While I was in college one of my professors urged the students to read the books of Eugene Peterson. In those early days of ministry I read several of his books, but it was not until I became an older Pastor that much of what he had written began to make sense to me. For those of you who do not know about Peterson, he is the guy who translated/paraphrased the Bible in his work called “The Message.” He is the author of numerous books and I have read many of them. One of my favorite books is a collection of pieces of his writings called “Living the Message.” It is a series of daily reflections on faith, the scripture and pastoral life in little half page or more segments. It is designed to be read every day of the week as an encouragement to your faith. I admit to you that I am now re-reading through it for the 4th or 5th time.
One of my favorite thoughts in the book is a passage in which he talks about how he is not very religious. He states something that I find really profound.
He says that he only believes in one God and that is it. He does not believe in fate or destiny or karma. He does not believe in magic or illusion. He does not believe in crystal balls, tea leaves, or the lines on the palm of your hand. He does not believe in luck or superstitions or even simple coincidence.
Most of the world rejects the idea of one God and instead buys into every mystical notion that they are told to to true. Christians are people who have simply decided to worship one God and one God alone.