“Never question the
truth of what you fail to understand… for the world is filled with wonders!”
Frederick Beuchner wrote these words, and many other profound things, and as a
person who has learned that the greatest things in life can’t be explained,
reduced, measured, earned, replicated, or proved, I wholeheartedly agree with
him. It’s not that I have any issues with reason or science. I am actually
fascinated with both of them. When I was
earning a graduate degree in Organizational Psychology, I conducted more than
one double-blind study myself, and concerning reason, I’ve never asked anyone
to embrace Scripture without knowing its context, or “setting in life.” Science
has improved and saved billons of lives, and reason tells us to change the
things we can and to accept the things we cannot change- to stop on red, go on
green, and things like that. Without science and reason, we would be leading
lesser and more dangerous lives.
However, as the Kirk
(the church) here on earth, we are called to be people of faith and it is faith
that transforms our lives. Faith and science are both necessary, but they seek
different truths and they ask different questions. Moreover, while faith and
reason co-exist in any organization, faith must be our dominant guide because
we are a people of faith. We can rejoice in this because faith keeps on going
when reason gives out. They travel together for awhile, but
reason is never bold enough or sure enough to bring us to a saving faith in Christ.
It simply cannot do it. Everyone, no matter how smart or well educated, must
take a leap of faith at some point. This is the truth of it- so rejoice that
you can live without proof or explanation. Reason asks, “How can anyone be born
of a virgin?” but faith rejoices in the birth of a Savior! Science investigates
the Shroud of Turin, but the faithful already believe that Jesus was buried and
risen, and they will continue to believe, regardless of any eventual verdict on
the shroud. Gibran noted that faith is “beyond the reach of proof,” and this is
what makes it so powerful. It is as real as anything is ever real, but it
cannot be limited, or controlled, or marketed, as if it were a sandwich or an
automobile, and it will never die! It is eternal!
In many ways, or
course, we all live by faith. For example, I don’t understand how computers, or
even TVs, work, and I’ve never seen a germ. Still, I believe that those little
men I see playing on my TV screen are actually playing a real game on a real
field, and I wash my hands and cover my mouth to protect others from… germs.
Likewise, and of greater importance, without faith, we could never live as if
our hopes and promises are true, and this alone, would drastically reduce the
quality of our lives because all relationships are based on faith. You tell me
that you will love me forever, and I make plans, and decisions, and live my
life based on your promise. I live as if it is true. I put my faith in your
promise, and it is my faith that frees me to be myself and to live each day
with quiet joy. In short, life and love both demand faith… so it ought not be a
surprise that our relationship with God does too. Relationships are based on
faith- not experiments nor rational arguments- and it is the same with Christ,
who invites us into a relationship based on faith.
Gideon asked for,
and received, proof from God, and in the passage that Jack read this morning,
Elijah built his entire case for God around “proof,” but these men didn’t have
gospel or the advantage of a Christian community. Besides, as Jesus told Thomas
“the twin,” blessed are those who believe without seeing for they will inherit
the kingdom. Yes, it is true- faith gives us confidence, and confidence gives
us vision, and vision gives us Spirit-filled energy, and Spirit-filled energy
gives us faithful action. Friends, faith is the stuff of greatness! Believing
the God walks with us when we walk through the valleys of life, believing that
God has a plan for us, believing that God hears us and cares for us, believing
that we cannot do anything that will cause God to love us less, believing that
we- and our neighbors- carry the Image of God within us- trusting in all of
these things makes all the difference in the world. Living as if these things
are true is what separates disciples from church attendees and unbelievers.
Living by faith is the “secret” to a Christian life, and the good news is this:
it is ours for the choosing! Yes, believing is every bit as much a choice as
not believing… so you can choose to live as if every Biblical truth and promise
is absolutely true, and you can make that choice today!
If you are living by
faith, count it as a great blessing. You’ve been set free to dream and you’ve
been empowered to live for God. As a seminary professor noted, “Faith itself is
the only evidence. When we come upon the unanswered question, the unknown and
the unknowable, the love we cannot explain, or live without, the relentless hope that
keeps us dreaming impossible dreams and working... " against all odds, to patch a
broken world. when we know that God’s Son died
for us and that He has not only forgiven us, but invites us, even this day to
dine with Him… then we become believers and “proof” never crosses our minds,
anymore that it crossed our minds when our loved one said, “You can trust in me
and I will love you forever.” There are times when
I would’ve appreciated a sign because Elijah is right- if God is God we must serve Him and praise Him in all that we do. But I am blessed to live by faith
because my faith gives me both grace and courage, and through eyes of faith, I
can see the Image of God in every one of your faces. Let’s prepare to come to His table. Amen.
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