Wish Maps
Faith
definitely has topography. Beliefs are
the cartography we utilize to discern the valleys, mountains, rivers, and
plains we will experience on our pilgrimage in the vast wilderness of
life. Christ as the way is the compass
that directs us to true north.
The word belief has its roots in the
Anglo-Saxon word, Leif. Leif means to
wish. So, when I claim to believe in
anything, it is more accurate to say that I wish that or this to be so. Therefore, my beliefs are my spiritual map,
delineating where I wish to go and the directions accordingly. These beliefs embody and often define who I
am, what I am supposed to think and do, and why I should. My beliefs determine what my values and
priorities are. My beliefs provide
contexts and prescriptions, determining when I should think about this or do
that. Where I need to be in my
spiritual path and my relationship with divinity, the cosmos, the planet, all
life, and other human beings are outlined in my belief system. All this ultimately address why I am the way
I am.
The original language used to redact
the Gospels is Koine Greek. When Jesus
said, “I am,” he was, in essence, using the Tetragrammaton, אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה, ’ehyeh ’ăšer ’ehyeh, to tell the world that he is the I AM. In other words, he is the God of Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob. In Koine, ’ehyeh, ἐγώ εἰμι Ego
eimi, means I exist, I am. This is an
accurate word study of this most controversial phrase employed by Jesus to
determine who he was. Can it be argued
that his beliefs were his wishes to be the Son of God? We can safely deduce from other events in
Jesus’ life; there wasn’t anything he would rather be. It is understood that all who intend to
follow Jesus are to wish for the same and be sons and daughters of God. There are theological implications, to be
sure, but the essence remains the same: to say I am of God.
Comments
Post a Comment