It is conceivable that a long time ago a certain martial artist discovered some partial truth. During his lifetime, the man resisted the temptation to organize this partial truth, although this is a common tendency in a man’s search for security and certainty in life. After his death, his students took “his” hypothesis, “his” postulates and “his” method and turned them into law. Impressive creeds were then invented, solemn reinforcing ceremonies prescribed, rigid philosophy and patterns formulated, and so on, until finally an institution was erected. So what originated as one man’s intuition of some sort of personal fluidity was transformed into solidified, fixed knowledge, complete with organized classified responses presented in a logical order. In so doing, the well-meaning, loyal followers not only made this knowledge a holy shrine but also a tomb in which they buried the founder’s wisdom.

But the distortion did not necessarily end here. In reaction to “the other’s truth,” another martial artist, or possibly a dissatisfied disciple, organized an opposite approach — such as the “soft” style versus the “hard” style, the “internal” school versus the “external” school, and all these separative nonsenses. Soon, this opposite faction also became a large organization, with its own laws and patterns. A rivalry began, with each style claiming to possess the “truth” to the exclusions of all others.

At best, styles are merely parts dissected from a unitary whole. All styles require adjustment, partiality, denials, condemnation and a lot of self-justification. The solutions they purport to provide are the very cause of the problem because they limit and interfere with our natural growth and obstruct the way to genuine understanding. Divisive by nature, styles keep men apart from each other rather than unite them.

I John 2:3-6

3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

True Christianity requires believers to be walking out their faith every day of the week… and if you look with an open heart, you will find such people, not perfect, but consistent. Please don’t write the Lord Jesus Christ off because the people who name His name who are easiest to find or get the most airplay may not be what they appear. Christianity’s claims are a little too serious to be written off quite so casually. It is convenient to believe that “no one has a monopoly on truth” because it allows you to do whatever you want with your life and spiritual journey … but by definition, if there is truth there must be also be falsehood, and a mistake in the spiritual/eternal realm is costly. I don’t think you’ve been “led astray” — I think you have made a logical conclusion based on the evidence readily at hand… but I advise you to look at the claims of Christ again, and go beyond what is easily found. Go even beyond what has been said by your peers — I would not dismiss Christianity without at least a read through the books of John and I John. And look again around you … the Lord Jesus Christ has not left Himself without true witnesses on earth, and you will, if you still have a heart that is open, find them if you look.

I think there’s a special place in hell for so-called christians like this, and her pastor.

Great article.