When we were planning this series on the basic underpinnings of the Christian faith the image of a building’s foundation came to mind. I’ve been involved with construction projects most of my life and I quickly learned that it is critical to build on a solid foundation. Most get inpatient just working on the stuff that’s below ground. Stuff that no one sees but that everything depends on.
The most common foundation material is concrete. But concrete by itself is not suitable for a foundation. It has impressive compressive strength but it is brittle (no tensile strength). So an iron rebar framework is built and encased in the concrete and that gives the foundation the necessary strength and durability.
If you think about it, our faith isn’t much different. The foundations for our faith will determine how we weather the storms of life and determine how much we can build on it. It’s vitally important then to build a solid foundation for our faith and life. The foundations of our belief system about God and how he interacts with us and our daily lives is built on either a foundation that will sustain our faith when the storms of adversity come or one that washes out from under us.
Many Christians have what I call “circumstantial faith,” meaning the foundation of their faith is rooted in the circumstances of their lives, not God. What we all need is a faith based on a foundation that has the depth and strength to sustain us and allow us to grow. It is critical that our faith is not subjective or dependent on what is happening in life right now. It must be more than an emotional experience, more than even a miracle, more than theology and doctrine, and even more than a hope.
The foundation of the Christian faith is not a thing, a concept, or a belief. It is anchored by a person, Jesus Christ our Lord. He was a real person who walked this earth; who was seen, touched, loved, heard; who performed many miracles, who died on a cross, who was raised from the grave to life; and was seen alive by over 500 people after he died and was buried.
This series will help us examine the foundation of our faith and then build solid footings for the development of our faith and the realization of our purpose in life. They will be especially valuable messages for young adults and those that are asking questions and kicking the tires. Won’t you join us for this valuable series? Starting Sunday, September 23rd, at 9:30 am.
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