Editorial: How Do You Know God?
I remember being in cradle roll Sabbath School, and handed a red paper heart. Opening the double-doors in the middle revealed a picture of Jesus. This all happened as we sang about Jesus being in our hearts.
I didn’t understand what it meant then. I’m not sure I do now.
We Christians use formulaic phrases that flow from our tongues, assuming we all understand them. Phrases like “having a relationship with Jesus,” or “feeling the presence of the Lord.” I wonder what they actually mean to most of the people who say them?
We’re all different. Some “feel” Jesus. Others pursue God in more rational ways. I don’t think one is better than the other.
Still, I’d argue that much worship language favors the feeling people. Many of our hymns are emotional and very personal. Think of hymns like, “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses… And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.”
There are a few hymns, though, that have theological content, as well as great poetic language. Like this one:
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.
I think the third verse is my favorite:
To all life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish, but nought changeth Thee.
It seems to me there’s a lot of study yet to do on what constitutes religious experience, and how we communicate it most effectively. (Tune in on Sabbath to the Adventist Today Sabbath Seminar, where neuroscientist Daryl Gungadoo is going to discuss this very thing!)
Loren Seibold
Adventist Today Writer and Editor
25 May 2024
ANNOUNCEMENTS & LINKS
Today’s ATSS class (1:30 PM Eastern) with Laura Wibberding
One-click link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89254993829
Passcode: MARY
ATSS on May 25: Michael Scofield
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