My wife and I took in the Body Worlds exhibit at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix not too long ago. To make a long story short, my wife really enjoyed the display, but I was done long before we left. It was all fascinating but I would have been satisfied looking at a few pictures online or in a book than waiting in long lines to shuffle through the exhibit with the crowds. It just wasn't for me.
The experience caused me to question whether I had lost my curiosity about life. Had I stopped exploring? The answer was no. I'm still interested to know what's on the other side of the many hills – just not every hill. That's okay with me.
The more I ponder being curious, the more think about our education system as a whole. I went to public school and a number of colleges and was forced to study many subjects that I didn't care about, nor have they proven helpful in life since. All the while other topics that would have been interesting and would have benefited me were not included in the curriculum.
Were you ever told you needed to take a certain course in order to be “well-rounded” in your learning? I heard that more than once. “Well-rounded” according to whom? I'm still waiting to see the benefit of studying migration patterns of blue whales. Are we still “well-rounded” when we later discover that what we'd been taught was wrong like the politically motivated global warming hoax? Will students be getting their tuition back?
Is it just me, or has our government run educational system done more to kill the desire to learn than almost anything else? If so, I think this is true for most denominational church systems and spiritual growth.
Let's cut to the chase. Are we still spiritually curious? Do we want to grow deeper in our walk with God, or do we want to know just enough to get by? Do our eyes glaze over at the very thought of a Bible study?
How would you answer these summations, True of False:
Bible Study = Being lectured to.
Church = Getting dressed up to sit in an uncomfortable pew for two hours while it's sunny and beautiful outside.
Pastor = A man who gets paid to tell us what we're doing wrong every week.
Prayer = What we do when we're in a jam.
Hell = What we catch if we miss church.
Heaven = Where we hope to end up no matter how we live now.
I hope none of these are True for you, but if any are, I'd be willing to bet that it's because of how these subjects have been presented. Too many of us know the formality of religion without knowing power of God. That's a tragedy, and probably the best way to undermine any desire to learn we might have.
When Jesus Christ walked the earth, he blew people's minds. They were astonished at his doctrine and traveled far to hear him preach. He spoke with an authority that the religious leaders couldn't touch, and those conditions haven't changed. The power of God and his Word are still the same today! Oh, that we all might know that first hand for ourselves!
Has it been a long time since you've felt the power of God in your life? Has the Bible become just another book on the shelf? Have you lost all the wonder you once had about the Lord God Almighty? Has the color of life turned to mere shades of gray? If this is true for you, and you'd like to regain a sense of wonder and curiosity about our Creator, then allow me to suggest a couple things:
First, you're not alone! We all go through dry times spiritually. Be honest about any sins not yet confessed and forsaken and seek the Lord.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:8)
Second, we all have a direct line to God and can talk to him anytime. I recommend getting alone and talking to him as you'd talk to your most trusted friend. Ask for a renewed relationship in him and his Word. God still answers prayer and wants to show himself strong in our lives!
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)
Third, take responsibility of your life in Christ. It's your relationship! Take your faith out of the box, out of the pew, and out of the denomination and let God be God in your life!
Finally, do you know what you believe and why? Have you ever thought of taking yourself through a simple Bible study and letting it speak to you? Search the Bible by topic or search the Bible by subject. Become friends with the concordance in the back of your Bible and search out things you're interested in for yourself with an open heart and mind.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11)
Allow yourself to be challenged! Allow yourself to be changed!
The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. (Psalms 99:1-3 )
The more I ponder being curious, the more think about our education system as a whole. I went to public school and a number of colleges and was forced to study many subjects that I didn't care about, nor have they proven helpful in life since. All the while other topics that would have been interesting and would have benefited me were not included in the curriculum.
Were you ever told you needed to take a certain course in order to be “well-rounded” in your learning? I heard that more than once. “Well-rounded” according to whom? I'm still waiting to see the benefit of studying migration patterns of blue whales. Are we still “well-rounded” when we later discover that what we'd been taught was wrong like the politically motivated global warming hoax? Will students be getting their tuition back?
Is it just me, or has our government run educational system done more to kill the desire to learn than almost anything else? If so, I think this is true for most denominational church systems and spiritual growth.
Let's cut to the chase. Are we still spiritually curious? Do we want to grow deeper in our walk with God, or do we want to know just enough to get by? Do our eyes glaze over at the very thought of a Bible study?
How would you answer these summations, True of False:
Bible Study = Being lectured to.
Church = Getting dressed up to sit in an uncomfortable pew for two hours while it's sunny and beautiful outside.
Pastor = A man who gets paid to tell us what we're doing wrong every week.
Prayer = What we do when we're in a jam.
Hell = What we catch if we miss church.
Heaven = Where we hope to end up no matter how we live now.
I hope none of these are True for you, but if any are, I'd be willing to bet that it's because of how these subjects have been presented. Too many of us know the formality of religion without knowing power of God. That's a tragedy, and probably the best way to undermine any desire to learn we might have.
When Jesus Christ walked the earth, he blew people's minds. They were astonished at his doctrine and traveled far to hear him preach. He spoke with an authority that the religious leaders couldn't touch, and those conditions haven't changed. The power of God and his Word are still the same today! Oh, that we all might know that first hand for ourselves!
Has it been a long time since you've felt the power of God in your life? Has the Bible become just another book on the shelf? Have you lost all the wonder you once had about the Lord God Almighty? Has the color of life turned to mere shades of gray? If this is true for you, and you'd like to regain a sense of wonder and curiosity about our Creator, then allow me to suggest a couple things:
First, you're not alone! We all go through dry times spiritually. Be honest about any sins not yet confessed and forsaken and seek the Lord.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:8)
Second, we all have a direct line to God and can talk to him anytime. I recommend getting alone and talking to him as you'd talk to your most trusted friend. Ask for a renewed relationship in him and his Word. God still answers prayer and wants to show himself strong in our lives!
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)
Third, take responsibility of your life in Christ. It's your relationship! Take your faith out of the box, out of the pew, and out of the denomination and let God be God in your life!
Finally, do you know what you believe and why? Have you ever thought of taking yourself through a simple Bible study and letting it speak to you? Search the Bible by topic or search the Bible by subject. Become friends with the concordance in the back of your Bible and search out things you're interested in for yourself with an open heart and mind.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11)
Allow yourself to be challenged! Allow yourself to be changed!
The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. (Psalms 99:1-3 )
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