Friday's thoughts

"Faith for the Fear of It"

There are three aspects of faith and each are important to us. We could see them as a progression or just stages or impulses that come and go in a moment that runs from one to the other and back.

This is what I think they are:

1. There is the fear of faith. In our lives this is generated by authority figures but as it takes on a function that is internal is is conscience.

2. There is the freedom of faith. At some point we are informed by something other than conscience. We are drawn by our own sense of integrity or choice.

3. There is the flow of faith. Moments of ecstasy draw us into an awareness that there is a covenant relationship with God. We become agents of the God we worship. We are in a sympathetic and empathic posture with God. God has joined our cause and we have joined our lives to God's.

The fear of faith, the freedom of faith, and the flow of faith help us learn about ourselves and our place in the sequence of world and local events. They enable us to accept the consequences of our actions and to take charge of our lives as we strive to line up with the best that is within us and the greatness that is beyond our ability to comprehend.

The flow of faith is not a state of arrival. We can maintain it for a short time and then we are apt to lapse back into other motivations.

The fear of faith provides the stability that helps us understand what it means to live with balance and integrity.

Are these aspects of faith what you have experienced? Do you have some ideas about this? If so write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the other readers of "Build a Sermon" click on the box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster