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The Basis of Our Faith Col.2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Is the Christian faith based on debatable opinions or in varying rituals and traditions or in an ennobling philosophy? Or is it based on concrete, unchanging, undebatable facts? Let’s think about it... Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:3 - But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. One of Paul’s greatest worries was that the Christians he had labored so hard to bring the Gospel to would slowly “think” their way out of the Grace of God. He constantly said in his letters, as in Colossians 2:8 above, do not chase after philosophies, or empty traditions, or opinions of how the world works. It is the concrete, undeniable, unchangeable fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that makes our faith unshakable. The very act that places us into Christ’'s body is baptism; a re-enactment of this death, burial, and resurrection! And the focus of every Christian’'s faith should be the resurrection of Christ that make them worthy of God's salvation, rather than having faith in their own actions for God. Paul says that without the resurrection, our faith is worthless no matter what we do for God! Understanding the resurrection lets us understand our own Christian faith, because as we walk our Christian walk day by day, God is slowly resurrecting the heart of the child that we used to be. 1. The innocence we had as children, eyes big in wonder, open-minded and curious. When we look into the smiling face of a small child, we sigh, "Awwww”" and feel the ache and absence of the purity and possibility we used to have in the beginning. 2. The helplessness of a child, hands up and empty, knowing all that they need to live must be and will be given by a loving parent, who cares for them fully and who protects them ferociously. 3. The joy of a child, who screams with delight as their father comes through the door after work, or who runs to their mother just to hold her tight and feel the warmth of her skin and the sound of her voice These joys of a parent are also the greatest desires of God, our Father. He longs to resurrect the hearts of innocence and trust and love that we all possessed as small children; the things that we all lost as we grew up in this dark, sinful world. The basis of the Christian faith is the resurrection and the purpose of the Christian faith is to allow God to resurrect and renew daily that heart of love and innocence and wonder we all possessed in the beginning. And as we watch our children lose their innocence and wonder at a younger and younger and younger age, the message of the resurrection becomes more and more important. Mark 10:15 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." Stop trying to find God in programs and philosophies and in your own efforts! Let God resurrect the child in you by holding up your hands |
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