Faith and Substance

What is it that you believe?

We have a Constitution that our founders composed to express the basis of our New World belief system. 

Luther nailed 95 theses to the door of the church because he believed the church was wrong.

In America, one thing we believe passionately is the freedom of religious expression.

I grew up like many kids in the States. Small suburban house. All-American town. Baseball in the Summer. Football in the Fall. But most of all... church on Sundays. Every Sunday. And most Wednesday nights. And a few other days of the week for good measure.

It was through all these experiences that my beliefs were shaped and my character was molded. 

Only problem is, they were shaped and fitted around the pattern of someone else's belief system, not mine. And I didn't realize this until I was in my mid-twenties and in the darkest place my soul had ever trod. So, when I tried to put the same shell of beliefs around my own skeleton it didn't fit. It looked silly really. Like a kid playing dress-up in daddy's clothes.

And that's cute when you're little but it's quite strange when you're a grown man.

Now, I haven't figured it all out but there were some things that I had to stare in the mouth and figure out for myself. Things that I'd held true all my life that I couldn't blindly accept any longer. I either had to completely dismiss them or decide what I believed and stand firm in them.

This, I think, is what what Hebrews 11 is telling us from the beginning. Faith has substance. At it's core it is the assurance of hope. But unlike our beliefs which we wrap around us like clothing, our faith eminates from the core of hope.

Everything begins with Hope. 

Hope that we will be rescued.

Hope that there is good remaining in the world.

Hope that life is meant for more than meaningless pursuits.

Hope that we will be loved.

We must have hope, for without it, our frame in missing and our faith (and thereby, our beliefs) are insubstantial. 

Where is your hope?

Have you lost faith? Does it feel like it's fading away?

Do your beliefs fit your frame?

What would you find if you took the time to peel away the layers of your belief system and investigate the foundation?

It's okay to question. It's okay to doubt. And it's okay to feel disappointed and angry.

It's not okay to say you believe something and not understand why.

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