From the Moderator
Faith; what is it and how do
we obtain and use it?
Webster’s New World
Dictionary gives a clear-cut
and simple definition:
“unquestioning belief.”
Tyndale Bible Dictionary
states that “FAITH is belief in
that which has no tangible
proof; trust in God. Simple.
How then do we tie faith to
unity? If, as a church, we
profess to believe in God our Creator then we have
that one thing in common. Therefore, we have the
beginnings of unity. How do we grow our unity
through that oneness of faith? “So faith by itself, if it
has no works, is dead.” James 2: 17. We must be
Christ to others through our faith.
One thing that many do not realize is that by sharing our faith we will grow in our faith. Remember that first time you told someone your story of coming to Christ? Not easy or comfortable to say the least. It comes easier after that and in turn, we become stronger in our faith. Go and tell are words to live by. Share whose we are with anyone who will listen. When discussion leads to division, return to the reason you believe in God and how that belief led to your faith. That is where the cornerstone of unity lies.
The Church of the Brethren began through division but has always held to the core of faith in its ideals and teaching. From the Anabaptist beginnings with its core values of Scripture and believers’ baptism over the state church and forced participation we have always met discussion and change head on. The word discernment could be placed side by side with the image of one pausing to allow the Holy Spirit work. In that pause, one’s faith can emerge. Faith and trust in a power greater than ours to give instruction, correction, and guidance in the way we should go.
I must insert a cautionary however here. However, we humans have the power of choice given by God. We often choose our own desires over those indicated by God. Where, then, is our faith? We often demand our own way even when divisiveness is the end result. Unity falls to the wayside. God made us individuals and as such we each have our own characteristics. We do have one thing in common as Christians—our faith, the first brick in the cornerstone of our unity. Let us always use that faith for the common good of the Church and for the common good in our relationships with each other as individuals.
In closing I must say that the church has been moving forward in faith. New avenues of outreach have begun and new leadership can be found in several areas of the denomination. God is alive and well in the church! Let us keep our faith active and our unity will grow stronger. God is good all of the time and all of the time God is good.
In Christ always,
Pastor Ellis
One thing that many do not realize is that by sharing our faith we will grow in our faith. Remember that first time you told someone your story of coming to Christ? Not easy or comfortable to say the least. It comes easier after that and in turn, we become stronger in our faith. Go and tell are words to live by. Share whose we are with anyone who will listen. When discussion leads to division, return to the reason you believe in God and how that belief led to your faith. That is where the cornerstone of unity lies.
The Church of the Brethren began through division but has always held to the core of faith in its ideals and teaching. From the Anabaptist beginnings with its core values of Scripture and believers’ baptism over the state church and forced participation we have always met discussion and change head on. The word discernment could be placed side by side with the image of one pausing to allow the Holy Spirit work. In that pause, one’s faith can emerge. Faith and trust in a power greater than ours to give instruction, correction, and guidance in the way we should go.
I must insert a cautionary however here. However, we humans have the power of choice given by God. We often choose our own desires over those indicated by God. Where, then, is our faith? We often demand our own way even when divisiveness is the end result. Unity falls to the wayside. God made us individuals and as such we each have our own characteristics. We do have one thing in common as Christians—our faith, the first brick in the cornerstone of our unity. Let us always use that faith for the common good of the Church and for the common good in our relationships with each other as individuals.
In closing I must say that the church has been moving forward in faith. New avenues of outreach have begun and new leadership can be found in several areas of the denomination. God is alive and well in the church! Let us keep our faith active and our unity will grow stronger. God is good all of the time and all of the time God is good.
In Christ always,
Pastor Ellis
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