It’s Monday again … which means another opportunity to chase wonder together through our weekly discussion.
This week, I’m drawing from Jen Pollock Michel’s discussion question from Day 18 of A Habit Called Faith: What would change about your habits of faith if you thought of faith less as intellectual knowledge and more as friendship with God?
By the way, if you are reading along with us in the Summer Reading Club, don’t forget we’re on day 16 today!
Great question! As a young believer, I remember all of the questions I had about God and couldn't imagine God as a "friend". Now, I know I am not a biblical scholar and sometimes my lack of remembering passages in the bible or stories sometimes makes me feel "inadequate" in a way, but I try to remember that is ok, the relationship is what is most important! My habits of faith would probably be deeper if I gave myself a break and focused on my relationship vs the intellectual knowledge.
I love this realization that sometimes the quest for knowledge may actually hinder our relationship with God and our faith. You've got me wondering how this might be true in my own life.
I feel the same way, Jacquie ... though I do think there was a time when I was a younger believer that I thought knowledge was more critical to my faith. Maybe it's because I didn't know God as well.
Great question! As a young believer, I remember all of the questions I had about God and couldn't imagine God as a "friend". Now, I know I am not a biblical scholar and sometimes my lack of remembering passages in the bible or stories sometimes makes me feel "inadequate" in a way, but I try to remember that is ok, the relationship is what is most important! My habits of faith would probably be deeper if I gave myself a break and focused on my relationship vs the intellectual knowledge.
I love this realization that sometimes the quest for knowledge may actually hinder our relationship with God and our faith. You've got me wondering how this might be true in my own life.
The only way I can have faith is from friendship with God - knowledge is ok, friendship is the best!
I feel the same way, Jacquie ... though I do think there was a time when I was a younger believer that I thought knowledge was more critical to my faith. Maybe it's because I didn't know God as well.
I agree - I think at first we do need to have knowledge and learn the basics of belief - then we can take off and build on experiences.