Keeping Simple Faith Simple

"Keep Simple Faith Simple," and the cry in response--a resounding all in agreement--Yeah right! At least that's what you thought while your mouth shouted, "Amen!" in response to the preacher.

Yeah, me too. A lot of the things I write on this blog are the things we're all already thinking but never tell anyone. You know, those things we tuck away in our psyche's dusty basement. We all know they're there, and prefer it stay that way. 

We think about them nearly every day and swear to ourselves we're really going to get down there and at least dust things off, but we're just so darn busy keeping up our facades of respectfulness--it's just so damn tiring. If we all knew that we all know, (and it's not just me) we could have the world's largest party and bonfire. 

How do I know it's true? I can see all your heads bobbing up and down as you read.

Jesus said to keep it simple-

Mark this:Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Mark 10:15 (Message)

I'm sure the people there to hear Jesus speak those words shouted Amen too.

So what's a guy/girl to do? I have no answer short of try. So how do I try?

We have to let God do as much of the assembly and ordering of our lives as possible.

It's a matter of shoving that crazy pile of life's Legos over to Him and saying, "I hope you can do something with that. I haven't been able to make much sense of all those parts YOU GAVE ME, and You could have at least sent a picture along of what it should look like when it's done."

And then He'll nod, grin and say, "I was wondering when you'd finally let me play."

I could of made this post(but I didn't) all about how complicated we make faith, with a billion churches, and more websites; all telling us what it should look like and how messed up the world will be until we can figure out how to put that complicated mess together. If we will 'simply' order their CD DVD Book or Podcast sermon series, all will be right with our world. That's all I'll say on that.

But then there's our own head/heart to contend with; it pulls us a hundred different directions trying to get that ONE PIECE that will finally fit correctly. If we would cut it all back and downsize, yes I said DOWNSIZE our faith to the mustard seed Jesus talked about, then we just might feel that fresh wind of joy that a child knows.

There's no drug or possession quite like little-kid-happy. They trust perfectly what Mommy or Daddy says, at least until their early teens. If we have a hard time squeezing into those little clothes and shoes, let's drench ourselves in the truths of God's word and the simplicity that is not really hidden.

Acts 2:46 (NKJV)

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV)

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

A saying I first heard in Alcoholics Anonymous many years ago still rings in my head:

K.I.S.S. Keep it simple stupid, which I am until I learn to let the Driver drive.

Wrestling for Control

I first heard the saying, “Let go and let God,” in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

That saying strikes a chord within each of us because of a trait/problem universal to each of our lives, and not just alcoholics. As human beings we have the hardest time letting God be who He is and do what he wants.

Given half a chance to think about it, our heads surely must bob up and down in agreement, like a parrot performing for a treat. 

Moses stood at the head of 1.5 million people he was leading out of slavery; he came to an impassable river with an enemy army in hot pursuit and God told him to stand still and see what God would do. Yeah right was probably Moses first thought.

Would we all agree that the lot of our predicaments, troubles and issues lie partially or at most wholly rooted in our struggle with God for dominance and control. Believe Him or not. We need to let go and let God, or let God be God.

Regardless of what we choose to believe, God is God, for how could we finite(though eternal) beings influence who or what He is? There are a million, no make that near limitless different forms that humans choose to make of God or god and each of us believe that our way is THE WAY to see God and everyone else is mistaken. Ludicrous. No matter who you are.

Who is it that gets the final say on who God is? God. 

So how can we mere mortals put the brakes on our fight for supremacy? God knows, he has been unable to stop us.

It comes down to choice.

We can choose to refuse bitterness when life turns south on us.

We can choose NOT to reject those that refuse to play to the role we have mentally or emotional cast them in. Three cheers here for husbands, wives and parents. The bible calls husbands to love their wives, wives to honor their husbands and all of us to honor our parents good or bad.

By trying to force our spouse, parent or friend to conform to our ideal—or else—puts us in the role of a god or at least telling God his business. Whether you believe the bible or not doesn’t change who God is one wit.

Has life dealt you a bitter hand? Would you sour it even further by raging against the God who made you.

Let’s give God the same freedom we desire for ourselves and allow him to function as the Supreme Being that he is. You and I both know life would taste sweeter and the load grow lighter if we did.

Peace.