Faith and Reason

Galatians 3:2-3 “I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?”

This weekend is the Faith and Reason Conference that I’ve been working with my friends and family to put together for almost a year.  The weather here at Silver Bay is perfect, 70s during the day, 40s at night.  Clear blue skies.  Full moon tomorrow night.  Leaves are nearing their peak color.  We are expecting about 60 people, with folks coming in from Florida, Minneapolis, Detroit, Mississippi.  Four friends drove up from St Luke’s, which means so much to me.  Sean, my fellow father-in-law, brought his Bible group, accounting for nearly half our number.  So many blessings!

I was thinking of the sheer temerity it takes for me to think I have any business standing in front of people and saying everything they’ve learned about the Genesis Creation Account is wrong and that I know the right answer.  I have no religious training, never been to seminary school (and no interest in it).  No official position in any church.  I’m just a guy with a blog and a lot of free time.  You see why I wrote last week about pride being my greatest weakness.  

But you also see that, with the urging and help of my friend Chris here at Silver Bay, and the work and guidance of my brother-in-law Sean, we have an amazing group of people gathering here this weekend.  I pray and believe that God blesses everyone here to grow closer to Him this weekend.  And if I have no basis to stand in front of all these people, neither do I have any merit to stand in front of Him when my time comes.  All I can do is try to do the work He has given me to do in the time I have been given here.  I know He has blessed me greatly.  I am uncomfortable when I read the parable of the Talents.  I have been given so much.  Not just in wealth, but in health, in time, with a loving family, a wonderful wife and children, growing up in a faith-filled tradition.  What am I doing with my Talents?  Is it enough?  No, it could never be enough.  And yes.  What else can I do?

I think I need to spend a lot of time unpacking what I learned and experienced here this weekend.  So many mind-blowing sessions.  Steve Law was amazing.  “Stand firm and see the Yeshua of the Lord”.  “Yeshua” being the Hebrew word for “salvation”.  He makes a convincing case for a Big M Miracle at the shores of the Red Sea, for a God who we seem afraid to say is strong enough to save in that way.  Edie MacPherson’s session on making disciples through practicing being a disciple was full of practical insights on daily living in Christ.  Chris White’s battle with spiritual forces and his ministry to bring tens of thousands of Pakistanis to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit is inspirational and frightening!  And Harvey Carey challenged me that we cannot reason our way to salvation.  We cannot, by our own strength, intelligence, wisdom or power, forgive or earn forgiveness.  

I spent a lot of time last night thinking about the work that went into putting this conference on, the culmination of nearly a year’s work, plus the years and years of writing and searching and researching God’s Word and there was a moment of “I did it.  Now what?”  And then Harvey’s sermon.  And this verse in Galatians that I’ve read dozens of times and fell to today’s readings.  I am that foolish Galatian.  It’s always all been about Him, the work of the Spirit.  

I’ll end with another section from Paul, from Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”