The seeker vs. The Christian

Yesterday I mentioned the "seeker", which for consistency sake I will now define as "someone who is actively striving to find truth and fulfillment in their lives. Either hedonistically, intellectually, or existentially." The seeker, by definition, is in a state of "ignorance" (as Socrates would say) or "untruth". He never claims to be right or authoritative on any issue, and this disturbs him to the point that the whole of his mental energy is spent trying to correct it.

Jesus came for the seekers, in Mark 2:16-17 Jesus made his intentions clear. The Pharisees could learn nothing from him, since they already thought of themselves as holy and righteous. The followers of Christ were what Jesus called "sick", which could easily be interpreted to mean the seeker (since the seeker considers his current state with pessimism). Jesus also promised rest to those who were 'heavy laden', promising that if we earnestly seek God we will find him ( Matthew 7:7 and Matthew 5:6 ). Accordingly, no one came at the receiving end of Jesus rebuke more than the Pharisees. One of the reasons for this, I believe, was the arrogance they possessed for believing that they were right and everyone else was wrong.

The parallels to today's age is a strong one. Although all Christians are ready to admit that they were once 'a lost sinner', they honestly believe that now that they have gotten saved (which apparently happens instantaneously) they have arrived at the full truth. All that is left to do for them is memorize the dogma and doctrine of the church, and then they are free to revel in their 'enlightened' state. Christianity today is fundamentally against the 'seekers'. The church throughout history invented the "infallibility of the bible" and "infallibility of the church/pope" as a means to skirt their responsibilities as human beings. They associated the words "questioning", "doubting", and "struggling" with ones like "backsliding", "falling", and "heresy". Seekers were either persecuted heavily or killed by both the Catholics and protestants, using the word "heretic" as some kind of accuse for their bloodlust.

Underneath it all there is also a misunderstanding that comfortable Christians have as to why people need to seek at all. The prevalent belief is that the truth is very easily attainable, you just have to find the appropiate verse and your all set. Any challenge to that is taken to mean a challenge to their "truth" itself, which is why they often get hostile and start labeling people heretics. They really do not want to be shaken out of their intellectual and spiritual ignorance.

However, there is also no glory in being a seeker. Although doubt is a necessary precusor to Christianity, there is no virtue in staying in that stage for more than is needed. I am prepared to admit I am yet to move beyond being a seeker, and will most likely never move beyond it. But grace, I think, is as abundant for the lowly "seeker" than for the knight of faith.