What is the story that shapes the core of your being ? A friend of mine grew up in a conservative religious community. She obeyed all the rules, and had made many friends. It was not the usual custom for her family, but they sent her off to university, a few hours from the family home. She completed her undergraduate degree and obtained a professional certification as well. She told me that in here second year of studying, her religious upbringing made no sense to her life anymore, and she dropped it all. She never really believed again. . We have had many deep discussions about faith, ethics and the seemingly randomness of God . In thinking about this person, I think I have as many questions about the existence of God that she does, so why do I still participate in the church, and she does not ? There is no answer to that question, just life experience , I guess.
If you are an atheist or an agnostic or just do not care about religion, you still have a story to live by, or a story that shapes how you live in the world. Maybe it is scientific discovery or an ethic that honours all people throughout the world. Maybe for you, it is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights that make your life worth living. The U.S. Constitution has served the United States in its history well, and it is not a religious document.
So, if you are a Christian, what story out your history or out of the Bible gives you meaning ? Where do you find ways to express the fundamentals of your faith in God ? Some people go to Church history, others go to the Old Testament prophets, while others see the gospel, the good news, to be found in the early writings of the theologian we call Paul. Some will read nothing but the words and events that are about Jesus. There are four biographies of Jesus found in the Bible. They are all a little different, but the early church did not find that a problem with telling the story for their faith.
If you are going to tell someone about why you believe in God, and are in the church, what story do you begin with ? I think we should begin with a story, that is part of our story. Deductive reasoning and principles of faith usually does not produce good faith discussion . Part of my faith journey begins with my parents path as refugees coming into this country. My mom suffered from mental illness for much of her adult life. This is part of my story. My wife Shirley and I worked with refugees in the 1980’s. That is also part of my faith story. The births of our four children speak to me about God. To be the pastor of a faithful church for 25 years speaks to my journey with God. All of these experiences are not all positive and straightforward times with God and humanity. Life is hard and difficult sometimes, but my faith is not threatened with extinction everytime something bad happens in my life.
I am only on the way in my faith. I only know in part. Jesus is my saviour , teacher, friend, judge of my ethical actions and creator. Jesus has never spoken to me other than the words in the Bible. I have sensed that Jesus has led me to some difficult places and had my sense of who I am in the palm of his hand.
I spoke at a church on Sunday where the children collected things that went into relief kits for children , who are poor or refugees or victims of disasters. These children give me hope that God is still relevant in our broken world. But that is just my faith. What about you ?
Fred Redekop
Ponder Anew 