Who Can I Trust?

I once watched a documentary about politics, and the narrator listed each U.S. senator and congressman with a money amount next to their name.  The number signified the amount in contributions, donations, and lobbyist support.  His main point was simple; no one was above external influence or compromised integrity.  Leaders on both sides of the aisle were implicated.  After watching something like this, a person may begin to wonder quite honestly - who can I really trust?

I believe that each and every one of us are looking for two things in general: a person to put our trust and faith in, and a belief system that actually works.  The underlying driving force to search out these two things is a deep rooted desire to be able to trust in something.  

In our journey to understand what being trustworthy means, I believe that we must focus much of our energy on dismissing what author and pastor Timothy Keller refers to as the "view from nowhere."  In other words, Keller insists that there is no one out there (not even ourselves) who can honestly make accurate, non-biased assessments about everything all the time.  Everyone's view comes from a mixture of other views and external influences.  They all come from some other place (instead of nowhere).  And as such, our perspective is often blurred or slanted one direction or another, based on cultural values and mores. 

Indeed, the Bible says that if we follow our heart and our own desires all the time, it can often lead to a problematic outcome.  Proverbs 28:26 says, "Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe."   But whose wisdom are we really talking about here?  

Many of us have spent years investigating different belief systems.  I have a good friend in fact, who made it a personal assignment to go through each of the major world religions and study the different claims from each one.  Take Islam for example ... we see a certain type of perspective when it comes to God (Allah).  Their holy book the Quran often talks about following the rigid precepts and commands of a God who sometimes seems aloof and intimidating.  I remember feeling some degree of dread and fear after reading through the first few pages and suras (chapters) of the Quran myself.  I wanted to get a personal idea of what this religion taught. 

When tackling religions such as Mormonism or the Jehovah's Witnesses for example, there are other books and documents that are venerated in addition to God's revelation from the Bible.  The Book of Mormon and The Watchtower are the two main publications.  This might lead people to wonder how much is God's truth versus how much is from man's own biased perspective.  This is no reflection of the people who might hold to these different religions of course, I am speaking only of the belief systems themselves here (in an analytical way).  I don't think this should be offensive, as truth claims should be subject to scrutiny without censorship. 

But I think it is important to mention that when looking at the various world religions, typically the main concept put forward revolves around human beings earning our way up the spiritual ladder.  The more good works we do here on Earth, the faster we become Holy like God (see the Karma Wheel from Buddhism for example).  The better we behave, the more we increase our chances of attaining some type of higher self-actualization.  

Christianity, by contrast, is a worldview where this Holy and omniscient God actually takes the time and effort to come down off the ladder to be with us.  Rather than waiting until we are good enough, the God of the Bible says, "I'm coming to meet you where you are at."  This is good news, especially given the Christian concept that each and every one of us falls short in some way when compared to Jesus Christ.  We need a deity who recognizes this flaw, and takes the burden of sin onto  Himself.

But what happens when we look around the secular world for a person to trust and a belief system that works?  Do we not often feel betrayed at some point?  If we are being honest, I think most would admit that at times our friends, family, or even our spouse will occasionally let us down.  When it comes to belief systems, our political structure can sometimes fail us also.  If we look to non-religious  systems of thought, the same thing can occur.  Scientism and atheism can fall short, at least as it pertains to answering life's bigger questions like what does it all mean and why am I here.  Most modes of philosophy and reasoning get us only so far also.  

When we are let down in this way, people often feel disillusioned or lost.  What once had the potential to help and guide us begins to show weak spots, and if we are not careful it's easy to become complacent.  My advice is not to give up.  Life is a process of lessons and learning from our mistakes.  We take our successes and our failures and then we move forward.  As we become older and wiser, discerning who and when to trust something may become a bit easier (if we are lucky).  

Proverbs 3:5-6 states, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."  I used to have this Scripture taped to the top of my computer monitor at work for years.  The only reason I took it down was because I finally got a new office and a different screen one day.  Just the same, this phrase is also scored on my heart.  It helped get me through a particular time in my life when money was tight and my friends were few, and I was able to place my trust in even fewer people.

It is okay to trust God the Father.  The Bible uses the illustration of a branch in-grafted to the vine as a metaphor for you and I staying connected to the life giving olive tree that is Jesus.  Furthermore, Psalm 37:5-6 says, "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun."  

Who among us isn't ready to shine like the sun?  Begin trusting in the Creator today, and then be prepared to watch what He brings into your life tomorrow.  Although other human beings will let you down from time to time (and remember we do the same to them) - God is always there, and He is always good.  

 

 

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