How to reconcile evolving beliefs with your Christian roots

Balancing evolving beliefs with your Christian roots can be a tricky path to navigate.

It’s about understanding that faith isn’t static – it grows, shifts and transforms, just like we do. Yet, there’s also a profound connection to our Christian roots that we don’t want to lose sight of.

The key lies in reconciliation – acknowledging the evolution of beliefs while maintaining respect and reverence for the foundational faith we grew up with.

In this article, “How to reconcile evolving beliefs with your Christian roots”, I’ll guide you through this journey of faith evolution. It’s about learning to embrace the changes, while still holding onto the core values that make you, well… you.

Let’s dive in.

1) Embrace the journey

Reconciling evolving beliefs with your Christian roots often starts with embracing the journey itself.

Faith, like life, is a journey. It’s not static. It grows, shifts and transforms as we do. And that’s okay. Actually, that’s more than okay, it’s perfectly natural.

This doesn’t mean that you’re losing your faith or straying from your Christian roots. Instead, it represents a deepening and maturing of your understanding.

Remember, questioning and exploring are fundamental parts of spiritual growth. They help us to understand our faith better and make it more personal and meaningful.

So, don’t be afraid to venture out into new territories of belief and understanding. Embrace the journey, even if it feels uncomfortable at times.

And most importantly, remember that it’s your journey. Everyone’s path is unique. What matters is staying true to yourself and your own spiritual growth.

2) Personal experience

I remember when I first started to feel my beliefs shifting. It was around the time I went to college, a period of immense personal growth and exploration.

Suddenly, I found myself exposed to different cultures, philosophies, and ways of thinking. It was fascinating but also overwhelming. I began questioning things I had always taken for granted about my Christian faith.

I felt guilty, like I was betraying my roots. But then, I realized something crucial. This evolution was not a betrayal but an expansion of my understanding of faith.

I started to see my Christian roots as the foundation from which I could explore and grow, not as a constraint that kept me from evolving.

So, I embraced this change, this evolution. It was challenging at times, but it also brought a richer, more profound understanding of my faith.

Throughout this journey, one thing became clear to me: wrestling with these questions didn’t mean I was losing my faith; it meant I was deepening it.

3) Faith and flexibility

Did you know that the Bible itself contains instances of evolving beliefs? The apostle Peter, for example, initially believed that the message of Jesus was exclusively for the Jews. However, in a vision recorded in Acts 10, he was shown that God’s love and grace extended to all people, not just the Jews.

This revelation marked a significant shift in Peter’s understanding and helped shape the inclusive nature of early Christianity. It shows us that even within our Christian roots, there is room for growth and evolution of beliefs.

Understanding this can provide comfort and reassurance as we navigate our own journey of faith evolution. It reminds us that our faith is not about rigid dogma but about seeking truth, understanding, and love – and that sometimes, this journey leads us to new perspectives.

4) Seek guidance

In the process of reconciling evolving beliefs with your Christian roots, don’t underestimate the power of seeking guidance.

Whether it’s from a trusted mentor, a spiritual leader, or supportive friends and family, having someone to share your thoughts and questions with can be incredibly helpful. They may not have all the answers, but their perspectives can shed light on your own understanding and help you navigate your journey.

Remember, seeking guidance isn’t about finding someone who will tell you what to believe. It’s about finding someone who will listen, engage in meaningful dialogue, and help you explore your evolving beliefs in the context of your Christian roots.

This way, you can ensure that your journey is not just personal but also communal, reflecting the shared nature of faith.

5) Reflect and journal

One of the most powerful tools in reconciling evolving beliefs with your Christian roots is reflection. Taking time to sit quietly with your thoughts, feelings, and questions can be transformative.

Journaling can be an effective way to facilitate this process. It allows you to organize your thoughts, track your spiritual journey, and see how your beliefs are evolving over time.

You can write about your doubts, fears, and discoveries. Write about the moments when your faith feels strong, as well as the times when it feels shaky. You can even write letters to God, expressing your thoughts and emotions honestly.

This practice can provide clarity and insight, helping you understand the depth and breadth of your evolving beliefs while maintaining a connection with your Christian roots.

6) Embrace love and grace

In the midst of all the questions, doubts, and changes, there’s one thing that remains constant – the love and grace at the heart of our Christian faith.

Remember, Christianity at its core is about love – God’s love for us, and our love for others. It’s about grace – unearned, undeserved, yet freely given.

So, as your beliefs evolve, let this love and grace be your guide. Let them be the lens through which you view your faith and your world.

When you stumble upon questions that seem too big, too complex, remember the simplicity of love and grace. When you feel like you’re drifting away from your roots, anchor yourself in these fundamental truths.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about having all the answers or adhering to a rigid set of rules. It’s about cultivating a heart of love and living a life of grace. And that reconciliation between evolving beliefs and Christian roots is a beautiful testament to this journey of faith.

7) Doubts and fears

There was a time when I was terrified of my own doubts. I worried that they were signs of weak faith, that they somehow made me less of a Christian. But over time, I’ve come to see them differently.

These doubts, these questions – they’re not a sign of weak faith, but a sign of a faith that is alive and growing. They’re an indication that I’m engaging with my beliefs, not just passively accepting them.

And yes, sometimes this engagement leads to changes in my beliefs. But these changes don’t mean I’m leaving my Christian roots behind. On the contrary, they’re helping me to understand those roots more deeply, to see them in new and nuanced ways.

So now, when doubts and fears arise, I try not to push them away. Instead, I welcome them as companions on my journey, as catalysts for growth and understanding. Because I’ve learned that a faith without questions is a faith that’s not fully alive.

8) Keep learning

One of the best ways to reconcile evolving beliefs with your Christian roots is to never stop learning. Dive into scripture, read widely and diversely, engage with different theological perspectives.

Exploring the rich tapestry of Christian tradition can help you deepen your understanding of your faith and see how it can grow and evolve. You might discover that some of the questions you have are not new, but have been wrestled with by believers for centuries.

Moreover, don’t limit your learning to Christian sources alone. Engage with other faith traditions, philosophies, and worldviews. This can not only broaden your perspective but also illuminate your understanding of your own faith.

Remember, faith is not static – it’s a journey. And every journey is enriched by a spirit of curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning.

9) Faith is personal

At the end of the day, your faith is personal. It’s a deeply intimate part of who you are. And while it may be rooted in a larger tradition, it’s ultimately about your own relationship with God.

So, as you navigate the journey of reconciling evolving beliefs with your Christian roots, remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. What works for one person may not work for you, and that’s okay.

The goal is not to fit into a particular mold or meet someone else’s expectations. The goal is to cultivate a faith that is authentic, meaningful, and true to who you are.

So, take your time. Be patient with yourself. And remember, this journey is not about reaching a destination, but about growing, learning, and deepening your relationship with God along the way.

Final reflections

At the heart of this journey of reconciling evolving beliefs with your Christian roots is the understanding that faith, like life itself, is a journey of constant growth and transformation.

There’s a quote by author Madeleine L’Engle that beautifully encapsulates this idea: “The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.”

In the context of our faith journey, this means that even as our beliefs evolve and grow, we don’t lose the spiritual ages we’ve been through. Our Christian roots are not left behind, but become part of the rich tapestry of our evolving faith.

So, as we navigate this journey, let’s remember that it’s not about abandoning our past but about growing into our future. It’s about bringing our Christian roots along with us as we explore new territories of belief and understanding.

And most importantly, it’s about knowing that in all stages of this journey, in all the spiritual ages we’ve been and will be, we are deeply loved and infinitely cherished by God.