Misguided Faith?

Many truths of Scripture are being distorted by a philosophy that places experience and emotions above the inerrant Word of God. That philosophy is called mysticism. 

Because mystics rely on subjective, private, spiritual experiences for guidance and wisdom, they diminish the authority of Scripture. Vision and spiritual encounters become more important than the truths found in God's Word.

-- Arthur L. Johnson, "Faith Misguided: Exposing the Dangers of Mysticism" (1988)

Consider this line from the quote, above: Because mystics rely on subjective, private, spiritual experiences for guidance and wisdom, they diminish the authority of Scripture.  Mystics?  Scripture seems to be rife with examples of miracles, visions, and spiritual encounters, and yet many continue to rely on these "mystic" clergy for guidance.  Why not?  We have been spoon fed stories of the burning bush, angelic visitations, healing the sick, and wine from water, walking on water, and the never-ending baskets of fish and loaves, for centuries.   It would seem I am questioning the validity of Mr. Johnson's statement.  

On the contrary, I feel it holds much truth.  Unfortunately, I also think it also applies to our own Scripture and those religious leaders who have perverted it for their control of the faithful.  But, there's nothing new in that, is there?  We are, after all, just innocent lambs being led to the slaughter, right?  We certainly can't think for ourselves any more than we can worship God without an intermediary.  I can't wait for everyone shows up at the pearly gates and have Saint Peter tell us all to go back and try it again, and this time think for ourselves.  Is thinking for ourselves really so time consuming and confusing, when it comes to our faith, that we must have a weekly meeting just to stay on track?  How sad is that?

When did faith become so misguided?  Well, for the majority of us, when bigotry is all you've known, you grow to be a bigot.  When socialism is all you've known, you grow to be a socialist.  When a cult, religious sect, or spiritual lifestyle is all you've known, chances are you will grow to embrace it.  We do this because we grow up having faith that what we are being told is the truth.  But, heaven forbid, what if it's not the truth?  What if those we rely on for guidance are just as misguided as we are?  What if they've been drinking the poisoned Kool Aid as well?   

Faith is merely trusting in whatever you "believe" to be true... even if you believe a lie.  Some lies are obvious and some are quite convincing.  The Bible tells us that the god of this world, Satan the Devil, "DECEIVES THE WHOLE WORLD!"  Deception is "the practice of misleading; deliberately causing someone to believe something that isn't true."

-- Anonymous

I'm not sure who wrote this quote, there was no name on it so I call them "Anonymous."  Let us take a quick recap of biblical history the Pastor Tony way (seat of the pants theology):

Lots of Old Testament conversations with angels, burning bushes, floods, turning to salt for looking when you were told not to, walls falling to the tune of trumpets, etc, etc. 

The Christ comes online with an immaculate conception.  Enter some healing the sick, yadda, yadda, yadda. 

We are to believe Christ knew there was a traitor, knew he would be denied three times, and knew he would have to die in order to salvage the mess that was mankind. 

He is crucified on the mount, storm clouds, rising from the dead, and was later talking to the faithful before ascension to heaven. 

For the next two thousand years we are blessed with more subjective, private, spiritual experiences for guidance and wisdom.  For the next two thousand years have we enjoyed the fruits of His sacrifice?  How were we supposed to when we were left with the very man that denied him three times to be our first pope?  

It seems everything that has transpired since His sacrifice evidences more that "the god of this world, Satan the Devil, "DECEIVES THE WHOLE WORLD!"  Deception is "the practice of misleading; deliberately causing someone to believe something that isn't true."  And haven't our churches done a marvelous job of that? You know, the churches we were never told to build, because we were all supposed to minister the Word? The praying we were supposed to do in private, for God alone to witness? How many people died during the Inquisition, do you know? And how about all those sacrificed in the Crusades on the word of a pope that couldn't bear the thought of losing, and a Christendom seemingly steeped more in politics, money, and ego, than in faith? Our lack of religious tolerance as a species has been costly, all for some egomaniacs desire for us to prove faith.

We were asked to do one simple thing, put our faith in the God of heaven, the creator of everything.  We were not told to have faith in scripture, but in God's word.  Not in our interpretation, but to do nothing more than we were told; not to interpret anymore into it than was intended.  We were not supposed to listen to anyone else except Him.  Evil is placed among us for reason.  Evil is the test we must pass.  The deception that surrounds our every waking moment is the clutter we must ignore.  The test is not hard to pass.  It was never intended to be, nor was faith.

Stop listening to the clutter.  Stop trying to make sense of all the background noise.  Tune everything else out and listen only to your heart.  Don't interpret what you already know to be truth.  Pay attention only to that which was said by God and the Christ.  Try to simply look at the forest and see the damned trees!

Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's."

-- Matthew 16:23

A bishop is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight.  Who entrusted him?  God?  I didn't get that memo.  Apostles were the supreme power, delegating to the bishops.  I thought the "supreme power" was God?  I suppose this was why most of their attention was given to the more educated and respected converts.  Hell, even now we know you can't save the poor from themselves, right?

A minister is authorized by their church to teach beliefs.  Beliefs?  Not truths?  Well, it makes sense that you wouldn't trust, as the Latin defines minister, a servant or attendant, with the truth.

So where does that leave the lowly pastor?  Pastor is derived from the Latin for "shepherd."  It is the pastor's calling to tend the flock and gently guide them to green pastures.  Who of all these assigned to "lead" us is truly worthy?

"Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding."

-- Jeremiah 3:15

"I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding", not absolve you of sin so you can go sin again, and not do the job of getting you into heaven which was clearly laid at your feet. Feed you on the knowledge and understanding which will assist you on your own path to enlightenment, and your own personal relationship with God.

So, is your faith misguided? Only you can answer that question, but try to remember, God knows what truth is in your heart. Is it your truth or the minister's each Sunday? Is it yours, or the priest's passing the basket for this weeks "tithing? (Don't forget to give till it hurts. Are you feeding the poor, or putting a new roof on the church God never asked for? You might check on that.)

Faith isn't that hard, it was never intended to be.  Open your heart and let God inside.

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Frank Anthony Villari (aka, Pastor Tony)

Pastor Tony is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path."