You could hardly be in any conversation that engages the topics of faith and current culture without deconstruction coming up somewhere in the conversation. Religious deconstruction is the critical process of reexamining, questioning, and dismantling inherited religious beliefs, doctrines, and institutional practices. It’s a common topic in spiritual conversations.
Thinking of this made me think of something to confess. 😊 I have been an American all my life, but I don’t fully know our national anthem. Now, if I am in a crowd everyone would think I know it. I can pass for being knowledgeable in a group. But I don’t really have a true handle on it. I miss some of the words, I am fuzzy and inaccurate on parts. I never sat down and intentionally learned it. I know what I know that makes me “passable” in a crowd only by being in a crowd, hearing it repeatedly. I certainly don’t know it well enough to sing alone or teach it to anyone else.
That is what I have found with many people and their faith. People mostly develop their faith in a crowd, hearing bits and pieces. At best it is fragile; they are unlikely to be able to stand alone or share accurately with others. However, a true, accurate understanding of Jesus is vital to true success and satisfaction spiritually.
We just finished a series called “Who Is Jesus?” He is foundational and central to everything in this life, and to living the Christian life. But most people have never made a serious investigation of who He really is.
It might surprise you that Jesus is not really a Bible story. Although the Bible does tell His story, He is a historical figure who made incredible claims about who He was. He backed those up by what He did. His life and ministry were documented by people in His day, eyewitnesses to His life.
Everything – I mean everything – rises and falls on the Person of Jesus. The question for many is this: “Do you know about Him, or do you know Him?”
Christianity is not faith in faith – it is faith in evidence. That evidence is a person. His name is Jesus.
If you are looking for stability and hope for the present and the future, you won’t find it in any other place but Jesus.
If you haven’t listened to “Who Is Jesus?” I encourage you to go to our website and listen. Listen for your own information and help and perhaps share it with others who need to know who Jesus is.
Knowing is not enough, however. You must respond to His invitation. You might find it inconvenient to accept His invitation to follow Him, but if you discover who Jesus is, your refusal will never be because He is not who He claims to be. He is forever. It will be because of what He ultimately requires of us to follow Him. But it’s the wisest, most worthwhile decision you will ever make.