II Chronicles 20:20b; Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Hebrews 11:1,2

In a previous sermon (chapter) I discussed the phenomenon of idolatry in our Judeo-Christian tradition, including Jesus and/or the Bible as objects of devotion. I suggested the need for returning to a broader view of what might be meant by "one God" and the avoidance of creating a concept of God as either personality or thing. Today I am suggesting that God's response to human need is not released by the whims of a personal God in an answer to prayer, but through human faith in power provided by God.

The admonition to return to a broader view of God assumes a human inadequacy to fully understand the nature and purposes of God. It also assumes human ability to grow in knowledge and understanding about anything, including God.

This premise is based on the idea that we are always learning, and the more we learn the more we recognize our database of knowledge to be incomplete. In some cases what we have supposed to be true we learn is not true at all. The ancients sincerely believed the world to be flat. They were obviously wrong in a big time manner!

It is becoming increasingly clear that our learning about ourselves and our world is an evolutionary process. There is no reason to suppose that our learning about God and other religious values is not also a process in which we sort and build utilizing accumulated beliefs. This process of gaining dependable knowledge is true in all areas of natural phenomena and human experience.

A biblical example I utilized in speaking of idolatry was the Exodus story of Moses and the Hebrews worshipping and dancing about a golden calf, which they had fashioned from the jewelry brought with them as they escaped their bondage of slavery in Egypt. I also suggested that two examples of contemporary idolatry are the worship of Jesus as God, or as God's Son in a supernatural way, and the Bible as a faddish fetish.

Why have human beings engaged in idolatry in the past, and why do we continue to pursue the tendency? It is much easier to see the idolatry of others, past or present, than it is to see our own. It is easier for us to explain the idolatry of Old Testament Jews on the basis of primitive minds, lack of knowledge about their environment, or even stupidity (doesn't it sound stupid to worship a golden calf!), than it is to apply these same explanations to our own behavior. The question of "why" deserves an answer. Surely the answer involves some functional benefit, which worshipers presume comes from devotion to such objects or persons.

Although there are several reasons why idolatry is not desirable, the major reason is that it distracts us from discovering and growing in knowledge of the "Real God."

But there are also benefits to be found in the worship of idols. Idols, to which power is imparted by the human mind, become a source for the generation of confidence. Mix a bit of imagination with idolatry, along with an occasional coincidental "proof of power," and the idol, in the mind of the worshiper, has power. Confidence in the power of the idol is thus generated.

Confidence is the basis of hope. If the Jews believed the golden calf had power to help them in their distress, they were better off than if they had confidence in nothing. The reason for building the golden calf was two-fold. They had lost confidence in Moses, and they had previously been taught that there was power in worshipping the golden calf. In other words, in the absence of something believed to be better (Moses), they returned to what had once been helpful to them.

The Jews were more likely to succeed with a belief in the golden calf than with no belief at all. Faith is an important source of power, even if it is placed in that which in and of itself has no power.

Is there really any evidence that Jesus or the Bible, in and of themselves, either together or alone, expresses any kind of positive power in the world today? Jesus does not stop war! Jesus does not stop crime! Jesus does not cure disease! Jesus isn't even alive today, in the way that you and I cherish the experience of life!

Close the cover on the Bible and it is absolutely as powerless as a mail order catalogue--perhaps more so. The Bible is only capable of lying where it is placed! It cannot open its own covers! It cannot change or impact human life! It cannot bring about change in inter-human relationships! It cannot reveal God to us! The only way the Bible has power is as power is imparted to it through human knowledge and use.

Both Jesus and the Bible are useless to us except for the faith that we place in them, even if it is an idolatrous faith.

In other words, all idols are without power in and of themselves. The power of any idol only comes from that which is imparted to it psychologically by human beings, and its power can be demonstrated then only through the human being who believes in it.

The power of much religion is not in the object or person, which that religion lifts up as an object of its devotion. This includes the golden calf, Jesus, and the Bible. The power of all religion is found in the faith, which it creates and nurtures, whether the object of devotion associated with that religion is a person on a "thing."

