(This is an old post moved from an old page, originally posted 2/17/6)
I find it interesting when I talk to people about God that their response is often, “Oh, I believe in God”. As if this is somehow supposed to alleviate my concerns about their spirituality. They don’t go to church. Maybe they don’t even know which God they believe in. But, as a bishop I should be relieved and even jolly that indeed they do believe in God. Let me say it clearly, once and for all: I don’t care whether people believe in God. Believing in God gets us nowhere. Saint James wrote (James 2.19), “the demons believe, and shudder”. What’s important is not some kind of nebulous belief in God, but that we love God (I need to start saying back to people, “Yes, but do you love God?”). And love is a demonstratable quality, unlike belief. True love makes a difference in one’s life. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14.15).
