On this day in 1963, the world was shocked by the news that John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, had been killed by an assassin’s bullet. Though it’s not as well known or remembered, Christian author C. S. Lewis passed away the very same day. Even fewer will remember that Aldous Huxley, author of the book Brave New World, died from cancer during those same 24 hours.
In 1954, Huxley published a lesser-known book titled The Doors of Perception, which described his experimental use of the mind-altering drug mescaline. Huxley was one of the first to write about using hallucinogens to pursue spirituality. His book inspired the popular rock band The Doors, known for their use of LSD, to name their group after Huxley’s book.
Granted, Huxley and his admirers were looking in all the wrong places, but they were on an important pursuit. God made us in such a way that we’re naturally drawn to spirituality (Job 32:8). And there is no greater spiritual pursuit than worshiping God.
A Samaritan woman once asked Jesus to settle an ancient dispute about the best place to worship God (John 4:19-20). Samaritans contended it was on the top of Mount Gerizim, while the Jews said it was on the temple mount in Jerusalem. Jesus told her that a day was coming where people could worship God anywhere they wanted to as long as they worshiped “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24).
There’s no denying that people can get high on LSD or some other mind-altering drug, but they will never enter the heights of true spirituality by taking that path—not to mention the devastating effects it can have on the mind and body. It’s only by worshiping God wholeheartedly—on the basis of who Jesus is—that we experience His life-altering power and presence.
More:
I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him (Romans 12:1).
Next:
How have you tried to explore spirituality outside of God and His Word? Why can only He satisfy us?
jeGeddes on November 22, 2010 at 1:24 am
It’s amazing the extents people take to be ‘spiritual’. Modern people are now looking at the eastern religions, such as Buddhism and Sikhism, because it gives you ‘peace’. Yoga is a popular thing to do, because of the ‘peace’ it brings to your body. Now I am not criticizing people who do yoga (my mum does yoga), studies have revealed, exercise wise, that yoga is very good for you. My point is that some people concentrate more on the meditation part, sitting down, trying to clear your mind (which is quite hard since your brain sends out signals several hundred kilometers and hour). What people need to find is that ultimate peace is found through Jesus Christ.
blackpearle on November 22, 2010 at 6:57 am
jeGeddes, help me out, please explain how to find peace through Jesus Christ. And understand, I am not new to the faith, I have been a Christian all my life and there are times when Christ seems much closer than others. But I also know that there are times when it feels like He’s nowhere around. Even as I Christian, I struggle during these times, we all do. Lately, I’ve been feeling a sense of desperate longing to be near Christ again, and the first thing that came to mind was prayer and meditation and still nothing. I’m sure this is part of the plan but imagine how (what seems like) non-response may make the inexperienced Christian feel? My point is that it’s frustrating for me when people make it seem so simple, and it maybe it is for some—but when people put it that way and you’ve been trying, it’s not too encouraging. In fact, it can be damaging to your self-esteem (for lack of a better word) because you start to wonder why you are not worthy. Imagine how the new Christian feels hearing that…your thoughts will be much appreciated.
lindagma on November 22, 2010 at 7:37 am
I hear you blackpearle… we all, if we are honest, experience these gaps when it seems like God has distanced himself, unresponsive… and yes, I would think that would be more difficult to the new Christian. But, I somehow think He stays close to that new Christian while he/she is growing. From my personal experience, I would say that trying to make things happen instead of leaning on Him is when I feel the most alone. Being human, I don’t think we will ever be completely rid of that trait…control to some degree is almost as vital as breathing. That iced tea commercial of a person falling back into a pool without reservation is a good demonstration of what it means to trust God. To let go, fall backwards where you cannot see what is ahead and trust God’s hands to be there to catch you. THAT’S FREEDOM and PEACE. Too much emphasis is placed on feelings I’m afraid, and I’m sooooo guilty there. For most of our Christian life, trusting God and blind faith in His best for us is where we will find peace.
Ghosttraveler on November 22, 2010 at 8:35 am
For me, true Faith is knowing that God is there with me even when I don’t feel His presence. My Pastor once shared the he experienced a 5 year term where he did not feel the presence of God, but he knew in his heart that God had not abandoned him. That is an incredible amount of Faith.
When I don’t feel His presence, I start looking for Him in nature. It is impossible for me to see a beautiful sunset and not feel that He put it there as a message of comfort.
Snickers48 on November 22, 2010 at 9:56 am
Hello Blackpearle,
I think we all have times of feeling that God is close and then times that HE is far away. I am always reminded that HE is not the one who moved on those occasions. Still, that does not guarantee that one will always feel that Jesus is RIGHT HERE BESIDE ME IN GREAT POWER, though HE is always with us and never leaves us the scripture tells us. There are always mountain tops and valleys in our walk of FAITH.
I don’t find so much peace in PRAYING and MEDITATING, as I do in READING and SOAKING in God’s Word (His love letter to us – His voice and conversation with us). I have never ever, ever had a instance when He seemed far away, that I did not feel CLOSER to HIM by reading and Meditating on HIS WORD ! We have a lot of voices and thoughts intruding into our minds, souls and spirits, even in prayer (though prayer is a MUST and AWESOME)…..but when we read God’s Word to us, all the other voices seem to STILL, and I find myself in CLOSE communion with Him by reading his love letter to me, and the PEACE that passes understanding.