There are at least three things, which must not be overlooked in this discussion of idolatry and faith. First, for those who make their religious faith an integral part of their lives, there is a tendency for them not only to "use" their religious faith, but also to defend it. Because it works for them, they are likely to assume that it ought to work for others also. This fact becomes the basis for fanatical expressions of religion as well as enthusiastic downgrading of other approaches to religion. Such persons are also often enthusiastic in the recruitment of others to their brand of religious faith. This is the reason for the proliferation of cults. This is the way Christianity got its start. The biblical book of Acts is a wonderful example of this phenomenon. The disciples of Jesus were excited about their new religious experience, and were so convinced that it was the only right way that the goal became that of making disciples for Jesus in every part of the world, beginning in Jerusalem, spreading to Judea and Samaria and then "to the uttermost parts of the world."

Second, have you ever wondered about the Christian contention that theirs is the only legitimate and acceptable religion? Christianity has historically placed Judaism, which gave birth to Christianity, in the position of a second rate religion. There is a contemporary movement, which identifies its primary mission to be the conversion "lost Jews" to Christianity. It is the position of this group that all Jews are "lost." For centuries the primary goal of foreign missions for Christians was the conversion of "heathen" to Christianity. Thankfully, most Christians respect Jews and the basis of their faith, and many mission efforts emphasize the meeting of health, educational, and food needs more than the conversion of their minds and spirits to other objects of devotion.

Finally, given the traditional Christian contention that a primary purpose of religious faith is to prepare us for immortality, and to assure that we inherit eternal life, have you ever wondered how so many other people in the world are "all wrong" while only certain groups within Christianity are "all right"? The differences in expression of faith within the Christian family are many and broad. These differences often nurture distrust, disdain, competition, and sometimes conflict.

How can so many different people have so many different approaches to religion and each find their specific approach to be so functional and meaningful to them? Are the adherents of all religions other than Christianity lost? Is God really condemning all Jews, adherents of Islam, all Buddhists, all Hindus, all other religions, and any branch of Christianity other than the one to which we belong, to hell--forever? That is the historical and broad contemporary premise of many Christians. This is precisely what the author of Acts meant when he quotes Peter saying in 4:12, ". . . there is no other name (Jesus) under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Persons of healthy religious faith can take heart in the belief that God is not nearly as narrow minded as many people. The idea that all your Islamic, Jewish, and Catholic neighbors have an approach to religion that does not work for them, and that is dooming them to an eternity in hell, is absurd. There may be a better way for them and there may be a better way for us. That "better way," however, should be the search of each person for him/herself, rather than through the efforts of others who choose to stand in judgment.

Given the smallness of our world, as defined in relation to communication, transportation, and the major changes which occur as a result of these technical achievements, major importance must be placed not just on growth in our understanding of one another but also on our respecting one another in our differences, including differences in religion.

Doesn't it make sense, i.e. isn't it a matter of common sense, to assume that millions of people are not wrong in their assumption that their specific approach to religious faith works for them? Are persons of all other religions stupid and only imagining the benefits, which they perceive from their faith? If one wishes to contribute to a divided world in conflict, then one can afford to respond affirmatively to that question. If one wishes to contribute to a world that takes peace and the matter of loving our neighbor seriously, then it is essential that we deviate from out past religious attitudes and behavior and consider some other options.

Let's suppose that God is not proud about the name given to him/her. Let's suppose that the most important language to God is not English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, German, or any other language that uses any kind of alphabet, but that the language which communicates with God is that of behavior and attitude, i.e. the language of the heart. Let's suppose that the very best of our concepts of God falls far short, and that God doesn't even care about that.

Let's suppose that the reason so many different approaches to religion seem to work for so many different people is because the power of religion is not found in the objects of religious devotion, but in the faith generated by that devotion! If we can suppose that this is true, then the umbrella of religion is broadened to include a wide variety of religious beliefs. No longer can the finger of humanity be pointed at Christians, or others of a religious faith, which practices arrogance in its attitude toward others, as conveying a message of division and disdain! Someone has said, "He drew a circle that shut me out, a heretic, rebel, a thing to flout, but love and I had the wit to win--we drew a circle that took him in!"

