Been pondering on some sensitive questions and trying to look at the issue from different perspectives. Didn’t write out my thoughts because they are a bit jumbled. And some people might get offended and then defensive about some opinions I seem to be concluding.
But I came across a post that seemingly wrote out what went through my mind! So requested for her permission to post.
His Presence in the Surprising and in the Simple
I write this because I want to see what I really think about this issue. And sometimes within my mind and heart, my thoughts are in jumbles, that I cannot pull out any coherent threads just thinking. I need the help of writing to help me see.
Must we always sense God’s presence tangibly to be right with God? Or is sensing His presence, becoming undone before God, the highest ideal in a Christian’s life?
What if God had created some people to become easily undone or during certain periods in their life they can, but others are not the easily undone type (By undone, I mean becoming very high and free.) or they are not just broken down by God to that extent. Is it a bad thing or just a normal thing?
Has becoming undone got anything to do with intimacy with God?
I have hesitations over emphasis on emotional experiences and linking the spiritual life fully to it.
Like all good arguments, like me give my caveats. What I am not saying is that a life in Christ in a dry, boring, purely intellectual exercise.
But what I think is that God’s presence is always with us and never leaves us. If not, we do not believe Him when He said He will never leave us nor forsake us. If that is the truth, does it matter whether we feel the heavy weight of His glory fall on us or not? Should our faith be based upon whether God chooses to manifest His tangible presence before us or not? What if He just wants to manifest to us through a gentle whisper? Or what if God chooses certain people or timing to manifest Himself to but not to everyone? (Like the mount of transfiguration)
Do we overrate certain things? The big and surprising things? But underrate the small and simple things?
“Who is saying it and what is left out.”
I’m not saying Christians are dumb people, who cannot critically assess each statement or experience he or she experiences, but if we expose Christians to a form of spirituality that is not under-girded strongly by truth… what we do not say is as strong a message as what we do say.
Another caveat. I’m not against emotional experiences. In fact, I become Christian because of them. God gave me a very amazing experience. As I kept thinking back to that experience, I can remember the great joy that I had that I kept laughing and I saw and felt something heavenly. That experience changed my life. But what ruined my life was that heavy reliance upon that experience. And when I could no longer “feel” it. I felt very bad about my life, my self, my God. I was very bitter towards Him.
I just want to pre-empt or pre-vent anyone having to go through this misconception that the highest ideal in a Christian’s life is being able to live each day feeling his presence so strongly, by sharing this.
One more question. Does living in the Holy Spirit, walking by faith means you always feel the weight of His glory before you?
1 Kings 19:9-14
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
Is it possible to become addicted to emotional high experiences with God that when God chooses to reveal Himself to us in another form, a still small gentle whisper, we miss it completely?
What I also do think is that God made us differently. Some are more mystical. Some are more intellectual. Together as a family of God, we complement and help one another see a picture of God that more fully represents Him. So I’m not happy when someone throws apologetics or systematic theology out of the window, as unhappy I am, as whens someone throws the spiritual experiences of a Christian out of the window. (Cross-sectional view)
I also think that people can change over time. Michael was sharing with me that the balance between being intellectual and experiential is a hard one to find. But I think people who are on either extremes can grow to a more balance position as God and other loving (we must never put down one another even if we don’t agree with them! Putting others’ belief down in a nasty fashion will not help them towards Jesus Christ) Christian guides them. (Longitudinal view)
Personally, I think intimacy with God is an emotional experience. But, as in all relationships, I think there are ebbs and flows? Are there? Or is the ideal a forever 100% emotional experience because it means we have matured to that extent that nothing can sway us from intimate fellowship from God?
Please correct me if I’m wrong or you have an insight that can shape my thoughts into truth, that I may sift truth from a close counterfeit.
Written by Shuyi, posted with permission
Christina Siew (www.christinasiew.com) is the author of the book, ‘Love, Pinkie >.<’ (www.lovepinkie.com).