JR. Forasteros - April 25, 2021
On Deconstructing Faith
When we start to question foundational aspects of our faith, it feels scary. When others begin to question, we feel threatened. But "deconstruction," as this process has become known, is a vital part of a healthy, vibrant faith. It's a process that's not predictable and not quick. But Paul's nearly two decades between conversion and mission work offer a window into the good that comes when we trust that God is not only not threatened by questions, but working with us to have a deeper and stronger faith than ever.
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I recently joined the Arts & Humanities Commission for the City of Rowlett. There are seven of us on the commission, and when we all introduced ourselves at our first meeting, of course I told them I pastor Catalyst church here in Rowlett. A couple of meetings later, one of the other members, Tamra, told me before the meeting that she had found our YouTube channel and watched a few of our gatherings. She said some kind words about my preaching and I thanked her.
But then, a couple of months ago, when I walked into our meeting, she jumped up from her chair and said, “JR. you have the best church.” I agreed with her, of course, but I had no idea what triggered this reaction. I told her as much and she said, “My brother and I volunteer at Life Message, and some people from your church serve there with us.”
It turned out she was talking about one of our C-Groups, the Booth C-Group, that meets on Wednesdays and serves at Life Message once a month. “They are the nicest, kindest people. Of everyone we serve with, they are the best!”
I don’t disagree. That exchange was one of my prouder moments since I’ve pastored here at Catalyst, in large part because this wasn’t a one-time encounter. Tamra’s impression of Catalyst – and by extension, of Jesus through Catalyst – came as the result of repeated, continual and faithful service. Our C-Group, through their service, became pictures of Jesus.
Serving is a pathway by which we come to know God better. It’s true that when we serve, those we serve come to know God better. But it’s also true that when we serve, we get to know God better.
That’s because when we serve, we’re imitating God.