It is the power of faith, regardless of the object(s) of devotion, which generates that faith, which can become the circle that takes others in. Of course there must be certain commonalities to make this possible. In the broadest sense I suggest only three: (1) Reverence for our Source and Sustainer, whatever name we use; (2) Respect for creation which is our environmental home; (3) Functional, behavioral love for one another which is demonstrated in mutual respect and concern.

If we are to make such a broad assumption, then it behooves us to examine reality and see if there is any imperical evidence to support this assumption, i.e. that the power of religion is in the faith and not in the objects of devotion.

First, let's examine our own tradition. Keep in mind that at least the first half of our tradition was before Jesus. That is to say that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and King David are as much in the Christian tradition as they are in the Jewish tradition. In the same way that we appreciate the Ten Commandments as being a very important and basic foundation on which to build an experience and expression of religious faith, we appreciate Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and King David as forefathers in our religious tradition who, because of their faith, dreamed a dream and kept it alive. We would not presume to conceive of God exactly as they did. We would not view the Ten Commandments as being sufficient to determine all matters of right and wrong in our day.

These heroes in our tradition, listed along with others in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, had a faith that worked well for them in their lives at that point in human development. They were part of an early process, which continues to this day. They and their descendants were part of that process until Jesus made an "on course adjustment." Because of the nature of things involving continual change, "on course adjustments" are necessary in a wide variety of things. Seasons come and go but they change. The sun rises and sets but at different times throughout the year. Human experience changes in relation to changes in human beings, the human family, and the environment in which human life occurs.

Jesus believed it was important for an adjustment to be made in the application of the law. It was one thing, for example, for the law to state "thou shalt not covet your neighbors house, wife, manservant maidservant, ox, ass or anything that is your neighbors." As customs change, values also change. Slavery is now out, so it is not difficult for us not to covet our neighbor's man or maidservant. Mules and oxen have less value and are valuable for different reasons now than they were then, so coveting those animals is not a problem either. But what does a blanket application of "thou shalt not covet" do to capitalism and the free enterprise system?

The point is that what has worked well in the past, either as admonitional guidelines or as absolute commands, may or may not fit the same way today as it did a few centuries ago. Regardless of need for "in course adjustments," however, the importance and power of faith remains the same.

Faith enabled Abraham to have the courage to move away from that with which he was familiar. Faith enabled Jacob to believe that if his family went to Egypt to "wait out" the famine, one day they would return to their homeland. Faith enabled Moses to believe that if he could get the Hebrews out of Egypt, he could also get them back home in the promised land. Faith that they were God's chosen people enabled the Hebrew people to survive captivity, occupation by other nations, have no homeland anyplace in the world, and the holocaust.

When Jesus sought to initiate a course correction, he was taking a major risk and he knew it. People do not change religious ideas quickly or easily. Political leaders, whether in religious or government, do not give up power easily. This is especially true when government and religion are combined. Jesus was a threat to the status quo in relation to a belief system. Jesus was a threat to the power of the religious leaders in his tradition. The possible consequence of such a threat was death, and he knew it.

It was faith, which empowered Jesus, even though he knew the dangers, but felt compelled to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. It was faith, which gave him strength not to turn against his principles in effort to save his life. It was faith, which enabled him to face death on the cross, believing that the good work he had started would continue.

We are challenged, as we move out of one century into the next, to nurture, develop, and express our Christian faith in ways that are a bit different from that of our forefathers in the tradition, including Jesus. In other words, in the application of our faith to life, a course correction is needed if we are to permit our faith to express itself with maximum power for good for us and for others.

We need also to examine what we have learned from experience and observation. We have learned, for example, that a positive attitude, i.e. an attitude that is dominated by positive expectation, encourages much more happiness in life than does a pessimistic attitude. When we are positive and hopeful, we enjoy life much more than when we are pessimistic and doubtful. When we are positive and hopeful, the contribution, which we give to others through our association with them is one of joy and encouragement.

