Problems with Packaging Truth

Maybe God is looking for human tubes of faith, like fiber optic strands, long enough to punch holes in the dark covering surrounding us and conduct rays of light into our hearts, our families and communities. But even then, if we punch through to the light but focus primarily on only receiving light for ourselves we may become clogged and overheated from the light because we are not enjoying the blessings that come from being free-flowing channels. None of us can see all the light, our tubes will never have that capacity in all eternity. But collectively when all the tubes convey the light that is given to them and freely allow it to pass on to others, the artificial dark sky that blocks our vision of God will begin to shine with lights brighter and brighter like ever-increasing luminous stars. This is the harbinger of the glorious day when everyone in God's family will shine with the intensity of fully blazing suns when His glory is fully revealed. And even in that day, each person will simply be a fully transparent conduit of light that displays a unique aspect of God's life-giving power and passion, His character and glory that perfectly compliments all the other “fiber optics” receiving and displaying the glorious love and beauty of God.

This morning I was thinking about the penchant for religious people to pre-package truth into carefully arranged clusters and labeled according to denomination or system. Each package arranges different truths in their own preferred priority and highlights two or three items that they insist are the most important. Then they often attach a pocket of explosive condemnation powder to the trigger of their favorite doctrines or maybe to one's non-acceptance of their whole package. If a person is not ready to embrace the package deal and submit to the groups foregone conclusions and research then they are subject to the explosion of condemnation which is considered an appropriate consequence for “rejection of light”. This tends to make many people very gun-shy of looking at different packages other than what they are familiar with, or if they are coming from outside of religion they are skeptical of all the packages.

The religious groups insist that the explosive reactions to disagreeing with them are due to the light inherent in truth. They believe that if you reject their brand of packaged truth then you will suffer the pains of guilt and condemnation and despair deserving to anyone so brazen or foolish as to reject them. Each group exercises a reservoir of condemnation and guilt to lay on any and all rejectors of their “truth” to reinforce and amplify any natural feelings of guilt to dissenters. They label these dissenters “rejectors of mercy” or “rebellious” or “defiant and proud” or any number of other titles.

This whole arrangement is purported to be the difference between light and darkness. Everyone not inside the group and submissive to the spiritual authority of the promulgators of that system are considered in a lost condition and in opposition and rebellion against God. “You are either for us or against us” they loudly proclaim. And so honest-hearted people searching for God or just looking to make sense of the confusion and questions in their own heart are kept at a distance from each of these packages because of the explosive potential and damage to be suffered if they get close enough to evaluate and consider the viability of truth for their own lives.

In contrast, my mind was directed to Gideon's army and the “weapons” God instructed him to equip them with. Their primary and initially exclusive weapons against the enemy were two instruments alone – torches and trumpets. At first the torchlight was hidden inside some sort of breakable container that could be easily shattered to release the full, glorious light of the torch in stark contrast to the deep darkness of the night. The trumpets were to give “a certain sound” all together in perfect unity as the light was revealed. There was no explosions, no fearfulness on the part of the participants, no defensiveness and not even any aggression. There was only the clear revelation of undiluted, unobstructed light and the startling, clear sound of music so harmonious and so loud that it could not be ignored. The light overcame the darkness and the sound aroused everyone from sleep or confused stupor. The sides were clearly defined by those who were trusting God and those who turned to fight each other.