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In the last installment we discussed why the “old wives tales” and “modern tools” cannot help us to find our “self” because these practices are steeped in the physical. In order to find our “self” we must look to the spiritual; since we are all created in the image of God who is spirit, we are spirit as well. Our search for “self” should begin and will end as we seek out the spiritual and the spiritual, as we defined it, has to do with God and God alone. This leaves us using the “Strategies” which I call Religion. Most religions claim to believe in a god, or many gods, or God; the problem is that there are many choices and we need to find the one that will help us to find our “self.”
Where do we start? We begin by asking the same questions we asked with the other methods; is it spiritual or physical? This sounds like an odd question to ask about a religion, but unfortunately we need to ask. Culture, tradition, and your upbringing have generally been how we choose a religion or belief system; if we are serious about finding our “self” we are forced put our religious beliefs to the test.
Before I get started, a little disclaimer: I am not being intolerant. I am only trying to look at this logically and with reason. Let’s start with Pantheism which includes religions like Taoism, Stoicism, and some forms of Hinduism. Those who hope to find themselves using this “strategy” believe that the universe or nature is the same thing as God; God is the all encompassing; He is the totality of everything. The Pantheist does not believe in a personal god. Is this spiritual or physical? By definition it is physical; here god is nature and the universe and therefore the Pantheist seeks to find “self” in the physical. They may consider this being “spiritual”, but they are still looking in the wrong place.
By definition, the next belief system, the Polytheist believes in many gods; poly (many) and theoi (gods). More money is a good thing, more ice cream is a good thing; but more is not better when it comes to gods. The first problem with Polytheism as it concerns seeking “self” is that it is too confusing; this god telling you one thing, that god sending you in another direction; which one do you follow? Secondly is that these gods are physical; the Sun god, the Moon god, the Water god, and on and on. The gods of the Polytheist are not spiritual either! These religions include Hinduism, all forms of Paganism, Wicca, and it depends on who you talk to, but some include Mormonism in this group.
A very popular religion with those attempting to find ones “self” is Buddhism. It is considered to be very spiritual, as the world understands spiritual, but does it hold up to our definition? The reason Buddhism is so popular when trying to find “self” is because self is the Buddhist god. Buddhism does not have a god, but focuses on the enlightenment of self. Though the practice of Buddhism may reveal some things about yourself it can never reveal your true “self.” Again we were created in the image of God and not of ourselves.
This leaves us with Monotheism (one God) or what I call the Big Three; Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Is Monotheism spiritual or physical? All three believe in the one true God; the Creator of the universe, which includes us. We can trace the beginnings of each of the Big Three back to the beginning of time; all have a common ancestry which is Adam and Eve. Potentially the practice of any of these three religions could help you to find your “self” according to our definition. The question now is which one do I practice in order to find my “self?”
Islam and Judaism though they meet the criteria still lack one thing that will ultimately help us to find our “self”; that one thing is salvation. Those who practice Islam and Judaism are only able to get so close to the one true God because their belief system keeps them chained to this world. Prayers, good works, and in the old days animal sacrifice are what these practitioners pin their salvation on. Because their relationship with God is rooted in the physical it is difficult for them to find “self.” Man will always be grounded in the physical, or a sinner, until something happens to remove the sin. Man cannot find him “self” which is his spirit until the shackles of this world are broken. God knew this and sent His only Son to pay the price for our sin; through the blood of Jesus Christ that was spilled on the Cross the sins (all of the sins of every man) of the world were forgiven. The keys to the shackles are dangling “Right in Front of Your Nose.”
Jesus Christ is the key that will unlock the secrets to finding our “self.” He is the only way which enables us to have a close enough relationship with God for our true “self” to be revealed and He is “Right in Front of Your Nose.” Our God is a God “who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” - 1 Timothy 2:4. The Holy Spirit (also a spirit) tugs at our hearts and tries to convict our hearts yet we chase after the ineffective, easy methods to find our “self.” These all fall short because they all dabble in the world; only Jesus Christ can open the doors to the “spirit.” If you want to find your “self” find Jesus; open the Bible and read; listen to His Word spoken; get on your knees and speak. He is “Right in Front of Your Nose.” I guarantee it.
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