A Flourishing Faith

There are plenty of doomsday messages out there to make a believing person feel nervous: world-wide Christian persecution, a continued secularization of our society and its consequences, the drama of an unfolding presidential election.  How can we ensure the continued growth of the church when it seems under attack?

The early church knew the cost of following Christ—most often it was their lives.  Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, poured their blood out on sandy floors of the arena.  For four hundred years, the Christian believer was attacked, condemned, and murdered.  Yet the faith flourished. 

That is, until Constantine.  This Roman emperor supposedly has a vision where he sees a Cross and hears the words “in this sign you will conquer.”  It all pretty much goes downhill after this.  Christianity is finally recognized and now endorsed, and the died-for faith of generations now becomes a political tool.  After the Roman Empire falls, the word of God is kept from the lay people, trapped in the language of Latin (that the people no longer speak).  With no personal copy of Scripture with which they can test and check what they are being told, the people are left in ignorance and the church becomes a bastion of corruption and tradition based on man’s ideas instead of God’s.  For a thousand years (during which time the Crusades take place), man is estranged from God.  Yes, this time is considered a religious time period, but it is a religion of separation and distance, instead of relationship and personal accountability. 

The Reformation begins, not with Martin Luther’s 95 Theses of Contention in 1517, but almost 150 years earlier with John Wycliffe’s translation of the Bible into English.  Why is this so powerful?  For the first time in a thousand years, the idea that common man could read the Bible in his own vernacular is introduced.  For this, he is called the Morningstar of the Reformation.  His final vision doesn’t really become reality until Tyndale’s translation in 1525-26, but Wycliffe’s hope was the spark that started the fire that swept all of Europe. It is impossible to communicate the huge effect that this had on the people.  No longer were they dependent on others to tell them the truths of the Bible.  Now they could it read for themselves.  In fact, a historian remarked how elderly people learned to read just so they could read the Bible.  Groups of people pooled their money together in order to purchase a Bible and their lives were changed.  

Throughout the centuries informed Christians have fought against injustice and argued for the intrinsic value of man.  Looking to Scripture as their guide, they realized that all people are precious in God’s sight.  Their Bible study affected the way they saw every aspect of life, as it should. 

In many ways, we operate like the people who didn’t have access to God’s Word.  We rely upon pastors and teachers to expound to us what the Bible teaches without doing the hard work ourselves.  Now, more than ever, the people of God need to be a Biblically literate people.  With so many issues that need to be approached in a thoughtful way, we have a responsibility to study God’s Word to understand His perspective.

On our plate right now:  how to handle the Islamic threat, same-sex marriage, transgenderism, the effects of moral relativism, gun control, the balance of freedom, and many, many things.  How can we possibly know the way to handle these things and to ensure that the Christian faith flourishes instead of flounders?  We cannot rely on the teachings of others to navigate these tumultuous seas because, no matter how much you trust someone, no one person has all the answers. 

So what is the answer? 

1)     Don’t let emotions be your guide.  No matter how much a certain idea may “feel” right, do not trust it unless there is Scriptural backing.  If you look back over your life and think of decisions you’ve made based on emotion, chances are those weren’t your best decisions. 

2)     Know your Bible.  Don’t just reference a few token verses.  You need to see the whole teaching on a topic instead of just one narrow vision.   It’s dangerous to build a theology off of one or two verses.  You have to interpret verses in the light of the other Bible passages to have a more comprehensive perspective. 

3)     Be willing to be corrected. Being open to discussion with the idea that you might have something to learn is key.  If someone can use Scripture and a good hermeneutic to demonstrate where you might be lacking, be willing to change.  The truth is none of us have perfect theology.  We are all in the process of learning and adjusting our worldviews to line up with Scripture. 

We, as Americans, are so richly blessed with a plethora of Bible study tools and resources to aid us.  Please, let us use them!  We cannot be a voice of reason and truth in this world without a solid understanding of God’s total truth.  Before you make a decision on how to handle Islamic terror, read God’s Word to understand how He would have us react keeping in mind both His mercy and His righteous judgment.  Before we speak to a homosexual or transgender with words of condemnation or approbation, let us search God’s Word for His whole counsel. 

And as we consider these important issues, let us always approach every topic and every person with respect, remembering the overwhelming value God has placed on every person (even the ones who reject Him).  Let us be characterized as those who understand the Bible and speak the truth in a way that demonstrates love.  It is in this context, and no other, that our faith will flourish.

“…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”1 Peter 3:15