Passionately Pursuing

A church member emailed me the other day and asked, why does God communicate through scripture? Doesn't that leave too much uncertainty? Good question. It certainly would be clearer if we each had a "Damascus Road" experience and God just spoke directly to us. But here's my response:

A lot of the most difficult passages are not essential material and, conversely, the most essential elements of Christian doctrine are, for the most part, plainly clear. So exploring the ins and outs of Zechariah or Revelation will not directly affect someone's salvation. Where the story of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is plain and straightforward and so important it's told four times.

But why would God communicate this by written language that could be misunderstood? It's the same reason that he doesn't appear physically to each person with a trumpet blast and a host of angels. God desires us to love him when we have the option not to. He values faith more than obligation, choice more than compulsion. In fact, Jesus taught in parables for the very reason that those who pursued him would be rewarded while those who didn't would only be more frustrated. If God was undeniably spoon-fed to us than we wouldn't need faith, because only self-destructive people and the insane would reject what can't be denied. Devotion wouldn't be a requirement.

And God wants us to pursue him.

Every meaningful relationship requires devotion. We have to "choose to pursue" in order for the relationship to be worthwhile. With God that means carefully and earnestly seeking him out: We have to discern false teachers from true ones. We have to meditate on and reflect on scriptures. We have to battle competing philosophies and world views.

It's not easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.