December 28th I started one of my pet peeves, stand on a soapbox, personal agenda sermon series. I'm calling it "Don't check your brain at the door." Don't' worry, it's Biblical but it is one of my hot button issues because of my growing up and early adulthood years.
Growing up I was always the kid that asked awkward questions that made people uncomfortable. You know, the kid that eventually gets a lot of "because I said so" answers. Eventually, people started hinting that I shouldn't be asking such questions because they were rude and when that didn't work some started to imply that there was something wrong with me spiritually. They seemed to think that "just believe" or "you have to have more faith" or "you need to give your all to God" was an acceptable answer.
I'm sure they didn't mean to communicate this but the message I received was "Check your brain at the door" when you come to church. Turns out that is a horrible message and it is both unbiblical and unGodly. In fact, God made Loving him with our thinking an essential to relationship with him. When Jesus was asked to bottom line his teaching he said Love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, yes he said mind. The day I discovered this great truth was a day of liberation for me.
Turns out, even if good church folks were afraid of my questions, God was not. In fact, He invited them. maybe even yearned to help me understand. That day, so long ago, I decided in my mind (and heart) to never again check my brain at the door as I walked into a church, or talked about God or studied His Word.
The journey hasn't always been easy. Pat answer really don't work for me and I still make people uncomfortable. I've had to learn who I can and who I can not process my questions with. Some folks just can't go there. Others, can't enjoy spiritual life unless they do go there. I'm in the latter group, maybe you are too. I want to invite you on the same journey I took. Turn on your brain, think hard about God, and ask irreverent questions. You might be surprised by what you learn about God. You might even rediscover the faith that was lost because it hadn't grown past your childhood understandings of God. Whatever else happens I guarantee you will be better at loving God with all your mind.
Check out the first sermon -- Being right is not enough. This is the foundation for all the rest of the series.
Next Sunday -- Is God Dead?
