Inward

The inward journey of Christianity. Let me say that again and let it sink into you deeply. The inward journey of Christianity. This is where Jesus becomes difficult for us. Many people who claim the title "Christian" like to do so because they have been "saved" and are waiting for their gloroius day to go to heaven. This allows them, or us, to not have to worry about changing their life right now. I got my ticket punched, my eternity is secure, and I can sit back enjoy the ride and tell others that they are going to hell if they do not accept Jesus. However, this kind of turn or burn philisophy of life and Christianity does tremendous damage. We think that we no longer have to deal with the inward person and its fears, hurts, anger, resentments and bitterness. Since we do not deal with this inner person this inner person continues to act out and portray to the world that Jesus does not really change anything, Christian are just hypocrites. We lie. We hate. We use our resentments to hurt. We allow our worries to dominate our relationships.
Jesus came to redeem the whole person. Jesus did not come to just save our souls from an eternal seperation from God, but to restore us to complete wholeness. When I understand this I begin to look at the following statements from Jesus in a whole new light!

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Ask, Seek, Knock "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
The Narrow and Wide Gates "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7: 1-13

When we do not take this inner journey to look at ourselves and allow God to really change us, "broad is the road that leads to destruction." We become angry at others, we gossip about them, our anger gets in the way, our ego pushes our agenda not God's, and we look at our own needs and never the needs of others. We destroy ourselves and those around us. Do we dare ask the questions of ourselves, or allow others to ask the questions of us, that will expose our ego? Do we dare allow ourselves to die so that the way of Christ, the way of forgiveness, takes over? This is the small gate and narrow road "that leads to life and only a few find it." We find life and it gives life to all around us. When we do find it and we actually become a whole person in our thoughts, emotions, relationships, and physical body we find life right here and right now. God came to us to show us how to live. Jesus came to be the God-revealer. We take an inward journey so that we can be God-revealers. Are you willing to take that inward journey? Are you willing to allow someone in your life to ask you the hard questions? Can we sit down with our wives, our husbands, our children, our friends and ask them to be honest with us about when we have been selfish, angry, bitter, and hurtful? Can we open ourselves up to knowing when our ego takes over and we act rather than God's spirit acting? Can we "ask, seek and knock" and allow God to open this door so that the active journey of salvation can take place?

Namaste'