Kicking Sand

What are our foundations? Jesus said to build on a rock lest the water wash the sand away and of life collapses all around us. If we are to have a strong and lasting relationship with God and a meaningful relationship with other believers it must be based on something sure; something strong.

Sandy Foundation #1: The more we do the more we are accepted. The church is built on doing and getting people to do stuff. The more you are involved and thus prove your worth, the more you are accepted, because we are told that by our fruits we will be known. But it is a lie to say that a plethora of church activity is the evidence of godly fruit. Give me a person who loves their family, serves the poor, reaches out to their neighbors and I will show you someone who is building on solid ground.

Sandy Foundation #2: The more we know the more secure our salvation. If I have learned anything over the years it is that the more I learn the less I am sure about anything. That is not to say that there isn't absolute truth, but I must be absolutely sure that the truth that I preach is the Word of God. That is why the Scripture says there is more judgment on those who teach. 

Sandy Foundation #3: Doctrine is the same thing as truth. Any organized statement of faith is doctrine, so I am not saying that doctrine itself is bad. There is a difference, however, between clear and unattestable statements of faith and periferial collections of scriptures and ideas formulated into a coherent doctrine, but can be equally refuted with other collections of scripture and conjecture. When we venture far from the clear word of the gospel we must hold many things loosely until The Lord returns.

Sandy Foundation #4: Experience trumps truth. Pain blurs God's goodness. Desire clouds God's holiness. Anger hides God's love. Jealousy shrouds God's acceptance. Prejudice blinds God's inclusion. Only trusting in God's word can we navigate through the difficult roller coaster of experience. When experience trumps God's truth the whole house will crumble.

So what is our foundation? The Apostle and prophets. Who is the cornerstone? Our savior Jesus Christ. They are our examples and truth. Jesus has secured our place in the Household of God and has given us instructions on how to love him and and those in the family. We rest in his saving grace and are released to extend grace to others. 

The greatest, oldest, and newest command is to love one another. We are to wage peace not war, love not hate, justice not injustice, forgiveness not judgement, and hope not regret. That is harder than it sounds because the sand keeps getting in our eyes. I'm just saying...

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone," Eph. 2:19-20