Beginning faith

(Forward: My thoughts and ideas about Faith are still developing. I ask for your patience if these are not perfectly in line with what you believe. Who knows, in a year I might come to a completely different approach. I have to probe it’s meaning and possibilities. Here’s all I’ve figured out up to now.)

I want more faith in God. I would like to major in Faith. So I’ll go up to the University of Utah and sign up for Faith 101. I wish it worked that way. Really! So how does it work? The foundation of faith is clear: obey the commandments, be accepting: not judging, be a good person and be true. Some don’t give much thought to this ‘foundation’ idea, but I think it’s critical. There are those who sought Him earnestly in prayer and got no response. But on a closer look at their life I could see why. Sometimes they were lying or cheating, controlling or judging or they were far from generous. Spiritual qualities of the soul are to the heavens as physical locations of the body are on this earth. In either situation, before we call out for attention; get close enough (spiritually or physically) to the one you want so they might hear you. An unrepentant proud person seeking the Lord is spirituality like someone in LA yelling for the President in DC. His call simply won’t be heard or answered. Remember Christ: “You know the way to where I am going.” It is really that simple.

But supposing the foundation is well laid. Now what? The science of faith seemed a little vague. Little by little it became clear at least to me. To get a handle on faith I would first give it a simple practical definition. I think it’s a trusting relationship between a person and God. In order for two individual to begin to trust each other they have to meet and get to know each other. The same principle applies here. I realized that if someone came and claimed to know and trust my brother or my father; I might doubt them. If they then told me how they had read about them and followed their suggestions; I might question their faith. Had they never met them? Had they ever spent time together or worked and played together with my father? If not, then I wouldn’t find their claim of faith or trust in my family members credible.

I came to believe that for each of us there must come a transition from faith based on the written word to faith based on a living and personal relationship. It needn’t be a spectacular thing, but it must be real and not imagined. From time to time it doesn’t hurt to receive Gideon type proof: small, quiet, but clear evidence of God’s presence.

When I was in the fourth grade I tried to prophecy. I thought I was a good person so I tried to make predictions. It became embarrassingly clear that I had no more ability in prophecy than anyone else. But I wondered. A few years later a voice spoke in my head a prophecy which came true a few weeks later. This was a beginning of trust in something unseen, something living, real and greater than I. From time to time I sought the voice and from time to time it spoke to me. ( though these ‘times’ didn’t always co inside). It occurred to me that there must have been others in history who would have sought God too. So I went looking for stories of their experiences. Rumi, Kabir, Mohammed, Buddha, Bahaullah, Annalee Skarin, and especially Ramakrishna among others all had experiences that gave me clues as to what to expect.

Real faith begins with an earnest, durable, undeniable request for a divine response. Never give up the prayer. Rest go about daily tasks but come back to the request and the prayer whenever possible. There will be a response. Don’t control how it comes. Words from another person or book might be the start. Usually I hear from an angel. He can be very demanding but at the same time he has been very patient and forgiving. He has led me to the experiences I needed to grow and prepare me to do God’s will.

Blessings and gifts will be offered. But in order to be prepared to receive them, discipline may be required first. Worldly desires will have to be willing set aside like children set aside their toys as they mature. Prayerfully seek and attempt the Gifts of the Spirit. We should ask God questions and not be too quick to assume we know the meaning of the scriptures. Instead let Him unfold their meaning and beauty to us.

Ramakrishna had a very interesting piece of advice for seekers of God: As you begin to come closer to God, He will give you spiritual gifts. Many, who could have been great, have allowed themselves to be distracted with these divine gifts. But just like worldly possessions, they need be set aside that the greater gift of God’s presence might be realized. It’s an interesting thought. The scriptures speak of the Gifts of the Spirit. It’s clear that they are intended for us. It’s also clear that they might help us grow. But like just like anything else they can distract from greater things.

Faith requires a lot of hard work. But like a musical ability, after the discipline comes the fun. Miracles, knowing the future, speaking in tongues, gift of knowledge, out of body traveling are all quite thrilling. Just don’t let pride and egoism end it.

David Laird Castleton