By A.A. Fenty
Oh it’s me again. On this the holiest of days in the Christian calendar.
Me again – still baffled, uninformed or unwilling to understand. But yet open-minded about both the strong mental, spiritual and heart-felt religious beliefs of the converted loyal, and the relatively new-found flaws and uncertainties surrounding the record upon which so many of those Christian beliefs are based.
Hosanna in the highest, Alleluia chorus, I know my Redeemer liveth, “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. The latter quote is from one of the Christian bible gospel recorders, a Saint named John.
The “world?” “Should not perish?” “Ever-lasting life?” Perhaps “life” as I don’t understanding it. Life in the ever after, the higher spiritual plane. Because “life” here in 2008 seems to have lost its meaning; its very sanctity. But let me back up with my usual dilemma and pleadings regarding this faith, which seemed destined to challenge my very limited understanding ’til the end of my own earthly life.
You see, many readers might pity me for my lack of willingness to accept that the Christian God’s “Word” is being fulfilled when I experience wars, famine, pandemics and all that is internationally lethal, devastating and outright evil! Since “evil” is derived from “Devil”, I am told that the negative sinful things and events in this world are the doings of Satan. Man has ignored all of God’s righteous warnings and His teachings – from disobeying the Ten Commandments to abusing nature – so mankind inherits the wages of disobedience and sin. Right?
The Devil, triumphant
– what “church”?
Over the years, though this column, this is how I’ve expressed my creeping conclusion (in summary): “At risk of being simplistic in my own uninformed, irreligious, cynical manner I’m veering towards the point of view that the Devil, Satan, the former Lucifer is winning the souls and beings of the human beings on this planet.
“Every occasion I enquire of good Christian folk – both preachers and laity – the reasons for the manifestation of such widespread evil in this world – crime, child abuse and murder, disease, brutal natural disasters, traffic accidents, corruption, discrimination. I am told that it is the Devil’s doing. That human beings bring about all the bad, their own demise when they reject God’s way and follow the evil of Satan which results in everything bad.
Yes, the point is always made that God, while He punishes wrongdoing is compassionate and forgiving. Sin results from man’s own consistence rejection of His way.
My opinion persists: the Devil has influenced and inspired more of the world’s humans to be immoral, given to illegality, to be hostile to the natural forces which hit back at them; to be phony with their very faiths and morals and to be, in essence evil – as the Devil wants them to be.
And I have concluded that since most people’s God is forgiving merciful and only concerned with good and everlasting life, the bad happenings, now in the majority, are Satan’s victories, even if some call them God’s punishment. (Mind you, I understand that there are still more good people in this world than bad ones.)
Now I have grappled with the fact that I see numerous types of Christian denominations being established and attended by the young, especially. Across Guyana the older established Anglican and Roman Catholic Church, is now joined by those “undenominational” religious groups. The latter have introduced popular (gospel) music, charismatic and modern activities to attract and keep new members, or members from the older churches. But my “puzzlement” has to do with seemingly, the more of these popular churches, the more sin and the Devil’s doings – multiply. The new faithful merely attend. They don’t follow the tenets of their doctrine. To me the new churches are like clubs which are really not inspiring fundamental qualitative changes in the flock. Satan has to be smiling at the artificial nature of “religion” these days.
I open myself to pity and sympathy – and lots of ridicule when I state the confusion I’m taking to my grave: God is omnipotent. He is everywhere. But where is God? The people of Lusignan and Bartica are wondering. Even as they go to (God’s) churches!
Faith and doubting Didymus
Faith is the evidence of things not seen?” The dictionary and the Christian bible would persuade me that faith is “reliance, trust, belief, founded on authority and religious doctrine”, a spiritual apprehension and acceptance of divine truth, apart from proof, or evidence.
There is the loyalty of blind faith, or faith based on personal inner experience through adherence to teaching and injunction – the rewards of a spiritual affiliation. How great are those who truly believe without seeing. I’ve never taken up certain invitations to be taught and counselled so that the light of understanding might sweep away the darkness of my ignorance with respect to these issues.
One reason is that I would first have to be convinced of the integrity and accuracy of the very gospels – and their authors which my teachers will use to educate and persuade. But I’m hoping I won’t be too late. Ms Dennison of the UK and Mr Bhulai have to be patient with me.
Prophecy (Isaiah, etc) had to be fulfilled I’m told. Jesus’ query: “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?” is not to be taken literally – Oh well, I suppose I would be a descendant of Thomas, called Didymus, He would not believe fully in the resurrection of Christ until he had seen some positive evidence.
In Galilee, the gospels told, Jesus chided him but showed him the holes in his palms from the crucifixion. Forgive me for siding with good old Thomas.
I just trust that Jesus did not die in vain. Fellowship with God was lost through sin? God sent His son to redeem us all? So He had to die. But what’s this also about “no remission of sin without the shedding of blood?” Whose blood? Jesus’s? Or whose? Pray for me.
A reflective Easter
Even the cross buns are more costly. Flour prices and the resurrection!
Whatever happened to former GDF officer and Customs top man, Lambert Marks?
What do the bandits think of the stakeholders meetings/forums, and all the crime chiefs meeting here?
Just where are the usual guns and the Bartica weapons right now?
Catch the Guyana Cook up Show on CNS TV 6 on Saturday and Monday in the morning.
‘Til next week!
