Image generated with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot
"God
writes straight with crooked lines."
– Portuguese Proverb
The Portuguese proverb
conveys the idea that even when life feels confusing or unjust, God’s wisdom
can transform apparent chaos or human errors into something meaningful and
good. This reflects a perspective rooted in faith and trust in divine
providence, suggesting that challenges often serve a greater purpose, even if
it’s not immediately visible to us.
This reflection was
sparked by the heartfelt anguish of a young woman I read about online, who, while reading the Bible,
struggled to reconcile its words with her church’s teaching on the Trinity. Her
experience reflects the struggles of many in high-control religious environments,
where questioning organizational dogma can lead to ostracism, excommunication,
or disfellowshipping—practices akin to the control mechanisms used by the
Pharisees of Jesus’s day. Ironically, these punishments often come from
organizations whose interpretations are themselves fluid and
contradictory.
Having grown up in the
Christian faith, I have witnessed the tangle of doctrinal differences that
divide believers. Some firmly uphold the Trinity, while others reject it. The
concept of hellfire sparks similar debates: is it biblical truth or a misreading?
Questions about Jesus’ origins also divide opinion—was His existence prehuman,
or did it begin with His birth in Bethlehem?
For those who study
Scripture and arrive at conclusions differing from established teachings, the
struggle is both theological and personal. Trusting one’s understanding of
God’s Word often comes at a steep cost: isolation and rejection. This tension
between personal faith and institutional rigidity highlights the challenge of
navigating diverse interpretations within Christianity.
These questions, though
deeply theological, are far from abstract. They shape how we understand God and
live our faith, exposing both the richness and the fractures within the
Christian community.
As someone who deeply
loves God and seeks to follow Christ, I have found these differences both
perplexing and unsettling. I have wrestled with questions that defy definitive
answers and often wondered how God views the sincere efforts of believers who arrive
at such diverse conclusions.
The thought frequently
comes to me: How does God see all of this?
The answer, I believe,
begins with God’s own heart. The Bible emphasizes repeatedly that He values
what’s within us more than external perfection. I am comforted by the account
of Samuel anointing David as king. God’s words— “Man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart”—remind me that He sees beyond human
correctness to the sincerity of our devotion.
God recognizes the love
and earnestness in the hearts of His worshippers. He knows the struggles of
those who seek to worship Him as they believe is right—their hours in prayer,
their trembling hands turning the pages of Scripture, their trust amidst uncertainty.
But there remains the
matter of truth. If God values truth, how do we reconcile the vast differences
in how we understand it? This question once filled me with anxiety. I feared
failing Him by misunderstanding something vital. Yet, as I have grown older,
I’ve realized that the search for truth is not about achieving flawless
comprehension but about the willingness to seek, to trust, and to accept our
limitations.
Isaiah’s words come to
mind: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” These
words challenge my pride but also reassure me that God’s plan surpasses my
understanding.
The diversity of beliefs
within Christianity reflects our humanity. Culture, history, and personal
experience inevitably influence how we approach God’s Word. Even in the early
church, disagreements were common—Paul and Peter did not always see eye to eye.
Yet, God worked through them both.
When I consider Jesus’
life, I see someone who prioritized the heart over dogma. He did not align with
the religious factions of His time—Pharisees, Sadducees, or Essenes. Instead,
He called people to love God and neighbour. While He corrected misunderstandings,
He also extended grace to those earnestly seeking to follow Him. Think the
woman at the well whose people worshiped in a place different from the Jews.
So where does that leave
me?
It leaves me with hope.
Hope that God’s judgment is perfect, tempered with mercy, and not limited by
human biases. Hope that my imperfect understanding won’t separate me from His
love. Hope that the sincerity of my search matters more to Him than my grasp of
every doctrine.
Paul’s words in 1
Corinthians anchor me: “Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we
shall see face to face.” While I lack all the answers now, I trust that clarity
will come in God’s time. For now, I live
by what I know: that God is love, just, and faithful. I strive to love Him with
all my heart, soul, and mind and to love others as myself. Beyond that, I trust
Him to guide me—and all who seek Him—into truth.
