Don't just stand there... believe something!

 

 

 

The Collins Dictionary defines faith as:

1. strong or unshakeable belief in something, esp without proof or evidence
2. a specific system of religious beliefs ⇒ the Jewish faith
3. (Christianity) trust in God and in his actions and promises
4. a conviction of the truth of certain doctrines of religion, esp when this is not based on reason
5. complete confidence or trust in a person, remedy, etc
6. any set of firmly held principles or beliefs
7. allegiance or loyalty, as to a person or cause
 

It also gives details that the word originated from the Anglo-French feid, from Latin fidēs trust, confidence.

 

G.K.Chesterton makes an interesting point. Standing in the right place doesn't define what you are.

 

Maybe you went to church once and thought it was a waste of time. Maybe you go for forced social events only. Maybe you quite like sitting in old churches and feeling the silence around you. Maybe you used to 'go' to church and now you don't. Maybe you have been hurt by the church. Maybe you think the church is outdated, removed from popular culture, full of bigots and self rightous objectors.

 

The Christian world has an irritating phrase, on asking about someone, the question "are they churched?" is often asked. The image I get in my head from this is of a cartoon factory assembly line, with a big church on a metal arm punching down over some unsuspecting person, and as the arm lifts up for the next punch, a neat little Christian rolls of the assembly line.

 

You can look at those definitions of faith and ask if any of them are reflected in a religous building.

 

What defines you is not where you stand on a Sunday morning. What defines you is what stands in your heart.

 

My next point follows the inevitable conjunction...

 

BUT...

 

BUT ... there is a calling on our lives.

 

BUT... there is a need to nurture what dwells within us.

 

BUT... there is a time to stop and listen.

 

BUT... we need to learn about we say we believe.

 

BUT... there is a bigger picture.

 

When I am asked about why there are so many churches when they all believe the same thing, my response is totally not based in any theological teaching.

 

In my view churches are like supermarkets. They all stock pretty much the same items, some branded differently, some branded the same. They all like to appeal to their own crowd; usually as a point on the social scale - those living on a budget, or those financially better off. Some have better branding, better parking. Some are in every town, some are harder to find. Some give you a better service. Some just want you in and out, and are all about function. Some you wonder who still shops there.

 

You have your own supermarket preference, even if you choose to go as infrequently as possible.

 

You go there because you need something.

 

You go there as a requirement of having something in the house when the cupboards are bare.

 

You go there to bump into people you know.

 

You go there because out of habit.

 

You go there because you like the way they do things.

 

Or you go there because you are one of their kind of people!

 

Jesus left behind a group of people who were desperate to see out his vision, his teaching, his ministry.

 

If you do too maybe you should go to church. See the view from somewhere else for a change.

 

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