Christian nations created the legal structure of the western world, basing our civilization on Christian beliefs and Biblical laws. There have however been acts committed by vile men in our culture who called themselves good. They showed no consciousness toward God and sowed seeds of death and fear throughout the world instead. Further, the educational system and scholars have covered over the historical significance of the true Christians with myth and mysticism. We must (as Christians and Godly persons) hold fast to our own faith in and determine to remain relationship with our Father. Our relationship must grow past the superficial relevance of man to God. Our relationship is not pure until we can look toward God as our Father.

Unfortunately, many times the relationship between God and the church is very much like the one between a husband and an ex-wife. The churches may talk of God (and certainly give a good basis of book learning of the Bible) but it is primarily distant non-loving religious rhetoric. That however does not lead one to a loving relationship with their father any more than an ex-wife telling a child about a father could give the child the loving relationship you get by being in personal contact with the father. How can a bride who has closed her mind to her husband open the minds of her children to their father? She can not. However, by talking of him the child may gain curiosity that causes them to initiate their own search for such a relationship. So it is with the church! She cannot take you to a knowing, loving relationship with your spiritual Father ... you must do that yourself. If the bride (the church) refuses to accept the word of the husband (Jesus) how can she (the church) teach the child (Christians) to love their Father (Christ in the Godhead)?

Here is the answer to the riddle. Have you ever met someone who has never met their father? Have they ever expressed the desire to know him? So it is with all children. If we are children of God we will have the same instinct: the desire to know our father. We must learn to have faith that God - our spiritual Father - can bring those of us whom he knows into a complete relationship with him. Thankfully this is his specialty. He specializes in not letting us down. He specializes in coming through when we need him ... every time we need him ... despite our spiritual condition ... if we but ask him with our whole spirit, and if we need his help. Our Father trusts our mother not to mislead us in our upbringing yet he is there to prepare our hearts to understand the whole truth if we seek the truth in our spirit. God will bring us into him and fill us with his spirit if our desire is true.

You know what else? God knows which of us are his children and will put that deep spiritual desire in us.

We are destined to conquer this world for our spiritual Father through spiritual growth and love. Our Father, who created this world and us, has given us this world. We know through him we will mature and take this world through spiritual force and integrity and return it with ourselves to him in love.

Just as we grow up in the physical we grow through a time where we gain self confidence and have no need for our physical father. Thank God we continue to grow and mature and finally turn back to our Father sooner or later for guidance and advice. So it is with us as spiritual children. We grow up and feel confident but with time we learn we need our spiritual Father and his support.

These things I write not as a master of the knowledge but as a novice. I am learning myself. I pray that I too can continue in my growth and maturity in the Father through my continuing to reach and influence those around me toward God and his principals. I know that few people teach the truth in love.

So, for us, because our God is our Father ... there is no other faith, there is no other truth, there is no other way for us to be spiritually healthy. Christ is our answer and is the right and correct belief. There is no other correct option.

Tim Tuohy is the senior network engineer for mainframe systems at one of this country's largest railroads. He is an honorably discharged, decorated veteran of the Air Force. His extensive training and education, as well his travels throughout the North American continent, bring reality and excitement his novels and stories. His accomplishments include many highly technical designs and installations. He has been a lay minister in small groups for ten years. He lives outside Atlanta where he is working on a new novel.