Question & Answer

Q: By Jeff

I was brought up to understand that we meet God in church. What is it supposed to mean when people say that God is within me? I don’t think I’ve found that to be true.

A: By Rev. Mark Sandlin

Dear Jeff,

It’s hard for me to say what a particular person or persons meant when you heard them say that, but I can tell you what it means to me.
 
Think of humanity as the ocean and each person a wave. Each wave is different, but equally wet, equally made of the ocean. Wetness is to the ocean as God is to humanity. We each are a unique part of a whole, yet decidedly part of that whole. We are made of the same stuff. And, it each of us resides the divine. Not separate and different parts of the divine – instead, we are all part of the same Oneness. We are all part of the ocean that is God. We are all dripping wet.
 
A conversation between a young man and his guru was once overheard, the student proudly stated, “The purpose of religion is to find God.” His teacher responded, “Not quite, the purpose of religion is to find ourselves, within which we shall find God.” Or, as Rumi once said, “I looked in temples, churches & mosques. But I found the Divine within my Heart.”
 
Look into every great religious, spiritual, and wisdom tradition, and we find the same precept — that life’s ultimate truth, its ultimate treasure, lies within us.

Jesus was once asked when the kingdom of God would come. The kingdom of God, Jesus replied, is not something people will be able to see and point to. Then came these striking words in Luke 17:21: “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”  With those words, Jesus gave voice to a teaching that is universal and timeless.
 
Particularly for those who grew up in conservative or mainline churches, the trick is letting go of some of the things we’ve been taught about God. It’s particularly true when it comes to ideologies which suggest that God is separate from us and, thus, must be sought after and searched for. When you do begin letting go of those, instead of always looking for God, you end up feeling God and enjoy walking in the joy of this ineffable Presence. The Good News is that it produces real transformation in how you  think, live, treat others and the world, because it opens up up to see God all around us and not only within.

In the end, I’d simply say, there is nowhere that God isn’t and that includes inside you.

~ Rev. Mark Sandlin

This Q&A was originally published on Progressing Spirit – As a member of this online community, you’ll receive insightful weekly essays, access to all of the essay archives (including all of Bishop John Shelby Spong), and answers to your questions in our free weekly Q&A. Click here to see free sample essays.

About the Author
Rev. Mark Sandlin is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) from the South. He currently serves at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. Mark also serves as the President and Co-executive Director of ProgressiveChristianity.org. He is a co-founder of The Christian Left. His blog, has been named as one of the “Top Ten Christian Blogs.”  Mark received The Associated Church Press’ Award of Excellence in 2012. Follow Mark on Facebook and Twitter @marksandlin.