Sunday 26 October 2014

Safely agnostic?

A man was walking along a road when he came to a fork in the way.

To the left was a good, wide path, which seemed to lead to pleasant green meadows, well-fed cattle and trees laden with good-looking fruit. To the right the path was narrow, and looked rocky and difficult; he couldn’t see where it was leading.

Now the man remembered his Sunday-school lessons, and realised that the good-looking path to the left might not be the right way to go - but then it looked so inviting! So he decided to sit a while on the fence that he noticed between the two roads; from there he could see which path other travellers would choose.

As time went by many came and chose the left path, and he could see them going on to enjoy the meadow and the fruits. A few, just a few, decided to turn to the right and he could see them struggling over the rough terrain until they went out of sight.

Then a well-dressed man came to the fork, and noticing our traveller sitting on the fence, went up to him and said, “I see you have decided which way you are going!”

“No, sir!” he replied, “I am sitting here on the fence watching people coming by and choosing which path to take, before I decide for myself.”

But the well-dressed man responded, “No, you have decided already!”

“Who are you, sir, that you know so much?” the man replied.

“I’m sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Satan. That meadow and those fruit trees to the left belong to me.” And without waiting for a reply, he continued, "And so does that fence that you are sitting upon; it also belongs to me, for I put it there."


(I claim no authorship, other than for retelling this story in my own words; I first heard it at my church and do not know its origin.)

Sunday 12 October 2014

Does your God give you a choice?

The assumption that one chooses one’s faith and religion is almost taken for granted in the Western world. However, this is not the case everywhere and, in fact, it probably doesn’t apply in the majority of the world. The most common version is simply to be born into a culture which expects its members to have a certain religious outlook and belief system; the most extreme version comes as: “Convert or be killed”!

Personally, I struggle to see how any god who requires force to acquire adherents is any god at all - but if he is, then he is nothing but a tyrant. But perhaps this is just my own particular upbringing and view of religion. I don’t know.

But this I do know: the God of the Christians always gives us a free choice. He didn't create us to be, and he doesn't want us to be, automatons. Rather, he made us in his image, giving us free will - including the choice of whether or not to enter into a relationship with him.

Along with choice, the Christian God recognises us as responsible for our choices and actions, for in his love He created us free and responsible people, not slaves!

I also know this: that Satan deals in deception, power and compulsion, and disguises choices except where it suits him. He also peddles the lie that we are not responsible for our actions (although responsibility cannot be so easily waved away!). Satan enslaves us, ensnaring us in bondage; we are not free at all, for he deals in power, in force, and not in love!

It is only the Christian God who gives us choice! When a religion restricts our choice to believe or stop believing, or does not recognise our responsibility for our actions, be very clear who is behind it!

The most extreme version of this is seen in some parts of the Middle East at present, where one group says we must be compelled to accept their view, or be killed! And yet these people, who deny there is any other choice, are indeed making a choice - for themselves and for others! - and they are responsible for their actions and will be held to account, in this life or the next, unless they repent and turn to the God who is Love!