ONE KINGDOM UNDER GOD
The more I learn, the more amazed I become. It’s easy to say God created all things, but when I consider how he created all things to work together, I am brought to my knees.
DIVINE SYNERGY
Take the mind-body connection for example. I heard a scientist declare that every cell in my body listens to my thoughts. Furthermore, a negative thought can be as damaging as smoking a cigarette. (That remark irritated me so much I probably smoked an imaginary pack in two seconds.) Yet I see the truth in that when I walk with people of faith as they live through various crises. They are at peace, even though in pain, because they know they rest in the hand of a loving Father God. Yes, they hurt, but I can almost see those “wings of eagles” holding them up.
Faith is real. God hard-wired us to receive faith when we were “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Atheists would say the union of mind and body is merely biological. I agree that it is biological, but believe God uses that very biology to connect with us. He speaks to us when we read the Bible, learn from others, and when we quiet our minds long enough to listen (definitely a challenge for me).
FAITH jOURNEY
When I was young, I found God in church. A Catholic, I attended parochial schools where the nuns and priests presented a faith comprised of beliefs and traditions played out in ancient rituals of incredible beauty and worship. Much later in life, my faith journey led me out of the Catholic paradigm and into the wider, universal Christian church. There I re-discovered Christ in a way I had never know him before.
As a reporter for the The Good News Magazine https://thegoodnewsnewyork.com/, I interviewed pastors and mission leaders of all denominations, including of the Messianic Jewish tradition. I re-learned what I had always known. Jesus, Yeshua for our Jewish friends, is present whenever we gather in his name. The catholic (small c meaning “universal”) church, God’s Kingdom on earth, is eternal, one in belief that Christ is our Savior. It is powerful and indestructible because Jesus, God Himself, is Lord of it.
I value my Catholic upbringing as I value my current Protestant church home. Dr. Douglas R. Cullum, Ph.D. Vice President and Dean, Professor of Historical and Pastoral Theology at Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, New York once said he believed Christians of all stripes have more in common with each other than they have with the world. I look at our shared truths and values and then at the world’s values and relativism, and couldn’t agree more.
BREAKING OUT FROM OUR FAITH SILOS
One of my favorite assignments for The Good News Magazine is to cover the seminars at Northeastern Seminary for pastors and church workers. (That’s like telling me, “Here, eat this giant chocolate torte. It’s free and has no calories.”)
At one seminar, Dr. Cullum welcomed participants from all “tribes.” We may spend our entire lives in our particular denominational (or non-denominational) tribe, but I believe it is past time to step out of our familiar faith tradition and unite with fellow Christians. Our hurting world is desperate to experience what the love of Christ is really like. I don’t believe I deny my spiritual heritage when I join with other “tribes” to love as Christ commands.
How has your spiritual upbringing influenced your worldview?
Have you lived all your life in one church or have you “shopped around?”
What do you look for in a church?
I heard someone say, we remember the moments, not the days.
I was two weeks old when my mother and sister took me to the Mother and Daughter Banquet at church. This was my introduction to our church family. I guess a lot of people knew me before my baptism. I confess, I don’t remember those moments. But I do remember getting an award for 10 years of perfect attendance at Sunday School. I remember the Sunday School plays and the chocolate candy received at the end. I want to forget the smell of white fish that permeated my clothing and resulted in a missed play rehearsal …. everyone thanked me for leaving.
I remember the kids in my confirmation class, youth group and choir. There were many fun moments back then. Later in life, I was a member of the Dorcas Woman’s Group and taught Sunday School. I grow up with my church family. I never questioned my faith then. Faith was the love from my family and the relationships experienced at church.
The turning point in my faith occurred the summer I went to a Christian camp with my grandmother. At 13, my thoughts were usually about boys but during this tabernacle service something unexpected happened. I heard things that changed my life. People did unusual things like standing up and witnessing about their faith. This was a new experience in my conservative and well structured life. I believe God called me that day. I was baptized in the lake and came out of the water with a “knowing” that I will have forever. In that moment I knew I was called by The Holy Spirit.
What do I look for in a church? I have to hear the voice of God during the sermon, when I praise God through song, and from the people who sit next to me. I want to feel loved and respected no matter the color of my skin, my clothing, my tattoos, the place of my employment, the size of my bank account or being a member of a select group. I want to participate even though my skills and knowledge aren’t perfect but my heart is all in. I want my family by my side so they experience the love from a church family as I did.
I want the gift of moments from our Lord.
The description of the day of your baptism in the lake brought tears to my eyes. What a difference going through the motions versus answering the call of the Holy Spirit made in your life! Certainly we are all called. Do we answer?
Thank you for sharing your story and also what you look for in a church.