Uncategorized – Page 6 – God or Delusion?

Real Solutions: A Response to July 1st

This is part of my year-long series exploring human-centered alternatives to the spiritual promises in Oswald Chambers’ classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest. Today’s entry, “The Inevitable Penalty”, promises that God imposes divine discipline through the Holy Spirit’s “scrutiny” until believers achieve purity, claiming those who don’t respond to conviction will be in spiritual “prison” until they “pay the last penny” and that God will “tax the last limits of the universe” to help once they surrender.

“The Holy Spirit is convicting you about something,” her church counselor insisted. “God won’t let you escape his scrutiny. You’re in spiritual prison until you pay the last penny. What is your conscience telling you to do? What debt do you owe from God’s standpoint?”

Here’s what waiting for God to tax the limits of the universe actually delivered:

Michelle’s marriage was disintegrating. Her husband’s drinking had escalated into verbal abuse, then controlling behavior, then threats. But instead of addressing these problems directly, her counselor demanded spiritual self-examination. Surely Michelle’s marital crisis revealed some hidden sin requiring divine discipline.

She searched desperately for whatever spiritual failure was causing her suffering. Perhaps she wasn’t submissive enough? Maybe her frustration with her husband’s drinking revealed a judgmental spirit? She confessed every potential failing, wrote apology letters, tried harder to be the perfect Christian wife.

Surely addressing these spiritual debts would restore her relationship with God and heal her marriage.

But the promised divine intervention was a dangerous delusion.

Michelle’s husband’s drinking escalated despite her spiritual efforts. His verbal abuse became more frequent and cruel. The “inevitable penalty” she was supposedly serving felt like being trapped in actual hell, not being purified by divine love.

The breaking point came when her husband shoved her during an argument, leaving bruises on her arms. Even then, her church counselor insisted she examine her own spiritual condition. “God is determined to make you pure,” he reminded her. “What is he trying to show you about your disposition?”

Meanwhile, Michelle’s sister Janet had watched this spiritual victim-blaming with growing alarm. As a domestic violence advocate, Janet recognized the classic pattern of making victims responsible for their abusers’ behavior through religious manipulation.

“This isn’t about your spiritual condition,” Janet said bluntly. “This is about your safety. You need professional help, not more self-examination.”

When Michelle finally contacted a domestic violence counselor, she learned that abuse escalates over time and that no amount of victim self-improvement changes abuser behavior. The counselor helped her develop a safety plan, connect with legal resources, understand that leaving wasn’t spiritual failure but necessary self-protection.

Michelle’s breakthrough came when she stopped waiting for God to “tax the limits of the universe” to help her and started using human resources designed for domestic violence situations.

Where was the divine scrutiny that was supposed to lead to purity? Where was God’s glorious ministry of love that would set her relationship right?

The spiritual “prison” she’d been told to endure was real imprisonment in an abusive marriage. The “inevitable penalty” wasn’t divine discipline but human suffering that could be addressed through practical intervention.

The relationship that got “set right” wasn’t with God but with professional advocates who provided actual protection while spiritual counselors had offered only more victim-blaming.

The silence where God’s re-creating forces were supposed to work revealed the truth: there was no divine scrutiny keeping her trapped, no spiritual debt requiring payment. Only human systems that provided real help when she stopped seeking spiritual solutions to practical problems.

Reflection Question: When has seeking professional help for serious problems been more effective than examining your spiritual condition for hidden sins?

This story is part of my upcoming book “The Undevoted: Daily Departures from Divine Dependence,” which offers 365 human-centered alternatives to the spiritual certainties in Chambers’ devotional. Each day explores how reason, community, and human resilience can address life’s challenges without requiring divine intervention.

Why I Do Not Believe in God

Proper Channels: A Response to June 30th

This is part of my year-long series exploring human-centered alternatives to the spiritual promises in Oswald Chambers’ classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest. Today’s entry, “Do It Now”, promises that believers who quickly obey spiritual promptings about relationships will avoid an “inevitable process” of divine discipline, claiming God’s Spirit works on the disobedient until they achieve purity and that immediate reconciliation prevents worse spiritual consequences.

