What is Truth?

by Harrison McNichol

My journey of spirituality is not over. It began many years ago and, I assume, will end only when I die. I became a Christian when I was 4 years old at a local childrens group that was being held in somebody's house. They taught us about white being pure and black being sin and red being the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for my sins. They led us in a prayer of faith. I did it because I was curious. I was too young to know anything about Christianity.

When I was 9 years old I began to ask questions about God. I wondered about life and death and the meaning of life. I went to various churches from time to time. Then I decided to go into the occult (Ouija boards, seances, etc.) At the age of 16 I became part of the Unitarian fellowship (a group that promotes love and tolerance for all religions). I was in their youth group for 2 years but then I became bored with it and I wanted some spiritual experience. So I went to the United Church again and recommitted my life to Jesus.

After getting baptized in the United Church and going to the Nazarene for a few months, I decided to move out of my house and into my own apartment. I had recently graduated from High School at the time. I began to drink heavily and gambled every last penny away, even my life savings.

Because I was in such a state I was forced to seek refuge in Wel-fare and the Food Bank. It was then that I re-read my bible and went to church yet again. This time I went to the fundamentalist approach (Alliance and Apostolic, etc.). I was told that there were a lot of demons from the past that I needed to renounce certain sins and be washed in the blood of Jesus.

After that, I went to a Bible College for 2 years. While at the college, I was taught by certain people and students, that all homosexuals are going to hell and some students said that all Muslims were terrorists (after Sept. 11/01). So I decided to investigate Islam and find out for myself. I was shocked. People from another religion were having the exact same experiences that I was having as a Christian. I started to read the Koran, and the more I investigated Islam, the more I started to read my own Bible, thoroughly. I was shocked to learn that there were a lot of contradictions and additions in the Bible.

Today, I stand as a Truth Seeker. I do not know where my journey will lead me, but I do know that God is true. I need only seek HIS guidance and all will be made clearer.

This is indeed a big change for me. To give up on a belief system is not an easy thing. But I found that the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, Original Sin, and God becoming one of us, just don't make sense anymore. Either God is one, or He's not. According to Christianity, God is 3 in 1 or 1 in 3.

I still believe that Jesus came to preach love and tolerance. I believe he was indeed a prophet, but I don't see any convincing proofs in scripture to say that Jesus is God. Right now, I am leaning towards embracing Islam, but I have to take time to think. I need to relax a while, and seek refuge in God.

Any comments you have would be appreciated.

Bless you,

Harrison McNichol

I joined at the age of 4 because I was curious
I left at the age of 22 because I couldn't accept the doctrines of Christianity any longer
I am a guy from Canada
My past labels were Nazarene, Alliance, Pentecostal
My label now is Truth Seeker