Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Why I Believe



"If I'd abandon all that seeks to make my faith informed and chic, could You, would You, show Yourself to me?" ~ Nichole Nordeman


When I first read this quote, I wasn't sure what it meant. Even after reading the entire song, I still wasn't sure if I had anything of value to add this week. After spending most of the evening and night last night feeling pretty sick, I decided I would just skip this week. Then this afternoon, I decided to look at it one more time and see if anything came to me. Call me crazy, attribute it to OCD, whatever... but I felt bad skipping a week, especially since I just joined in on this. *smile*

It finally dawned on me that this quote sort of represents the last several years of my life. I was raised a Christian, in a Christian home, with God fearing parents. We only missed church when we were sick. I even went to a Christian school for my high school years. So everywhere I turned, there was God. I grew up believing the same things my parents believed. I took everything our pastors would say as truth. I took my faith in God for granted. It was my life, of COURSE I believed it all. Right?

It wasn't until a while after I married that I realized I knew what I believed, I just didn't really know why I believed it. I mean, obviously, I believed it because it was how I was raised. But why? I was extremely close minded and approached the Word with preconceived ideas. It wasn't until I sought to shed those ideas and approach His Word with an open mind and heart that He truly began to reveal Himself to me, precious facets of Himself that can just blow your mind. My beliefs didn't change so much... at least not in the big things that matter. But rather I started to see why I believed what I did (other than just being taught that way my entire life), and why His Word is the only truth. It was at that point that I ceased to be a follower of man, making my faith be whatever information people gave me - whatever was "chic" and right to them, and instead became a real follower of Christ.

Don't get me wrong. I was saved as a child, and I still believe to this day I was saved as a child. I understood what I was taught, I just didn't understand all the whys. My knowledge of God was very surface level. My relationship with Him was there and real, but it wasn't something extremely deep that I constantly pursued. I didn't have the deep desire to grab on to His coattails and hang on for dear life. The switch was on, but the light was dimmed by the thickness of my selfishness, stubbornness, and preconceived ideas. It took growing up and getting out on my own, and being tested in my beliefs for me to see God revealing Himself as I firmly planted my feet on the ground of those beliefs for the right reasons.

I hope that makes sense. If not, blame my migraine and OCD. *smile*



Don't forget to visit Fruit in Season, this week's host, and read her thoughts on the quote. :o)





8 comments:

Christine said...

Hi Crystal! I'm so glad you decided to post. I was just talking with a friend who has been through a similar journey shedding the layers of "preconceived" ideas to come to the heart of her faith. It has been very rewarding for her. Thanks for sharing your take on the quote this week!

heidi @ ggip said...

Really great story. It just shows that you are now maturing in your faith which is great. I'm glad you posted this week too.

You have a great layout here too. Very fun but calming too.

Delete said...

Hi Crystal-

You completely make sense. In fact I agree with exactly what you said and had a similair experience. I hope that your migraine gets better:)

Anonymous said...

"It was at that point that I ceased to be a follower of man, making my faith be whatever information people gave me - whatever was "chic" and right to them, and instead became a real follower of Christ."

It is a big step to follow God totally and not man and to seek only His approval. Then, we do start seeing Him more clearly.

Great points. Thanks for sharing!

Jessica Morris said...

I know for me too having moved out from my parents home and moved away from my home church I was forced to reevaluate the 'preconceived' ideas I'd had.

Oh, and you did make sense. I understand the OCD too... blogging is addicting. Meme's are even more so!

Cindy Swanson said...

Well, thank goodness for OCD! You definitely contributed to the discussion of this quote. Having grown up in a Christian home, I can relate to a lot of what you said. I'm glad you took time to post.

Chris the Crazy Conservative said...

Excellent insight! I am quite sure that what you are describing here is known as growing in grace and the knowledge of Him. Keep pressing on. While you may not can see it, your journey has just begun.

Anonymous said...

I am so thrilled that you looked at the quote one more time...You actually put my journey into words. Except it took for God to remove me from my family and put 6,000 miles between us in order for me the 'get' it. I was raised in the Christian home. My dad always quoted Scripture around the house...But I guess I had to take the journey for myself to understand the why...

Thank you so much for sharing. You don't know how much your post meant to me.

Blessings on your Wednesday and always.