PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

September 8, 2024

HARDWIRED

Professor John R. Hale in his final lecture about exploring the roots of religion makes the following observation: “Not only does religious belief seem to be hardwired into human consciousness, but very specific manifestations seem to appear in widely separate times and places.” (Course Guidebook, “Exploring the Roots of Religion,” The Great Courses, p. 116)  Professor Hales says that there is a hardwiring in the human mind of a very specific nature that goes beyond what one might think was necessary for simple survival that is somehow part of our mind to seize upon certain symbolic things.

Saint Augustine in his Confessions says “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” Genesis makes it clear that the Lord has created not only Christians, but all people who have ever lived in all times and places.  The Lord has hardwired all of us with a need to find rest in Him.  If this is true, what are Christians to make of other religions and persons who lived in the past who never had the opportunity of hearing the message of the Good News?

A passage that I have always found suggestive is John 10:16. “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.  I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.”  This verse is a part of Jesus describing himself as being the good shepherd.  Who are these other sheep?  From the perspective of Genesis are not all people God’s sheep?  Paul picks up on this theme when he visits Lystra and Derbe.  “In the past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good – giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy (Acts 14:16-17).”

When the Lord called Abraham, He told him, “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing (Genesis 12:2).”  The Lord was blessing Abraham and his descendants so that they might be a blessing to others.  God called the Hebrew people to help the Lord reach out and bless the Lord’s other children.  From the very foundation of the world, the Lord has always been concerned about all of His children, I can not imagine that the Lord would not have tried to reach out to all of His children and call them into relationship.   To have abandoned them goes counter to the nature of God as described by Jesus during his earthly ministry.

Tragically, the human instinct and need for a religious faith can become horribly distorted.  We have only to go back to the Nazi party of the last century in Germany.  Their rallies were dynamic, high- energy celebrations of their religious belief in the master race. However, they did little to connect the worshipers, the masses, with the Creator of the universe.  Rather their doctrine and beliefs separated their followers from the true source of all life.

During our days under the sun all of us are seeking to satisfy the longing that all of us have for a faith that will bring us into harmony with the created order.  History has shown that there are many paths to reach the goal.  My own path is that of the Christian faith which helps me to understand my place in the universe and also gives me some insight into how others, from different religious traditions, might satisfy their own longings.  May each of you, my readers, find a path that will help you to feel at home in this wonderful world.

(Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)