People have sought a relationship with God using three basic approaches since the beginning of time. Many today are caught in the same trap and if we are not careful, we will miss Him completely.
The search for God, more often than not, employs our natural abilities and proclivities. Our methods often say more about us than they do about God.
Thinkers
Thinkers are the people that have to figure everything out. Thinkers believe that they will discover the path to God’s pleasure and favor if they just figure out all the formula’s and rules.
The biggest problem with this approach is that “His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are higher than ours.” (Is. 58:8-9) A purely intellectual search for a relationship with God will always leave us short.
Feelers
Feelers are people who are largely driven by their emotions. Honestly, most of us are more affected by them than we would care to admit, but Feelers sometimes celebrate emotional experiences above all else.
The challenge with this approach is that emotions are not perfect. We have all felt fear or sadness when there was no tangible reason. Most of us have been “in love” only to find out later that our heart led us astray. This is why God warned, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” (Jer. 17:9)
Doers
Doers feel the need to accomplish things within time-frames. Often, because of a demanding parent or other formative life experience, Doers have trouble grasping the concept of a love that is not predicated on accomplishments.
The danger of this approach is obvious. No matter how much we accomplish or what we do, we can never repay the debt we owe our Savior. We are able to stand before God through Faith in His Son Jesus, not by our works. (Rom. 3:28) All of our right works are filthy compared to God’s righteousness. (Is. 64:6)
The Only Way
Thanks to the Grace of God none of the above approaches are necessary. Christianity is unique in that it rejects the Thinking, Feeling and the Doing approaches. Instead, Jesus simply says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest…” (Matt 11:28 NLT)
Through Jesus, God turned religion upside down. Instead of Thinking our way to God, he draws us to Himself and begins to teach us. Instead of feeling our way to God, He stretched out His arms first on the cross and invited us to be embraced. Instead of trying to do something to earn his favor, He did what needed to be done to re-unite us with the Father and invites us to join his workers for the harvest.
Don’t worry, you still get to use your brain, your heart, and your hands. It’s just that instead of finding God in those ways, you worship Him in them.
Shalom!
Rodney