Why Not What.
Two simple little words that can ask a question with a loaded answer. Similar to the famous question “To be or not to be?” asked by Hamlet, it’s the REASON we do what we do. In the past couple years I began to question everything that I knew and believed was true. I was in search for truth and began to ask myself a simple question; why? I fully knew “what” Christians were to do, I even knew the textbook answer as to “why” we did what we did. I needed an experience for myself apart from textbook explanations.
I was a devout religious person from the moment I decided to recommit my life to Christ in 1999. I went to Church diligently and served with everything within me. I did everything with excellence. I would never miss a service and would make sure that everyone knew how important church attendance was by refusing to go to any events that were planned during a church service. I was taking a stand. I quickly enrolled in a Bible College to gain knowledge about God.
Each service I would arrive early and be one of the last to leave. I would make sure to properly divide my paycheque and tithe so I didn’t “rob God”. I sang hard, danced hard, clapped hard and did everything as best as I could. I would hold my hands high for as long as I could, even after they got tired and my muscles burned.
During the message I took detailed notes and always had my Bible with me. I responded to everything the Pastor said and hung on his every word. I went up for prayer after every message to be ministered to whether I needed it or not. I was a good husband and father and did what was right. I never stole, lied or cheated. I had a good conscience and made sure that unforgiveness was not in my heart. I did everything “right” and had become trusted among the leaders. I was a great minion, I loved the image and concept of God… but my heart was sick.
Then one day, it all changed.
It all began when I decided to question everything that I did in my life. Up until that point I was afraid to think for myself and ask questions, lest I be led astray. I had only ever done what was expected of me and Christians in general. I followed all the rules of Christianity. I knew how to be a good Christian.
I had lived my life as a ‘what’ not a ‘why’.
Though I had a few memorable encounters with God through my lifetime, I was not experiencing the freedom that the people in the Bible did. I knew the “what” very well, but it did nothing for me. I knew “what” a good Christian was supposed to do and everything looked good on the outside.
I focussed on the “what”. It consumed my Christian life. Doing the “what” left me with an emptiness on the inside and a constant weight of never being “good enough”. I always tried to prove myself with outward actions to friends, leaders, pastors and worse yet, God. Then somewhere along the way my journey began. I found the “why”… I found Jesus… or should I say, He found me. I felt God say, “Love Me first.”
He opened my eyes to my poisoned heart. I broke. How great a love that He poured out for me! What an amazing grace that I tried to earn. It’s free! I’m free!! It all makes sense finally. I am only here because of my Jesus. He’s so GOOD and tears well up in my eyes everytime I think of Him. His ways are so awesome. He is the “why” I live and breathe and move. He is the “why” I love and give. He is the “why” I am filled with hope and joy. JESUS IS THE WHY. He is the only reason we live and follow. Any other reason is human effort and pointless. I can only ever be considered a true follower of Jesus when He remains the reason why.
I cried with tears welling up because this is so true.And now I do for Christ not because have to but because I want to. A long time ago I decided I didn’t care what people thought about me because it is God that I have to answer to.I am who I am and people don’t know all of my circumstances.I pray for people alot through the day& night and would consider myself an intercessor. Meaning I am awoken at night to pray or write. Thanks Ryan because God sees all and know all. lv Mom
I’ve been through similar path you went through, and until now I’m still in the process of knowing experientially the basic tenets of our faith.
I went to bible school, read the bible through several times, tithed faithfully, took down notes while pastor is preaching, served in the church consistently… but I still felt there’s plenty amiss.
You’ve just had a breakthrough getting to know Jesus.
These days, God is showing Himself to me as my Father. A few weeks back while in prayer, Holy Spirit revealed to me why Jesus called Himself “the Way”. Jesus is the Way to the Father, no one comes to the Father except through Him.
Thanks for sharing. I love your transparency in this post.
I am a straight shooter. I tell it like it is… well how I see it anyway. 🙂
It’s a huge deal when you find JESUS & realize that your heart was not at the right place, that you were trying to please man before what should have been the main motivation being God.
But that doesn’t free you from the works & responsibility God has for you now- the best answer
” is to be everything you were”-(I refer to “were” because you did in your blog “used to”)
with the proper heart to please Jesus with your works !
That will equal true blessing!
Not doing works for work sake but because you LOVE God!
So I studied the scriptures regarding & here they are below:
James 2:17
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
2 Cor. 5:11
Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.
James 4:17
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
Isa 45:4
God said why have I called to you to this “work ” for sake of Jacob.(someone else)
(1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT)
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
Philippians 1:22
But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better.
Revelation 2:2-5
“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:23
Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more!
I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.
Titus 1:16
Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.
(in this passage the word “works” or anything good refers to
1) business, employment, that which any one is occupied
a) that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
2) any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
3) an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
So it isn’t the absence of sin- it is the lack of good works for the kingdom of God!
Galatians 2:16
Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”
So yes we cannot obtain salvation through works alone, but by faith & a love relationship with JESUS, but then that relationship will prove itself out to Jesus by doing the works of the kingdom of God!
When that is correct demons will tremble!!
& we will rock the kingdom of God-being motivated with the compassion of Christ!
It’s all about going to God. He doesn’t sweat the details. He just says come. He is not concerned with ours sin or where we missed it, He just wants us to come. Simplicity.
Ryan
Does this wonderful experience with God now motivate you to stop being a devout religious person?
I don’t think you can separate the two.
“What” and the “Why”
They go hand in hand.
The what refers to the the works of a believer and the why refers to the reason; faith and relationship with God.
James 2:24
You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Jesus was a Pharisee who
followed the law in every way, He was in the temple studying and learning from the priests and teachers.
He went to the temple “religiously” He probably was the first one there and the last one to leave and yes like you He probably took notes.
It seems that you’ve had a wonderful experience with God which is what we all crave, however there is no separation between the feeling of love and the acts or works of love.
Example you love your wife so you show it by action.
You said you did all the “right things” but with a heart that was sick.
“Now that your heart is healed you can do the works of love with proper a heart. “
I don’t do the works of love to prove my salvation, but the Love of God compels me to do what is right without the burden of “having to” do what is right. I am not battling with a sin nature anymore. I am compelled by His love. I am His and He is mine. I want nothing more than to love and share love. He is my everything. I go to Him and He causes me to change and become more like Him. I have tried changing for Him, but it doesn’t work. I change because of Him.
Yes, we come to God, he accepts us the way we are but he would be a negligent Father if he placed no demands on us, nor expectations- (just as we do with our own children”
Our society in today’s day & age wants everything for free without paying for it!
Jesus sacrifice was definitely not free-now people say “yeah he sacrificed so we don’t have to”that penalty of death wasn’t free for him, but we are very wrong if we think that all we have to do is simply love God, as the scriptures I posted earlier refer to. Jesus somethin’ was not in exchange for our nothin’ it’s supposed to be our “Everything” all of me for what he did for me 🙂
Absolutely that’s great 🙂 that’s the “why” part the what follows the “why” awesome. 🙂 super!