It would be an understatement to say that I'm not big on change. I recently retired and went back and forth on that decision more times than Bjorn Borg baseline play. Change is usually more painful to me than watching Hillary Clinton trying to express emotion or for the mainstream media having to report something favorable on evangelical Christians, or Republican elitists having to spit out support for any Conservative Republican candidates....but I digress.
I have had three instances in my life of 66 years when I had to abandon beliefs and ideas that I previously held sacred. I was raised Roman Catholic and educated for twelve years in Catholic schools. Both my mother's and father's families were staunchly Catholic as was I. I wore a St. Jude medal around my neck for the longest time and was looking for a new rosary when in 1982 I stopped into a Christian bookstore called It Is Written and walked out with a book titled Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell. A lot of factors influenced me back then but this isn't a theological post so suffice it to say that I soon had to make a decision on whether or not to leave the church of my youth and of my family. To this day, considering my past, I'm surprised and thankful that I made that decision so easily.
The second instance involved my political registration. Once again both families were solidly Democrat as was I. Robert Kennedy was a hero since I was in my teens and I did volunteer phone work for Ted Kennedy in 1980. In 1982, coinciding with my having God's Word opened up to me, I knew that another difficult but far less important decision had to be made if I was to follow through on my beliefs. I changed my registration to Republican. Once again I was surprised how easily I made the decision.
The third instance was within Protestantism. I was Charismatic/Pentecostal and a monthly contributor to the 700 Club. We vacationed a coupled times at Pat Robertson's Founders Inn in Virginia Beach...a beautiful place to stay. I was a voracious reader by this time and eventually came to see that I would have to make another major decision. I left Charismatic/Pentecostalism and after a short time of reflection and investigation discovered the 16th century Reformation, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Bunyan, Charles Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards and the Puritans, but more importantly salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, and this verified through Scripture alone. My faith has been what is called 'Reformed' since then.
I hesitatingly give this testimony but wanted to show how decisions like these sometimes have to be made in life. The alternative is to hold on to something, not because a belief is constantly examined and remains strong but because leaving something so ingrained can be very painful, so painful that many refuse to attempt to make sure the veracity of what they believe. In retrospect it wasn't courage or determination that enabled me to make these choices, it was the grace of God, for He always provides when it is necessary. Do you have changes that you are struggling with? It's not that change is always necessary but wisdom is always necessary and I hope that you truly seek that wisdom for then God will surely provide it.
Note: I wrote the short novella titled Isaac Crockett almost two decades ago. If you are interested, It follows the budding relationship of a young Catholic lady and a young Reformed Presbyterian man.
I have had three instances in my life of 66 years when I had to abandon beliefs and ideas that I previously held sacred. I was raised Roman Catholic and educated for twelve years in Catholic schools. Both my mother's and father's families were staunchly Catholic as was I. I wore a St. Jude medal around my neck for the longest time and was looking for a new rosary when in 1982 I stopped into a Christian bookstore called It Is Written and walked out with a book titled Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell. A lot of factors influenced me back then but this isn't a theological post so suffice it to say that I soon had to make a decision on whether or not to leave the church of my youth and of my family. To this day, considering my past, I'm surprised and thankful that I made that decision so easily.
The second instance involved my political registration. Once again both families were solidly Democrat as was I. Robert Kennedy was a hero since I was in my teens and I did volunteer phone work for Ted Kennedy in 1980. In 1982, coinciding with my having God's Word opened up to me, I knew that another difficult but far less important decision had to be made if I was to follow through on my beliefs. I changed my registration to Republican. Once again I was surprised how easily I made the decision.
The third instance was within Protestantism. I was Charismatic/Pentecostal and a monthly contributor to the 700 Club. We vacationed a coupled times at Pat Robertson's Founders Inn in Virginia Beach...a beautiful place to stay. I was a voracious reader by this time and eventually came to see that I would have to make another major decision. I left Charismatic/Pentecostalism and after a short time of reflection and investigation discovered the 16th century Reformation, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Bunyan, Charles Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards and the Puritans, but more importantly salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, and this verified through Scripture alone. My faith has been what is called 'Reformed' since then.
I hesitatingly give this testimony but wanted to show how decisions like these sometimes have to be made in life. The alternative is to hold on to something, not because a belief is constantly examined and remains strong but because leaving something so ingrained can be very painful, so painful that many refuse to attempt to make sure the veracity of what they believe. In retrospect it wasn't courage or determination that enabled me to make these choices, it was the grace of God, for He always provides when it is necessary. Do you have changes that you are struggling with? It's not that change is always necessary but wisdom is always necessary and I hope that you truly seek that wisdom for then God will surely provide it.
Note: I wrote the short novella titled Isaac Crockett almost two decades ago. If you are interested, It follows the budding relationship of a young Catholic lady and a young Reformed Presbyterian man.