HE IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE…….and if we long to have PEACE, we must pursue the PRINCE OF PEACE, with all our hearts…. and that is done in His Word and prayer.
This never fails for me…..hope it might help you too !
jeff olson on November 22, 2010 at 10:12 am
blackpearle, I know what you speak of. And I don’t in any way intend to imply that having a close relationship with Jesus is always easy.
I’ve had those seasons where it seems like Jesus is not close to me…Sometimes it’s because I’m living in a way where I’ve pushed away from Him. But it’s also been foundational to realize that anything of real value in this life that is worth having is opposed. It’s been helpful to see that Satan is set against and actively opposes our closeness with Christ…As Jesus put it, he’s a relentless thief who is out to kill, steal, and destroy our life in Christ (John 10:10).
Being aware of the opposition mounted against the close relationship Jesus intends for us to have with Him keeps me from wrongly blaming myself or even God when it seems like He’s distant. Having my eyes opened to the strong opposition actually increases my faith in God. It makes more aware of my need for Him. It prompts me to keep scratching and clawing for the truth. Eventually, it helps me see through Satan’s deception and to untangle myself from lies that can make it seem like Jesus isn’t there.
facoman1 on November 22, 2010 at 10:35 am
It’s clear that we have to rely on the promises of scripture when we can’t see or feel what we’d like to. There are biblical examples of many great “pillars of faith” who had feelings of separation from God for a time but God’s faithfulness never failed. We must always remember that we live in a fallen world as redeemed beings; remembering, also that God is changeless: What He said will always stand true. That means that when you “feel” nothing in your connection it has another source than God’s departure from you. He promised “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
Read David’s writing in the Psalms; review the depth of feelings he shared then consider Romans 8:23 that shares the feelings that we face as a result of the condition of the creation that I mentioned before.
Living as foreigners in this world is very tough. To survive we must cling to the promises.
Trust that He means what He says.
Peace to you, blackpearl.
Soldier4Christ on November 22, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Those of us who are Christians and those who aren’t do not need drugs to find spirituality, to find Christ.
He stands at the door and knocks, anyone that opens the door and invites him in will have fellowship with Him. In those times when He seems distant, in truth are the times that He is carrying us in His loving arms. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. So take heart my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior is always there with us even if we can’t feel it.
TigerMom on November 22, 2010 at 2:16 pm
I agree with Beth Moore, “There’s no high like the Most High!”
blackpearle on November 22, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Wow…I’ll admit, when I wrote the initial post, I was a little irritated, after having been up most of the night & dreading the day ahead trying to figure this thing out…and this pattern having been the norm for the last few months. It annoyed me that jeGeddes post was so matter of fact & simple. I had that feeling of doubt, wondering why it should be so simple for anyone else & not for me. So I apologize for any negativity I may have brought to this forum, whether it was realized among the group or not. I feel bad about that now after seeing the responses I got ;o)
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so alone in my life as I have in the past few months. So alone that at first, I didn’t even know what it was that was bothering me, it was so new. To see here that I’m not alone, that so many people took time to respond and reinforce what I know in my heart but not with my head means a lot to me.
..may God bless you all!
jeGeddes on November 23, 2010 at 1:08 am
It’s all right! I take criticism daily. When your on the front lines, like me, criticism is like anything (You’ve got to remember you are Christian in a generally speaking, non-Christian world. You have to expect opposition to everything). I acknowledge my mistakes repent from them. After all I’m not a qualified pastor, with certificates in theology. I have to apologize on going too hard on people. I often find myself in situations where I am bombing along, and I sort of forget about God. Then other times when I am down in the dumps, I cry out to him. But I am getting over the forgetting about God problem, thanks to this website and others like this.
daisymarygoldr on November 22, 2010 at 7:02 pm
According to Jesus, unlike physical worship which pertains to a physical place/structure, God seeks “true worshippers” who offer spiritual worship i.e. to worship Him in spirit and truth.
In order to offer spiritual worship, we must be born again of the Spirit which is the truth (1 John 5: 6). When we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts, God’s Spirit gives birth to spirit (John 3:6). And then our physical bodies literally become temples—a dwelling place for God’s Holy Spirit.
When the Holy Spirit lives within us, pursuit of the heights of true spirituality begins with the feeling of brokenness and grief for sin. True worship always pours out of a broken and repentant heart. Mere praise and prayer while our hearts are far from God is to worship Him in vain.
God’s Spirit alone enables us to experience His life-altering power and presence as we worship Him with our very lives. Thus, our worship is no longer limited to lifting up our hands while we sing or listen to euphoric music in church or elsewhere. For, in everything we say and do, we worship God all day long for all of our lives.
blackpearle, you are right it is not that simple. However, by simple faith we believe Christ dwells within us the moment we accept Him into our hearts. And even if we feel like He is nowhere around—be assured to know that His presence within us is as sure as the air we breathe and the presence of oxygen within our cells.
And like any other relationship, when we invest our time and effort to meditate on God’s Word, our time spent with God gives us peace and helps us feel closer to Him. May God bless you with His peaceful presence as you continue to seek Him…
blackpearle on November 24, 2010 at 9:44 am
Great discussion, thanks jeGeddes and to all who contributed!