be the person I am today without the 60 years in religion and all the internal conflict (and some damage) that came with that. You are, in your own way, also clearly made new and made better by your experiences with church/religion. Thank you for being honest about it.