"God writes straight with crooked lines."
Image generated with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot
"God writes straight with crooked lines."
– Portuguese Proverb
The Portuguese proverb conveys the idea that even when life feels confusing or unjust, God’s wisdom can transform apparent chaos or human errors into something meaningful and good. This reflects a perspective rooted in faith and trust in divine providence, suggesting that challenges often serve a greater purpose, even if it’s not immediately visible to us.
This reflection was sparked by the heartfelt anguish of a young woman I read about online, who, while reading the Bible, struggled to reconcile its words with her church’s teaching on the Trinity. Her experience reflects the struggles of many in high-control religious environments, where questioning organizational dogma can lead to ostracism, excommunication, or disfellowshipping—practices akin to the control mechanisms used by the Pharisees of Jesus’s day. Ironically, these punishments often come from organizations whose interpretations are themselves fluid and contradictory.
Having grown up in the Christian faith, I have witnessed the tangle of doctrinal differences that divide believers. Some firmly uphold the Trinity, while others reject it. The concept of hellfire sparks similar debates: is it biblical truth or a misreading? Questions about Jesus’ origins also divide opinion—was His existence prehuman, or did it begin with His birth in Bethlehem?
For those who study Scripture and arrive at conclusions differing from established teachings, the struggle is both theological and personal. Trusting one’s understanding of God’s Word often comes at a steep cost: isolation and rejection. This tension between personal faith and institutional rigidity highlights the challenge of navigating diverse interpretations within Christianity.
These questions, though deeply theological, are far from abstract. They shape how we understand God and live our faith, exposing both the richness and the fractures within the Christian community.
As someone who deeply loves God and seeks to follow Christ, I have found these differences both perplexing and unsettling. I have wrestled with questions that defy definitive answers and often wondered how God views the sincere efforts of believers who arrive at such diverse conclusions.
The thought frequently comes to me: How does God see all of this?
The answer, I believe, begins with God’s own heart. The Bible emphasizes repeatedly that He values what’s within us more than external perfection. I am comforted by the account of Samuel anointing David as king. God’s words— “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”—remind me that He sees beyond human correctness to the sincerity of our devotion.
God recognizes the love and earnestness in the hearts of His worshippers. He knows the struggles of those who seek to worship Him as they believe is right—their hours in prayer, their trembling hands turning the pages of Scripture, their trust amidst uncertainty.
But there remains the matter of truth. If God values truth, how do we reconcile the vast differences in how we understand it? This question once filled me with anxiety. I feared failing Him by misunderstanding something vital. Yet, as I have grown older, I’ve realized that the search for truth is not about achieving flawless comprehension but about the willingness to seek, to trust, and to accept our limitations.
Isaiah’s words come to mind: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” These words challenge my pride but also reassure me that God’s plan surpasses my understanding.
The diversity of beliefs within Christianity reflects our humanity. Culture, history, and personal experience inevitably influence how we approach God’s Word. Even in the early church, disagreements were common—Paul and Peter did not always see eye to eye. Yet, God worked through them both.
When I consider Jesus’ life, I see someone who prioritized the heart over dogma. He did not align with the religious factions of His time—Pharisees, Sadducees, or Essenes. Instead, He called people to love God and neighbour. While He corrected misunderstandings, He also extended grace to those earnestly seeking to follow Him. Think the woman at the well whose people worshiped in a place different from the Jews.
So where does that leave me?
It leaves me with hope. Hope that God’s judgment is perfect, tempered with mercy, and not limited by human biases. Hope that my imperfect understanding won’t separate me from His love. Hope that the sincerity of my search matters more to Him than my grasp of every doctrine.
Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians anchor me: “Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.” While I lack all the answers now, I trust that clarity will come in God’s time. For now, I live by what I know: that God is love, just, and faithful. I strive to love Him with all my heart, soul, and mind and to love others as myself. Beyond that, I trust Him to guide me—and all who seek Him—into truth.
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