Sermonette: Walking the walk

Christians like to talk a good game. We love to brag about how this is a Christian nation. We champion conservative causes. We claim victories when abortion laws get passed. We’re proud of how in North Dakota, Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings are still kept mostly clear for church activities. Let’s be honest, we consider New Rockford to be a by-and-large Christian community, don’t we? I suppose I can’t speak for the world, but I can say from my life experiences, Midwestern Christians have a lot of pride. And the root of that confidence is faith. Faith is the core of Christianity and it’s something we assume we have a bunch of. Or at least ‘enough’ of it.

However, here is the truth.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1st Peter 1:6-7

True faith is only revealed through trials. When things are smooth sailing, there is no telling how much faith we do or don’t have. It’s laid bare when everything else is taken away. In other words, what makes Christians and churches valuable is something that is only seen in struggles.

I’m not trying to belittle or insult churches or our midwestern confidence in our faith. I just want to point out that it’s time to walk the walk. This is our chance to show the faith we claim to have. As our nation goes through a crisis, between the virus and the economic damage, things are rough and likely to get rougher. Will we be consumed by the current difficulties like paper in a fire? Or, will this be our opportunity to show the faith that was always there? To be purified and gain value. Can we use this time to show how serious we are about our love of our savior? When the government requests that we stop meeting, can we show how serious we are about gathering through our dedication to distance fellowship and ingenuity?

We’ve talked the talk. Can we walk the walk?