When Religious Faith and Reality Clash

I've been thinking a lot recently about some of the things I was taught growing up.

As a child I was taught that if you prayed about something and followed God's direction in your life then everything will work out fine. But if you go and do your own thing and manage your life yourself with no regard for God, then your plans will fail and it'll all fall apart around your ears.

And yet as I've grown up and seen a little bit of the world I've seen situations where people have sought God's will and stepped out in faith based on guidance from God, only for the ground under them to cave away. I've seen Christian marriages that seemed so strong and sturdy fall apart. And I've also seen "sinners" and unbelievers planning their lives without God and making a decent go of it. They follow their own set of morals, live to be good people, have successful careers, a good family life and generally have good lives.

Growing up I was taught that non-christians are all miserable and desperate for God to fill the aching void in their lives, and yes, I've seen plenty of people who fall into that category, but I've also seen plenty of people who are happy and complete. Well balance individuals who have found their own path in life and are content, happy and at peace.

I understand the destructive nature of sin and how it can ruin lives, but I have also come to realise that the idea that becoming a Christian makes every all shiny just doesn't wash, and inversely that being a non-christian isn't so bad.

And I know I'm not the only person to think these thoughts. Psalm 73 speaks about the "prosperity of the wicked". How they "have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills." The author responds with "Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning."

Now I appreciate that people who do wrong ARE punished for what they've done, but I no longer believe that by following God and being a "good little christian" I'll gain a better life, or that being a non-believer means you're "wicked" and will be destroyed. There are many decent unbelievers who do well for themselves based on honest principles. Maybe in time I'll take on the mindset of the rest of the Psalm and change my tune, but for now I remain sceptical.