ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 18, 2022
What does it mean to say, “I believe in X” (X represents whatever someone believes)? Someone might say, I believe in Jesus or I believe in the power of love or I believe Christmas decorations should not be in the stores before Halloween. What do you believe? Is belief solely an intellectual exercise, or is there more to it? The Old Testament Prophets were deeply troubled by those who were willing to make all sorts of grand declarations and participate in extravagant festivals, but then lived lives that undermined what they claimed to believe. Jesus referenced those prophets in his ministry as he had some of the same concerns. Remember, John’s Gospel speaks about the eternal Word that existed with God before creation, but this Word needed a body if it was going to be understood. So, according to the Gospel writer John, “the Word took on flesh and lived among us.” The basic convictions and dreams of God were enfleshed in a human being, being made manifest in how he lived and interacted with the world. How do your words take on flesh? Where does someone look at your life and say, “Oh, now I know what s/he believes!” And when they do, is it really what you think you believe?
Keep me going, O God, as I seek to more faithfully align my core convictions with how I live my daily life. I can list my basic beliefs, but through Jesus, I learn that beliefs are best enfleshed in acts of kindness, love and justice. May it be so with me. Amen.
