The essence of Christianity is to resonate God's existence (and all that accompanies it) and to live out eternity with him. So often it becomes muddled in church politics, governmental policies, and which group we belong to. Not that these are bad things. In fact, we'd all do well if our churches sought God's designs, our politics were based on biblical principles, and we held tightly to each other as brothers.
But the end of all created things is to echo the attributes of its Creator. The rising of the sun demonstrates his faithfulness, the birth of children his life-bringing; much of creation faithfully demonstrates him.
Yet another part exists to showcase it. Humans; the only created thing to be created by his "breath." No other animal has the ability to create beauties like a painting, a love song, lengthy and wonderful books; an ant builds his mound and feeds the hive; a man raises children to talk, walk, care for people, etc. Yet because of our unique attributes comes the ability to do the opposite. Fathers who abandon their children, art that devalues human life; rapists, murderers, liars, sexual deviancy; In short the human being can create beauty and ugliness.
Right now I am listening to a piece performed by the classical guitarist John Williams. It is amazing when you keep a close ear to it. The subtle changes in rhythm and the sheer complexity of its arrangement. I'm definately not qualified to decipher music like this but even in that low state I can hear its beauty.
But in my life I have seen ugly things. Yet just as before, my knowledge/experience of it is still less than others. The dualities of beauty and ugliness attest much to man's complexities.
So here we have it, a created being with the capacity to create light and dark. Which is its purpose? How do we define what is truly beautiful and truly ugly?
A mesh of answers exists. Yet I am convinced by both reason and, I'll say it, emotion that the only sufficient answers lie within God's word, delivered to us through the hands of men, kept safe through the passage of time; It the God-breathed words of scripture that offer us a way out of the disgusting mess we're in and into the presence of something bigger.
Thought deserves to be given to questions regarding the pain Christianity has brought though. Yet I think, given this is just a random blog, the answer lies in two things: hypocrites and misjudgments. The first is obvious. The church deacon who runs off with the preachers wife, hateful groups that seek to harass people, and a whole slew of unlovingness. Yet it should be stated that while they seek God's will there is a distortion of it. The root of the problem? Lack of an intellectual understanding of scripture. In my short life every problem has stemmed from following my own desires* and not God's. Likewise, when men seek to change the world based on their own wisdom in most cases disaster follows.
The other problem is simply a misunderstanding of which the guilty party belongs to. While people scream "It's the Christians!" often we see its a group that adheres to what is described above.
It is a human being's duty and in his/her best interest to seek God's glory (demonstrating his existence.) In him do we find rest and comfort; understanding and peace. But make no mistake, there is a cost. Christ told us he came with a sword, not peace. The context of this regards how people react to his children. It's not far fetched to imagine parents despising their child for following Jesus nor co-workers alienating someone bent of serving Christ. But it is indeed worth the cost, to have fellowship with the creator, sustainer, and life-giver.
I certainly am not a bright example. Though I seek his glory there are times when I am rude to others, selfish, and just plain stupid...
*I think that "following your heart" and "following your own desires" should be made clear. I don't think God always decides our futures. But when an incident comes that involves a choice between right and wrong, following our heart is not always the best choice.
