Wednesday's thoughts

"The Faith of a Fanatic"
The Biblical texts that drive this sermon are:
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 and Mark 9:2-9.

When we are confronted by people who seem to have more faith than we and are more religious than we what do we do with that? Do we deal with it; confront it; or run from it?

First of all we need to assess if it has something to say to us. How does it speak to us and what does it say? Is it authentic and should we pay attention to it? How do we determine if someone else' faith is valid for us? When do we decide we better listen to them and when do we determine to run from them so we don't have to listen?

Three tests of faith.

1. True religion is not about ego. If we are people of faith we 'preach not ourselves'. In fact, we are a small part of it. There is something much bigger than we and we work hard to get ourselves out of the way of it. We preach not ourselves.

2. As Christians what we want to listen for and to is the Gospel and the author of the Gospel. We listen for Jesus' words in the challenges we hear from those who are full of faith. Do we hear the Gospel of love or do we hear a shallow representation of the Gospel that uses his name but does not promote his message? We know it when we hear it and we know it when we don't.

3. We let the light shine. Finally, true Christian faith brings light to the darkness; not darkness to the light. It is uplifting not condemning. As we are listening to a person who has intense faith are we sensing the light shining?

Other people speak their faith in ways we may not speak it and sometimes the words get in the way. But there are aspects of faith we can look for no matter how it is expressed. it is not about ego, it is about the Gospel of Love, and it lets the light shine. When we can hear that and see it, then we can pay attention and we don't have to run from it.

No one has a right to intimidate us; and no faith that is true is something we cannot learn from.

People of faith are kind and generous and open and loving. People of faith are people you want to be around; they are contagious and congenial. Even when people of faith take on difficult issues and confront controversial topics and when they have to take a stand, they do it with love and hope.

What do you do with very religious people in your life? How do you deal with them.

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster