“The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:19-24 (KJV)
Much is said these days about belief. American believers are inundated with the concept of believing according to the dictates of one’s own heart. It is a political concept that flows naturally out of the rationale of inalienable rights of the individual which underlies our Constitution. Since one of the inalienable rights guaranteed to American citizens is the freedom of religion, we take it a further step: “You can believe according to the dictates of your own heart.” Certainly, this is a good political concept and should be maintained as a protection of our freedoms. Yet, it is not in a strict sense, a biblical concept.
The Bible claims a high status of being The Truth . . . God’s truth. Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through him.” Yet, the current philosophy permeating modern society is “there are many ways to God and any one of them is good.” Humanism is promoting that “your truth” is as good as the next person’s. Denominationalism has cultivated and grown the weeds of disagreement, dissention, and division. If you do not want to accept a biblical interpretation, you can interpret it your way and start your own organization. Many do and justify themselves with the error of “agreeing to disagree.” This is not biblical. Rather, it is ultimate disintegration of the Lord’s discipleship plan.
Despite our checkered and misguided history, Christianity is not a religion of force and coercion. That aspect of moral imperialism is what the American Constitution guards against. The Only Wise Eternal God has always desired his children to freely choose to believe in and serve him. He doesn’t coerce and neither should we. Jesus explained to the Samaritan lady at Jacob’s Well: “Those who worship God must worship him in Spirit and in Truth, because they are the ones he is searching for.” Note that both having the right spirit and pursuing the truth are essential. God is looking for those who have the right spirit and the correct interpretation. We can maintain both only by asking the Holy Spirit to guide us. Jesus promised: “when He the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth.”
Dear Father, thank you for the Holy Spirit who guides us in our pursuit of truth. Clothe us with his fruit that we may faithfully walk in your truth. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the Spirit and the Truth,