Here’s what quick spiritual obedience actually delivered:

“Don’t insist on your rights,” his pastor advised urgently. “Focus on what you owe, not what’s owed to you. Confess any anger and reconcile immediately, or God will put you through an inevitable process of spiritual discipline until you learn obedience.”

Kevin had just discovered his business partner stealing $50,000 from their accounting firm. The theft threatened his family’s financial security and the survival of their small business. But his pastor’s guidance seemed clear: settle quickly with adversaries, don’t seek justice, focus on his own spiritual failures rather than his partner’s crimes.

Against every instinct, Kevin approached his partner with forgiveness instead of legal action. He confessed his own anger as sin and offered reconciliation, believing this Christ-like obedience would prevent divine discipline.

Surely God would honor this spiritual response and protect Kevin from further harm.

But the promised protection was a catastrophic delusion.

Kevin’s partner interpreted forgiveness as weakness and continued stealing. When Kevin finally discovered additional embezzlement months later, his partner had fled with even more money. The “inevitable process” Kevin had tried to avoid through spiritual obedience became far worse due to his passive response.

Meanwhile, his friend Lisa faced identical betrayal when her business partner defrauded their graphic design company. But Lisa didn’t seek spiritual guidance about settling quickly with adversaries. She immediately consulted an attorney, documented the fraud, pursued legal remediation through proper channels.

Lisa didn’t worry about divine discipline for insisting on her rights or failing to reconcile spiritually. She treated theft as a legal matter requiring professional intervention, not a spiritual test requiring Christ-like submission.

The outcome vindicated Lisa’s practical approach completely. Legal action recovered most stolen funds and prevented additional theft. Her partner faced appropriate consequences through the justice system. Lisa’s business survived and eventually thrived because she’d acted decisively rather than spiritually.

Kevin’s attempt to avoid God’s “inevitable process” through quick obedience had enabled more harm and delayed necessary action. The spiritual discipline he’d feared was imaginary, while the practical consequences of not addressing fraud were devastatingly real.

When Kevin finally pursued legal action months later, recovery was much harder. His spiritual approach had allowed evidence to disappear and made prosecution nearly impossible.

Where was the divine protection that was supposed to come from Christ-like behavior? Where was God’s honor for spiritual obedience and quick reconciliation?

The divine disciplinary process that was supposed to punish disobedience never materialized. The unalterable spiritual laws were completely absent. Only human consequences for human choices—and Kevin’s spiritual choices had been disasters.

The silence where God’s inevitable process was supposed to unfold revealed the truth: there were no divine laws ensuring spiritual consequences for relationship conflicts. Only practical outcomes from practical decisions.

Reflection Question: When has addressing conflicts through proper channels been more effective than seeking quick spiritual reconciliation?

The Cost of Believing in Lies

Balanced Living: A Response to June 29th

This is part of my year-long series exploring human-centered alternatives to the spiritual promises in Oswald Chambers’ classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest. Today’s entry, “The Direction of Discipline”, promises that spiritual rebirth leads to divine insight about what believers must “cut off” from their lives, claiming the Holy Spirit warns against things that “break concentration on God” and that temporary spiritual “maiming” leads to divine perfection.

Here’s what cutting off good things actually produced:

“God will show you legitimate activities you need to abandon,” his campus pastor explained earnestly. “Your life may seem maimed at first, but the Holy Spirit will guide you toward perfection. It’s better to be lovely in God’s sight than in the world’s eyes.”

David had experienced what felt like spiritual awakening during his senior year. Now he needed to demonstrate serious discipleship by cutting off anything that hindered his concentration on God—even good things that might be stumbling blocks to spiritual growth.

He quit the debate team because competitive arguing fed his pride. Stopped playing guitar because music distracted from prayer time. Ended his relationship with his girlfriend because romantic feelings interfered with spiritual concentration.

Each sacrifice felt like cutting off his “right hand,” but David believed this spiritual maiming would lead to divine perfection. When friends questioned these dramatic changes, he explained that God was calling him to higher standards they couldn’t understand.

But the promised spiritual perfection was a devastating lie.

Instead of becoming “lovely in God’s sight,” David became increasingly isolated, anxious, spiritually obsessive. His self-imposed restrictions created a narrow, joyless existence rather than the “full-orbed” life Jesus supposedly desired. The divine guidance he thought he was receiving felt more like religious scrupulosity than supernatural wisdom.

Meanwhile, his ex-girlfriend Sarah continued pursuing all the activities David had abandoned as spiritually dangerous. She remained on the debate team, played music regularly, started dating someone who appreciated her intellect and creativity.

Sarah’s life flourished while David’s withered. Her engagement with challenging ideas through debate sharpened her thinking. Musical expression brought joy to herself and others. Her relationship provided emotional support and personal growth.

The activities David had sacrificed as stumbling blocks proved enriching and beneficial for Sarah.

When David finally sought counseling for anxiety and depression, his therapist helped him recognize that his spiritual “cutting off” had been driven by fear and perfectionism, not divine guidance. The maimed life he’d created wasn’t leading to spiritual beauty but to psychological dysfunction.

David’s breakthrough came when he started reintegrating the activities he’d abandoned. Returning to music and meaningful relationships didn’t break his concentration on important things—it restored balance and joy to his life.

Where was the Holy Spirit’s guidance about what to eliminate? Where was the divine insight that was supposed to lead to spiritual perfection?

The “stumbling blocks” he’d cut off had actually been sources of growth and connection. The spiritual discipline that promised divine beauty had delivered human misery instead.

The silence where supernatural wisdom about spiritual discipline was supposed to flow revealed the truth: there was no Holy Spirit providing insight about what to cut off. Only human fear creating unnecessary restrictions that damaged rather than enhanced life.

Reflection Question: When has eliminating good activities in the name of spiritual discipline been more harmful than helpful to your wellbeing and growth?

Why Prayer Fails Every Logical Test

Chosen Work: A Response to June 28th

This is part of my year-long series exploring human-centered alternatives to the spiritual promises in Oswald Chambers’ classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest. Today’s entry, “Gripped by God”, promises that true ministers are “gripped by God” through divine calling, claiming that Christ Jesus “takes hold” of those he calls and that this divine grip provides clear direction and eliminates uncertainty about one’s fitness for ministry.

Here’s what waiting for God’s grip actually delivered:

“You don’t choose this calling,” his seminary professors insisted. “Christ Jesus takes hold of you. If you’re truly called, you’ll feel the agonizing grip of God’s hand determining your message and direction. This divine grip eliminates doubt about your fitness for ministry.”

James desperately wanted that supernatural confirmation. During college, he’d felt drawn to ministry, but he needed to know if Christ had truly “taken hold” of him or if this was just religious enthusiasm. He waited for the promised divine grip that would provide certainty about his calling.

When he experienced moments of spiritual intensity during prayer or worship, James interpreted these as evidence of God’s grip. Surely this was Christ taking hold of his life for gospel ministry. The agonizing grip would guide his preaching and eliminate doubt about his suitability for pastoral work.

But as James entered ministry, the promised divine grip proved to be psychological quicksand.

Instead of clear supernatural direction about what to preach, he struggled constantly with sermon preparation, theological questions, ministry challenges. Rather than divine certainty about his calling, he battled relentless doubt about his effectiveness and fitness for pastoral work.

The “agonizing grip of God’s hand” felt more like spiritual anxiety and psychological pressure. James couldn’t distinguish between his own religious enthusiasm and genuine divine calling. The harder he sought supernatural confirmation, the more uncertain he became about everything.

Meanwhile, his friend Sarah approached helping others with zero expectation of divine grip. As a social worker, she didn’t claim supernatural calling or wait for Christ to take hold of her. She chose her profession based on skills assessment, educational interests, and practical desire to address social problems.

Sarah didn’t wait for God to determine her methods or message. She used evidence-based practices, professional training, ongoing education to improve effectiveness. When facing difficult cases or career decisions, she consulted supervisors, reviewed research, relied on professional judgment rather than seeking divine direction.