Growth in the art of medical science and health care has taught us the value of a positive attitude. The fact that patients who are positive and expectant recover from surgery and illness can now be scientifically supported. The nurturing of a positive attitude is now part of the process in nurturing health.

We have discovered the value of positive support from others, and now there exists a host of such groups designed to help persons get well. A few years ago the best known and primary support group and twelve-step program was Alcoholic Anonymous. Today there are a host of such programs, including grief groups, groups for the treatment of a variety of addictions, and groups that respond to loneliness and a host of other challenges to positive and productive living.

Faith, by its very nature, nurtures a positive attitude. Faith, by its very nature, suggests that something positive can come from any experience. There are those who believe that everything happens for a reason. This is a helpless and fateful view of life, which needs to be discredited. Many things happen as a result of human foolishness or ignorance. There is no Master Mind or Super Power that wills misfortune on any of us at any time. God does not control our lives as many would like to believe.

This is not to say that good cannot come from bad experiences. In fact, the single most important aspect of the beginning of Christianity was the fact that these broken, disillusioned, and frightened disciples found a way to make something good come from a terrible tragedy. The idea that God willed the death of Jesus is and was pure nonsense. The fact that both Jesus and the disciples were able to make good come from a tragedy which came about as a result of an expression of human depravity and meanness, does not mean that this was God's plan. It does demonstrate in a powerful way, however, that faith provides the power which enables us to recover from major "jolts" that life sometimes brings, and give us an opportunity to create positive value from negative and tragic experiences of life.

The disciples could have cuddled their pain individually and/or collectively, and the world would soon have swallowed up the tragedy as the pond swallows the ripples created from a rock tossed onto its surface. Instead, because of their faith that what Jesus had started was too good to let die with him, a new religion was started, and the world has not been the same.

The fact of faith as a source of power is evident from a multitude of examples, which are both historical and contemporary. But faith in what? The answer most often given to this question is probably "God." Does this mean that God is in control of everything? No! Does this mean that if we find ways to appease or please God, as is taught by most religions, God will work things out for us? This is a common perception and is a primary reason why many choose to rely on prayer as a force to control life. The facts are that common prayer often lets us down. We pray for our children's safety, and they are maimed or killed in unnecessary accidents, which often involve the use of alcohol. We pray to be spared from disease, and we become a cancer patient. A multitude of prayers are never answered--probably more go unanswered than are answered. Of course we devise ways of rationalization such as sometimes God answers no, but such rationalizations do not change the fact of unanswered prayer.

Jesus taught the importance of faith in relation to both prayer and life. Prayer should not be viewed as a means of controlling the object of our devotion, i.e. God. What should be noted, however, is that faith seems to be a channel through which God works as we seek all possible resources of power.

An interesting thing about faith is that it demonstrates power, regardless of what/who it is in which faith is placed. Faith, by its very nature, appears to incorporate power as part of its essence. Could that be the reason why a variety of approaches to religion work for those who embrace them with faith? I am suggesting that it is. Faith is the reason a variety of religions "work" for their adherents. A major channel through which God works is faith, regardless of the title given to God, or the group to which we profess membership. There is power in faith. The power of religion is in faith, not in the object of our faith.

There is a logical and reasonable conclusion to this argument. Faith in a "golden calf" is better than no faith at all. A most desirable goal in life is the placement of faith in that which does have power. Doesn't it make sense to suppose that if faith has power, even though it is placed in something that is powerless, the power of faith is amplified even more when it is placed in that which does have power?

A practical application of this idea can be found in our relationship with a medical doctor or any other professional. Some healing good can be found in treatment by a doctor who is inept if we believe in that doctor. The most healing good is likely to come from treatment by a doctor who is knowledgeable and skilled.

Some powerful good can come from faith in a God, which can be categorized as an idol. The most powerful good will come from a God who/which in and of himself demonstrates creative and remedial power.

The goal of the best approach to religion should be that of nurturing a growing belief in God as we witness and experience the work of God in our world in our time. Such a view combines the power of human faith and the observable power of that which is the object of devotion, i.e. our best understanding of God at any given time in the process of our personal or human development.

Click here for sermon in Word document format. (32.5kb)