Expert: Dean Gade - 4/24/2007

Question
How can anyone still be funding a subject they have been studying for 12,000 years and come up with nothing but hocus pocus? I am very disapointed in religious studies. What has religion done lately? They could start by having it make sense.

Answer
I too am disappointed in the religions of man.  Most people in the world devise gods in their own image, gods that will do their will when they use the right ceremonies or words.  Their studies are endless but they never seem to learn enough to change. Perhaps it is that they don't want to change.

2 Tim 3:2-7
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
(from New International Version)

But these gods they seek and study on have no power.

My God has created the heavens and the earth.  He called me to be His child and He has been powerful in my life not only to bless me but also to empower me to be a blessing to others around me.

I have been changed. And since I am still not perfect, I am still being changed for the good by His power.  This is, indeed, what I seek both because it is His will and I love to serve Him.

The "secret" that most people reject and so do not find God is that when we learn that God exists, we need to submit ourselves to Him as our lord/ruler.  It is not easy nor often desired to give up our ego, admit our frailties and and ask Him to rule our hearts and lives.

It is true that until a person gives their life to God it does not "make sense".  As long as we are in charge we demand that all things be subject to ourselves, our minds, our judgement. We expect God to satisfy our demands of reason and sense.

1 Cor 1:18-2:5

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."   
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.   31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."   

1 Corinthians 2

2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.   2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
(from New International Version)

Don't worry about "funding" God.  He owns it all and doesn't need funding. If you are seeking God and not just religion, then seek Him personally and ask Him to reveal Himself in your life.  Too many people hide behind their religions, ceremonies, priests(scholars) and half-hearted attempts to find God.  If you seek the truth, then you need to invest yourself fully in the chance of His existence and power.

Rom 10:10-13
11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."   12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  
(from New International Version)