I’ve evolved a lot over my life. We all have, really.

Just think about it.

We’re not the same people that we were when we were born, children, teenagers, or even young adults. Personally, my body has changed a lot since I’ve birthed nine babies. Now in my mid-forties, I have wrinkles and aches and experience all sorts of things that used to be foreign.

But not just our bodies have changed. Our minds have changed, too. Since birth our minds have been filled with all sorts of knowledge, and each day we learn more and more. Sometimes consciously, and sometimes, unconsciously. Our brains contain an amazing filing system that remembers our experiences, and then we learn from them.

I’ve changed in so many other ways also. For example, I’m not the same parent that I was twenty-six years ago when I first became a mother. I’m still far from perfect, but I’m more graceful and understanding than I used to be. Time has shaped me as I’ve raised my little ones and learned through my experiences.

So why do we think that our understanding of faith and of God should remain exactly the same? It feels contrary to everything I intrinsically know to be true.

In my experience, many faith organizations encourage folks to “grow” in their faith as long as their belief system remains the same. But as we grow in our faith, many people come to conclusions that are different from what their first belief system taught them.

And instead of realizing this is a completely normal part of growth, they feel shamed by the systems that are trying to control the narrative. But is this the way of Jesus?

Jesus taught primarily by asking questions. This is actually very common in Judaism, and is a way to propel people towards self-reflection and critical thinking.

I highly doubt that Jesus would’ve turned away someone who questioned him if their hearts were truly focused on loving God and discovering who He was.

I had a lot of questions about four years ago, and honestly, I still do. I LOVE studying theology and the historicity of the Bible. I also highly value my walk with God and want to serve the Divine with my whole heart.

When I personally concluded that the Bible wasn’t infallible or to be taken completely literally, I received so much push back. While I understood this since I’d been inside of a belief system that took the Bible very literally, I was kind of surprised by how this made me feel.

I felt less than and alone. I felt more hate and disdain than love, by far.

It was interesting.

Now I’m in another different place. A part of my evolution, I guess. As topsy-turvy as these past few years have been, I’m grateful for all of it. God has been by me every step of the way while offering me love and support.

My relationship with God through the example of Jesus Christ is forever growing and living. Oh, and evolving!

“Times change. God doesn’t, but times do. We learn and grow, and the world around us shifts, and the Christian faith is alive only when it is listening, morphing, innovating, letting go of whatever has gotten in the way of Jesus and embracing whatever will help us be more and more the people God wants us to be.”

― Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith

With time, I discovered that I did have a place within Christianity, even though so many said that I didn’t belong if I didn’t believe x, y, and z. But now I see that within God everyone belongs. Absolutely everyone.

I think this is the true meaning of Christianity, which has been obscured by various doctrines and systems through the years.

You know, I think it’s about time for a shake up. One has happened every 500 years or so in the Church since Christianity began. Around 500, Rome fell. The Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church split about 500 years later. And then after another 500 years, the Protestant Reformation happened. And here we are again, with so many questioning why we do things the way we do.

I’m sure that I’ll keep evolving, too.

No matter who you are or what you believe, you are welcome here. The grace of God isn’t just for those who believe a certain way or interpret Scripture “just right”.

I heard an interesting thought when listening to a podcast with Richard Rohr as a guest last week. He said something along the lines that during the Protestant Reformation those who left the Roman Catholic Church wanted an ultimate authority since they would no longer have a Pope. This is how the doctrine of Sola Scriptura was born, which honestly, I think put a lot of emphasis on the Bible that was never intended. A book that includes stories and myths, laws and legend, questions and even more questions, was never intended to be the ultimate, unquestioned authority in the life of a Christian, especially since it can be interpreted in about a million ways.

Instead, we can look at the text with open eyes and allow it to help us to learn and grow in our faith while also understanding that it is an ancient book that includes a lot of differing opinions. We can pray to God for understanding, and allow our personal experience with the Divine to hold a lot of weight in our practice, too.

There are so many ways to connect with God. I hope that you plug into just the right place and flourish!