The clarity and purpose James sought through divine grip, Sarah found through professional competence and clear boundaries. Her motivation came not from supernatural calling but from seeing tangible results in people’s lives.

When James finally left pastoral ministry due to burnout and persistent doubt about his calling, he realized he’d been chasing a spiritual experience that didn’t exist. The divine grip he’d sought was psychological pressure, not supernatural confirmation.

Sarah’s approach—choosing meaningful work based on abilities and interests rather than waiting for divine calling—proved infinitely more sustainable and effective than James’s quest for supernatural ministry confirmation.

Where was the divine grip that was supposed to eliminate uncertainty? Where was Christ taking hold to provide clear direction and purpose?

The silence where God’s agonizing grip was supposed to manifest revealed the truth: there was no divine hand directing his life. Only his own choices and their consequences. Only human work chosen for human reasons.

Reflection Question: When has choosing work based on your abilities and interests been more reliable than waiting for divine calling or supernatural confirmation?

Why People Are Leaving Religion

Professional Advocacy: A Response to June 27th

This is part of my year-long series exploring human-centered alternatives to the spiritual promises in Oswald Chambers’ classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest. Today’s entry, “Personal Deliverance”, promises that God will guard believers’ lives wherever he sends them, claiming those devoted to Jesus need not seek justice for themselves because God will “rescue” and provide divine protection to those who trust completely rather than relying on common sense.

Here’s what trusting in promised deliverance actually delivered:

“God will guard your life wherever he sends you,” her pastor assured confidently. “Don’t worry about fair treatment or stand up for yourself. Focus on devotion to Christ, and he will provide personal deliverance from whatever you encounter.”

Rebecca had just accepted a teaching position at a severely underfunded inner-city school. The working conditions looked brutal, but this spiritual framework promised divine protection for those who remained devoted rather than fighting for themselves.

When administrators assigned her classes of 45 students without adequate supplies, Rebecca didn’t advocate for better conditions—that would be seeking “great things for herself.” When colleagues bullied her for maintaining academic standards, she accepted persecution as blessed rather than defending herself.

God would rescue her if she remained spiritually devoted.

But the promised deliverance was a cruel fiction. Rebecca’s health deteriorated under impossible working conditions. Her students suffered in overcrowded classrooms with insufficient resources. The administration exploited her passive approach, piling on additional responsibilities without compensation.

Where was the divine protection for someone devoted to Christ’s work?

Meanwhile, her colleague Marcus approached identical challenges with zero expectation of supernatural rescue. Instead of waiting for divine deliverance, Marcus documented unsafe working conditions and brought them to the union. He advocated for reasonable class sizes, demanded adequate supplies, pushed back against administrative exploitation.

When faced with retaliation, Marcus stood up for himself and his students through established labor protections. He didn’t expect God to guard his life or provide personal deliverance. His “common sense” approach—which Chambers would criticize as unspiritual—proved infinitely more effective than spiritual passivity.

When the school board finally addressed unsafe conditions and overcrowding, it wasn’t because God had rescued devoted teachers like Rebecca. Change came because teachers like Marcus had documented problems, organized collectively, and demanded accountability through legal processes.

Rebecca’s breakthrough came when she abandoned the spiritual framework and started advocating professionally. The “personal deliverance” she’d been promised was completely absent, while practical advocacy actually improved conditions for everyone.

The justice that transformed the school didn’t come from divine intervention but from teachers who refused to accept exploitation as spiritual discipline. Standing up for fair treatment wasn’t spiritual failure but professional responsibility.

Where was God’s promised rescue for devoted believers? Where was the divine protection that was supposed to come from trusting rather than using common sense?

The silence where personal deliverance was supposed to manifest revealed the truth: no divine guardian exists to protect devoted believers from exploitation. Only human advocacy and legal protections create actual change in unjust situations.

Reflection Question: When has advocating for fair treatment been more effective than accepting poor conditions as spiritual discipline?

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