“As Christians we assert that religious experience — an encounter with the divine — is foundational to our self-identity. According to the biblical tradition, the goal of the human-divine encounter is the establishment of a community of people who stand in covenant with God.”
Stanley Grenz, Theology for the Community of God (p. 7)
Created for Community
God created human beings to be relational and social. This is why the very first thing God declares as "not good" in Creation is the loneliness of man. Adam had a relationship with God and spent time with animals, yet a key part of his life was missing: a relationship with another human. The creation of Eve was not just about marriage; it was about ensuring the presence of people throughout history. You and I were created for community.
A Relational God
The Bible teaches us that God is a relational God. He is not a distant deity who takes no interest in His creation. Rather, He is active and present in the world He has made. This means we are able, on some level, to experience God in our lives. One way we encounter Him is through nature. As Psalm 19:1-6 and Romans 1:20 affirm, when we stand in awe of creation, it is our spirit recognizing the reality of God.
Since we are spiritual beings, we will have moments when the Holy Spirit touches our hearts and minds. Consider the two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:32 (NLT):
They said to each other, "Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"
After encountering Jesus, their hearts burned within them. Our own encounters with God can stir a similar response.
Testing Spiritual Experiences
A word of caution: Not every "burning heart" moment is an experience from God. While we should expect divine encounters, we must also remember the biblical warning to test the spirits (1 John 4:1). People are often led astray when they assume every spiritual experience is from God without measuring it against Scripture. The Bible remains our ultimate standard for discerning truth.
Two Purposes of Divine Encounters
According to Stanley Grenz, there are two primary reasons why God gives us these "burning heart" moments:
To Guide Our Self-Identity
We need divine guidance to understand who we are and why we were created. Our search for truth and purpose is only complete when we allow God to direct us. True self-discovery happens in the light of His revelation.To Form a Covenant People
We don’t follow Jesus alone. God’s purpose in sending Jesus was not simply to save us from our individual sins but to form us into His people. The Church is built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles (Ephesians 2:20) and is meant to reflect God’s character in the world.
A Question for Reflection
What divine encounter has significantly transformed your life?
Grenz reminds us that these encounters are foundational to our identity as God’s people, and we should expect them. They are not necessarily mystical experiences but moments where God grabs our attention and transforms our lives. Whether through reading Scripture, singing worship songs, hiking a trail, or even watching a movie, God reveals important truths that shape our hearts and guide our lives.
Sharing the Blessing
These divine encounters are not for us alone; they are also for the benefit of God’s people. Since we are created for community, when God blesses us with truth, insight, or transformation, we are to use those blessings to strengthen the Church. We are called to share what God has given us to edify His people.
Conclusion: Transformed for a Purpose
In the end, our encounters with God are not isolated moments meant only for personal inspiration—they are meant to shape us and draw us deeper into community with His people. From the very beginning, God designed us to be relational, and His work in our lives always has a communal purpose. When we experience God—whether through Scripture, worship, nature, or the quiet stirrings of the Holy Spirit—He is not only revealing more of Himself to us but also shaping us into the kind of people who reflect His love and truth in the world.
As we journey in faith, may we remain open to these divine encounters, always testing them against Scripture and seeking God’s wisdom in how they shape our identity and calling. And most importantly, may we use what God teaches us not just for our own growth but to encourage, strengthen, and build up the Church.
So let’s return to the question: What divine encounter has significantly transformed your life?
Whatever it may be, may you embrace it as part of God’s greater plan—not just for you, but for His people. Let us be faithful stewards of what He reveals, sharing His love, wisdom, and grace with those around us so that together, we may stand as a covenant people, reflecting His glory in the world.
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