Faith Beyond The Formulaic

In itself there is nothing wrong with forms and routine.

We are conditioned towards them even through things like day following night, winter and then summer and so on.  There are rhythms of life that rightly help us determine what is going on.

There is a problem, however, when the form becomes a formula and the formula becomes formulaic, especially when it comes to areas of faith.

Jesus Christ may very well be the same yesterday, today and forever, but that shouldn’t mean our understanding of Him and how He operates remains the same in such a static fashion.  After all Jesus is the very expression of God and considering that should make us aware that there is always so much to know about He who never changes.  That in itself should mean an ever changing knowledge of Him.  A relationship always growing as we continue to grow in Him and be conformed to His image.

Yet the challenge is that we are used to forms and systems that explain things to a degree of comfort that doesn’t challenge us any further.

What do I mean?  Well from my Christian background, I could almost outline a surefire formula that would satisfy regular attendees that the ‘Spirit moved’ in the gathered service.  The right songs with the right feel, followed by a well paced speech invoking familiar scriptures and church phrases taking the listeners on an emotional rollercoaster featuring laughter and the serious parts, inserting a song or a chorus here and there to keep people awake wrapped up with a slow emotional song that conjures the audience to respond to what they’ve heard and voila the Spirit has moved.  People will react with shouts and shrieks of hallelujah, tears will flow, an emotional prayer will be said, and we’ll go home saying how God moved, but conveniently forgetting what God directed us to do while He was moving.

A simplification? Sure.  A caricature? Perhaps.  Yet there is enough in the outline for people to recognise as part of their form, their ritual of their faith life.

I believe God can move in the emotions, but it is important to be clear on what is of God and what is merely hype.  What is the real encounter with the divine in the company of others, and what is a well-primed pick-me-up that acts more like spiritual fizzy drinks – tickling the tastebuds, but offering no substance to quench the thirst.

It is intriguing that as a marriage relationship changes and grows over time to appreciate elements in the person and the partner, so a relationship with Jesus likewise acknowledges change.  It acknowledges that God is not limited to our way of doing church, our way of doing things as a whole.  It is not limited to that at all.  there are great areas to discover, and involves all of life.

With that growing realisation, it continues to challenge our faith beyond the formulaic.  It helps us to be discerning and yet all the more eager to see Jesus in the situation.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd