Scripture: John 8:31-32 (TNIV)
To those who had believed him, medical Jesus said, patient “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Thought for the Day: I’ve been reading (and re-reading) Diana Butler Bass’ most recent work, “Christianity After Religion.” It’s a very insightful look into modern spirituality, and the place religion plays (if any) in the lives of people seeking God today. She discusses the different phases of faith development throughout history—in particular the changing belief systems of Christianity over the last 2000 years.

Bass suggests that an era where people were simply asked to believe what they were told has ended. The era of belief asked people to simply take at face value certain doctrines and dogmas most people today (and probably many people then) find unreasonable or superstitious. Modern people seeking God (and recent polls suggest that’s still 90% of us) no longer want to be told what to believe—they want to know how to make God their beloved (the original meaning of our modern word, believe). 

And this is exactly what Jesus taught his disciples. Jesus was a rabbi. A teacher. He didn’t teach his students dogmas and doctrines. In fact, a lot of his ideas flew in the face of the doctrines and dogmas of his time. Instead, he taught his students how to experience God in their lives, in powerful and very real ways. Jesus always told his students to follow his example.

The truth is that following the teachings of Jesus conforms us to the image of the Christ, and shows us how to have a very real relationship with God—who asks us not to simply believe, but rather to actively love the Lord our God, with all our hearts.

Prayer: God who holds my heart and calls me lover, may I always rest easy in your Spirit, awaken my mind in your essence, smell your beauty in the air, feel your arms around me, and know the freedom that comes from committing my life to you. Amen.