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Finding God in a World of Religious Confusion By Rod Hall Most people say they believe in God, but do all roads lead to the same place?
he bulk of the world's population adheres to some type of religious creed or belief. Millions say they believe in God. Men in high political offices invoke the name of God in public ceremonies. Faithful Muslims make their pilgrimages to Mecca, and Hindus and Buddhists diligently practice the same precepts that were handed down to their forefathers' generations ago. Worldwide growth is occurring in these groups, as well as other religious groups like Shintoism and Judaism. Charismatics, New Agers, channelers, mystics, psychics and metaphysical alternatives abound as well. All of these conflicting religious philosophies cannot be right. Christian confusion Today even Christian beliefs seem hopelessly mired in a malaise of conflicting doctrines, ideas and practices. Hundreds of groups exist, from cults, fundamentalists and denominations, to mainline Catholic and Protestant organizations. Millions of Western Christians go to church every week. A full 85 percent of the adult population in the United States professes to be Christian. Yet, a third of professing Christians say they never attend church and still feel they are Christian. This reflects the casual, convenient and comfortable nature of the way millions want to believe in God. Many want to feel better about themselves by holding to some religious thoughts or ideas but most simply will not go out of their way to find out more about the God they claim as their own. And many certainly do not want God sticking His nose into their business. After all, if someone finds God they may also find that He requires something from them. A recent Newsweek cover story, "Spirituality in America," took a look at the rise of spirituality and why many Americans choose to seek spiritual experiences outside of traditional religions. "Fifty-seven percent of Americans consider spirituality a very important part of their daily lives, according to a new Newsweek/Beliefnet poll. But not all of those polled define spirituality in terms of a traditional religion. While the majority (55%) report that they are religious and spiritual, a significant number (24%) consider themselves spiritual, but not religious. And of those who say they follow a religion (64%), 19 percent say that they are not traditional in how they practice it. That number jumps to 29 percent of those in the 18-39 age bracket, according to the poll" (August 29-September 5, 2005, p. 46). Because of this pseudoreligious and superficial approach to God, the sad reality is that many false religious ideas have become a deadening and mind-deluding spiritual drug -- blinding millions from finding the true God. With all these different approaches we see a religious world hopelessly divided, confused and to a large degree blinded to the simple teachings of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3). Why this religious paradox?
Furthermore, in our day of intellectual and technical sophistication, vanity and pride prevents many from humbly searching for God and finding out what He says is the way to find Him and what their part is in a relationship with Him. Yet, if He is the true designer of this thing we call human existence, wouldn't it make sense that He has an interest in what He has made and has left a source for us to discover how to find Him?
Just following religious traditions is not enough. Jesus warned that many would come using His name to deceive the masses. "And Jesus answered and said to them: 'Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ," and will deceive many'" (Matthew 24:4-5). Most refuse to take God's Word for what it says. Stubbornly holding onto false concepts of God blinds millions from the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4). "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting" (Romans 1:28). How to find God In the world of modern education, you won't find the class "Finding God 101." Even though some of the best human thinkers acknowledge there must be a God, few have found Him. The 17th-century British mathematician and physicist Sir Isaac Newton acknowledged, "This beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being..."
You can prove God exists and that the Bible is His inspired Word. Paul wrote a good portion of what became the New Testament of the Bible (2 Peter 3:15-16). Its pages reveal the way to find the one and only God. Paul explains, "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds" (Hebrews 1:1-2).
In a religious world hopelessly divided and confused, you can cut through clutter by going to the one source that reveals the way to find God -- the Bible. Believe it, live by it and you can discover God. Recommended reading For more interesting information, please request our free booklet and for more information on our beliefs, request . Copyright 2006 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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