(Part 3) Religion in the south: An interview for Blue Mountain Review
How do you ease into a closer walk with God? The third question my fiend Clifford Brooks, asked of me for an interview for The Blue Mountain Review was for “5 easy ways people can practice every day to feel “a closer walk with God.” The Blue Mountain Review is a literary magazine of which Clifford is one of the editors. The interview was published in the winter of 2016.
Each week I am posting my response to each of the five questions. If you missed the first two posts I encourage you to go back and read them.
3) What are 5 easy ways people can practice every day to feel "a closer walk with God"? (Just a few small stepping-stones people can use, gradually, to find themselves in faith)
You can test the water but—at some point—you must jump in. I appreciate that many come with questions and want to investigate the gospel first, but faith comes not by proximity but by intentionality. The claims of scripture are radical. The Bible teaches that God created everything; God demands righteousness; Jesus is the eternal God who came in the flesh; that He was born of a virgin; that He lived among us without sin; that He died as a sacrifice for our sin so that we might be saved; that Jesus physically died and was buried; and that He physically rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. You can investigate these claims. You can read the biblical witness of these claims. You can ponder and think on these things but, again—at some point—you must choose to believe or reject the testimony of scripture. It is an all or nothing proposition. That is why we use the word faith. Faith is believing in God. In faith, you understand that a holy eternal God cannot be fully known, and, so, we believe His testimony of truth even while we understand that to understand the fullness of God is beyond our ability.
Walking closer with God comes from growing in faith and that comes from three simple disciplines. Firstly, read and study the Bible. The Bible is God’s testimony of Himself to us. Those who believe in God desire to obey God, and that begins by knowing the word of God. Secondly, develop a regular prayer life. This is something more than a cry for help when crisis comes. This is more than a few words before a meal. And this is certainly something more than a recitation of memorized words. Prayer happens when God’s people talk to God. There is no required formula, place, or posture. Scripture is full of prayers of confession, complaints, praises, thanksgiving, and pleas for help and so should our prayers be. Thirdly, do not neglect the fellowship of other believers. Our culture tends to be very individually focused. As such, many approach church with a consumer mindset and will quickly disengage if something is not to their liking. Fellowship can be messy, but it is God’s design for the living out of our faith. When the New Testament speaks about the bride of Christ, it is speaking about the church. You cannot live out your faith in obedience without being in fellowship with other believers.
Next week I will answer the question: What are some tips on how to find the right church family fit?