Life #20 - When Religious Beliefs are Assaulted

Hawaiian Orange

“The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe” (John 6:63, 64).

Some who heard Jesus' words did not believe him. It would have been easier to understand 'why' if he was speaking to a crowd of people. But he wasn’t. Sad to say, Jesus was speaking to his very own disciples! They followed him everywhere he went, from daybreak to sunset. They witnessed his miracles first-hand. They were special enough that he shared behind-the-scenes revelations with them that he never shared openly with the crowds. Yet for the disciples, as for Christians today, some teachings will offend because of their inherent mystery (John 6:61).

Offenses occur when we perceive that our religious beliefs are being assaulted. Jesus’ disciples felt that way when he said they had to drink his blood and eat his flesh in order to have life in them (John 6:53-61). Quick to react, the disciples abandoned him. Their reaction was understandable. But given their past history with him, perhaps they should have asked him to explain what he meant before they left.

We are quick to condemn—or flee from—teachings that upset us. That’s probably a good thing because it reveals our limitations as “believers”. Jesus’ teaching on life separated disciple from disciple (John 6:66). Will his promise of life also separate believer from believer?

Our little faith must not waiver when assaults upon our religious beliefs occur, especially by brothers or sisters in Christ who reveal different ways to see time-honored scriptures. After all, to whom shall we go, if the Lord puts spiritual words of life on their lips and in their hearts for us?

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.