Seeking God

Throughout the history of mankind there has been a steady pull on the human heart to seek out the creator of both ourselves and the world we live in. The search to find answers to our questions of meaning and purpose can be found in every culture and in every era including ours.   Contrary to what we’re often told, a New Zealand values survey indicated 60% of people believed in God and a further 20% believe in some Higher Power. In addition to this, 60% of people surveyed indicated that they prayed and 60% believed in life after death.  It seems the search for faith and God continues.

We recognise that this stems from the spiritual aspect of who we are as humans.  Our spirituality is what ‘turns us on’; what gives us life; our deep-down desire. It is about the whole person and the whole of life.  Christians do not have a monopoly on spirituality and that, since all people are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), all humans have a spiritual dimension which will be expressed in a variety of ways. The word spirituality is also used to refer to the model which gives structure and expression to our spiritual dimension.

Christian spirituality is centred and modelled on the life and teaching of Jesus, about whom we have a few central theological beliefs (expressed in the historic creeds of the church) and a wide variety of other understandings. At the heart of the teaching of Jesus is an invitation to experience a new and dynamic life coming out of a renewed relationship with God (John 10:10). Christian spirituality is ultimately about our relationship with God. Jesus came to show us more fully what God is like, to show what a life lived in a close relationship with God could be like, and through his death and resurrection to make such a relationship and life possible for us.  It is not just about getting into heaven when we die, but living a vibrant, meaningful life with God while here on earth.

Further helpful reading on questions you may have about Christianity can be found on this website: www.christianity.co.nz.  There is also more to be found under the Seeking Resources section of the website.

** International Social Science Survey Programme, Department of Marketing, Massey University, 1991, 1998.

** Many thanks to the Presbyterian Churches of NZ for the use of some of their material.