March 7, 2010 - Form and Function of Faith
The road of faith is hard in order to sustain an on-going relationship with God. Yet we will be known by the good fruits that we grow spiritually. What evidences of faith would you like to be recognized for?
Matthew 7: 13-20
13 ‘Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15 ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus you will know them by their fruits.
As we continue in our Lenten worship series about the similarities and differences between religion and spirituality, we learn from Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus, raised in a Jewish family with the rituals and liturgy of organized religion, goes beyond the form of religion to serve God’s will in the function of spirituality.
Both, form and function are necessary. The form of religion, like the framework of our faith, is necessary to sustain Christianity through the centuries, cultures, and changes of life. The function of spirituality, as the personal and relational aspects of faith, is necessary to serve God’s people, creation, and world.
Form without function may be illustrated by two middle school friends who were talking on a Saturday. “So, you’re family has been trying out the worship services at different churches for a while. Have your parents chosen to join one yet?” “Ya, we’re gonna join the church downtown, ‘cause my mom likes the Methodist lethargy the best.”
Function without form may be illustrated by a child whose parents consider themselves spiritual but not religious. They never attend church functions yet consider themselves Christians. One day the dad is explaining to his 4th grade child what a Christian believes and how a Christian lives. The child’s response hits the bulls eye when she asks, “Dad, have I ever met one of these Christians?”
In today’s teaching from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. But the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will know them by their fruits.”
We're encouraged to ask ourselves, "What fruits are we producing?" The form of our fruit probably looks appealing on the outside, but does it leave a bitter or sweet taste in the mouths of our neighbors or co-workers? What fruits are the religious beliefs and spiritual behaviors producing? Full peaches of flavor produced from deep roots of faith and branches that grow in the Son?
Karl Rahner writes, “Those who proclaim God with their mouths and deny Him with their lifestyles is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable.” Karl Rahner, quoted in the Wittenburg Door (June/July l988). Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no. 8.
I’ll share a modern-day parable that can help us reflect on the form and function of faith. It’s entitled “The Place of Living Waters”…
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This outcome is avoided, and the living waters of faith keep flowing by praying for God to guide us in making sure that religious forms exist to serve spiritual functions; and by acting in ways that make sure the facilities exist to facilitate ministries in ways that fill us up with living water rather than being a fortress-like shrine.
Jesus teaches two functions that keeps the forms of faith in good spiritual perspective. 1.Find it. Listen to the words of Jesus: (v. 13-14) "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." The word Jesus uses for “find” is used to describe something that is found simply by making the effort to look for it. For example, finding food and lodging [Luke 9:12], or finding workers for the vineyard [Matthew 20:6]. Seeking and finding are closely related. The implication is not that many people look for the way yet never find it; the implication is that not many bother to look. When it comes to form vs. function, too many people settle for good form and search no further. "Seek and you will find....they who seek, finds." (Matthew 7:7-8) If you want a close relationship with God, you can have one. All you have to do is look for it. In Deuteronomy, God said, "If...you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and all your soul." (Deuteronomy 4:29)
2. Examine the spiritual function of your life. Jesus said, (v. 15-18) By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and bad tree cannot bear good fruit." This fruit is the outgrowth of a spirituality that reflects Christ-like behaviors. Recall the spiritual fruits that Paul spelled out in Galatians 5... “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. “ (Galatians 5:22-23) These fruits grown in the framework of religion can produce life-changing relationships that gives living waters of faith to all who are dying of thirst. As we find and follow the narrow road of Christ’s teachings, as we examine and adjust the function of our life and ask God to help us bear the good fruits of faith, then the form of our religious beliefs supports the function of our faith. Thanks be to God. |
