Isaiah Roman

Talk Plain

In the realm of religion it’s hard sometimes to talk plainly. The concepts can become convoluted very quickly. In our time it’s specifically difficult because of the proliferation of information. We are exposed to so many different sources of information that it sometimes becomes very difficult to distinguish subject from subject.

The articles most recently published here have been on this very subject; what is the Truth? Why is the Truth important? How can I know the Truth. We use the capital “T” on truth to describe the concept of objective truth, but getting to the point where the reader understands what objective truth – as a phrase – really means. Dr. William Lane Craig, Ravi Zacharias, and many other popular speakers have tried for years to explain the meaning of this phrase and still many of those who hear it don’t actually get it.

The confusion comes from that aforementioned information overload. How many, I wonder, can distinguish between ne0-platonic philosophical constructs and Christian doctrine? How many know that the idea of Unitarianism comes from eastern philosophy? Once again, we find it hard to talk plainly about the things of our faith. Unless you have a deep background in a broad number of subjects you can’t really get too far down the trail of why questions.

If you have a child then you probably know what I’m describing. When your child asks “why is the sky blue” the conversation usually ends very quickly. How can you explain the properties of the atmosphere to a person who can’t even grasp the concept of a planet sized body? It takes years of preparatory instruction to get to the point where you can explain the meaning behind a blue sky.

Yet, there is an answer that is both True, and simple; because God made it that way. Because God made it that way. How much more simple could it be? As we grow older we find ourselves being challenged to produce a more in-depth explanation of this simplistic answer. Yet, the fact remains; God made it that way. I suppose the real question you have to ask yourself is if you truly believe that statement is Truth.

If  you truly believe that this statement is the Truth, then it should come easy to you to say it. You should speak openly and confidently that God did truly make the sky blue. Perhaps you could go into some further explanation as to why blue is the best hue for a number of reasons, but the beginning premise remains the same. That premise is that God is the starting point for every why question uttered.

If you have a problem using that starting premise for every single question of motive and meaning, then you need to seek your answers in one place; God. You don’t go to your pastor, or your professor, or your counselor, or your friend down the street who seems to know a lot about the Bible. You go to God. Those other people may come into play at some time during your education process, but it is God who is your Father, your Master, your Teacher.

All of the complexities of the Christian life fade away when you know, personally know, the author of all things. In plain talk this is the easiest, and the most difficult concept of Christianity.  Christianity ends with an “ity.” It means that this thing is not a religion, it is a state of being. Either you accept that God is a real, living, personal being who has a direct interest in your personal well being, or you don’t. If you don’t believe in God, then you’re going to Hell. It really is that simple.

If God is a real, living, personal being with a direct interest in you personally, then you should have a real, living, personal interest in knowing who God is. If you have no real, living, personal interest in knowing who God is, why would He force you to live in a realm where His presence is perfect, continually?

You should understand that there is nowhere that He cannot see you. Every moment of every day He is watching over you. He should be a conscious thought in your mind every single hour of every single day. Like a spouse, or family member, or loved one you should think of Him all the time.

In plain talk, if you don’t think of God in this way, then you need to find out why. The answer to that one is simple; ask. Ask God to show you who He is. That’s about as plain as it can be stated.