The Simplicity of Christ

 In April of 1979, at the age of 21, I (Rick) met God as I humbled myself and opened my heart to Him.  The experience was very real.

What surprised me most, was the love I felt from God, and the love I felt for people.  It was immediate for me.  I knew for the first time in my life that I was loved!  God was real, and He really loved me.  The joy of that love brought a visible glow to my face. This was my first love. 

However, the genetically modified church world that I was “born” into, soon diverted my gaze from the Father’s love toward behavior modification.  Also, Bible knowledge that pretended to be maturity became more important than Love (which is true Godliness and maturity).

Over time, I was no longer enraptured in God’s love.  I became more of a moralist and a critic.  My experience became more about right and wrong, and doctrinal purity.  God's love was more theological than joyful.  Decades of living in genetically modified Christianity was an unfulfilling mixture of pride, sanctimonious cynicism, shame, fear, anger, and pain (given and received).  There were extreme emotional highs and lows, while I chased blessings and made vows to do more for God.

Finally, it was enough.  The GMO Christian life proved to be a system that promised much and delivered little.  I cried out to God that I quit.  I was done with it. That's when the Spirit reminded me that His grace was sufficient for me.  Jesus was more than enough.  God loved me with no demands.  Nothing was required of me.  Fullness of life was simply a gift.  I needed nothing.  I had everything, because I had God.  

I had returned to my first Love, His love for me.  I came home to the simplicity that I had once found in Christ.  This is it.  This is the good news, and it is the power of God that brings us to wholeness!  We found it in Him, and we look for no other.