3 min. read
Can authentic faith be practical? Is the Way of Jesus a system of ideas that provide for positive lives of practicality?
Or is the Way of Jesus rather a way of challenging and risk-taking practices to be lived out in community? Even practices that will cause us in the community a good deal of suffering, discomfort, and sacrifice?
[featured-image single_newwindow=”false”]
Practical Faith Is Misguided
I am amazed at the number of churches, ministries, and “Christian” radio stations that espouse a practical and positive result of being part of this thing called faith. And these organizations are growing, numerically speaking. Uplifting messages are trumpeted. Applying the (seemingly simple) scriptures in practical ways in life appears to be the golden chalice.
I get it. We want certainty. We want assurance. We want to be happy. But to think that clear-cut reality, practicality, and a God we can figure out bring happiness … well … I suggest that’s flat naive.
Life, like chess, has some strategies involved with high degrees of probability, but there are no guaranteed outcomes. Faith, like chess, involves risk and unforeseen moves. But probability is not part of the deal, because there are certainly no guaranteed outcomes. By nature of definition, “faith” means “I’m not at all sure.”
Dissing well-meaning institutions of faith is not my intent. But there is something misguided in the “practicality” of faith that must be addressed.
The Bible is not a guidebook. If we just search for a verse that applies to our life then apply it, we’re doing it wrong.
The Bible is not a guidebook. If we just search for a verse that applies to our life then apply it, we’re doing it wrong.
Rather, the Hebrew Scripture and the New Testament is the flawed story of the God who Jesus calls Father seeking to create, redeem, and reconcile all of creation, without controlling it.
The Bible is a family scrapbook of our spiritual ancestors, with narratives told through their biased and imperfect eyes, as they sought to understand and live in relationship with this God who pursued them to the point of becoming one of them. Thus, scripture is the context in which we learn to practice viewing life through God’s eyes. And this only becomes possible when we are devoid of religious pretense.
To explicitly state that if we make God our first priority then the rest of life falls into place, amounts to shallow theology. No wonder people figure out the lack of authenticity in this message then leave the church completely.
Life for disciples of Jesus is not about putting God first. Rather, life is about making every common action, thought, and word a natural response to God’s uncontrolling love. This has nothing to do with life falling into place. In fact, God’s Story has plenty of evidence that if we are truly following Jesus of Nazareth we will face all manner of messiness, struggle, and even opposition and persecution: both from the religious powers that be and the societal powers that want nothing to do with faith.
Following Jesus Might Get Us Killed
Jesus gives a stark contrast to practical notions of life when he maps out the way for his disciples: “Take up your cross everyday and walk with me.”
In relationships that require we be vulnerable and take the risk of getting hurt, there is nothing practical. Seeking to let our communal life be in step with the divine nature is not practical. Letting go of our claim to resources in order to serve others over and over again is not practical.
Instead, these things are life-giving.
Some of the places Jesus goes make me uncomfortable. Taking up a cross sounds terrifying. Walking with Jesus just might get us killed.
Some of the places Jesus goes make me uncomfortable. Taking up a cross sounds terrifying. Walking with Jesus just might get us killed.
Not to mention that practicality is just plain boring. I’d rather serve a God who doesn’t fit practically into my skewed perspective of reality. I’d rather try to respond to a God whose love is not about control. Such a God is the only one worthy of being called divine.