“When the foundations are being destroyed,
what
can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3
Satan is alive and well and working hard on planet Earth. In the western world Christian values are being challenged all the time. Crime is on the increase. Sexual mores are being challenged and changed. Cultural values based upon Biblical principles are being undermined constantly. The church no longer holds a position of a central part of a community, with the office of pastor or minister no longer held in public esteem.
Within the church we are also under attack. Satan loves to destroy congregations through divisions, false doctrine, conformity to the world around them, apathy and religious charlatans, to name a few factors.
Anyone who builds a house knows that a key factor in planning must include a close inspection of the land on which it is to be built. Is the land stable? What is the soil profile? Is there bedrock? The most lavish of décor is useless against cyclones or erosion. In my home state of Queensland traditional houses – “Queenslanders” were built using tree trunks to lift the home from the ground. Many of these homes were refitted with concrete or steel stumps after a few decades as the original stumps deteriorated or sank into the earth. Sometimes in Australia a painted timber surface can look fine, but poke your finger through the paint and you may find the whole of the wood underneath rotten and eaten out by white ants. If the foundations are shaky the whole house is endangered.
Jesus knew this when He told the parable of the wise and foolish builders, recorded in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 7, verses 24-27:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
So what are the foundations of the Christian faith? Too many people are deterred by religious practices without knowing what Christianity is all about.
In essence, Christianity is God revealed through Jesus Christ. It is Jesus and only Jesus who connects us to God. We cannot meet Him through our own efforts or works. What is written in the Bible explains the foundations of Christianity. It has been said that the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, points to God through Jesus Christ. He is the gospel. He is the foundation. This may be difficult for non-Christians to understand. A course such as Alpha can explain the basics of the gospel and how the old and new testaments of the Bible come together in the person of Christ. A Bible with commentaries will explain the text more fully. Bible studies, of which there are plenty online, are also helpful to grow in knowledge and understanding. Fellowship with other believers in a church is a principle of Christianity too. We were not meant to live this live alone.
Christian beliefs have been the basis of conduct in many parts of the world for centuries. Consider the ten commandments:
(in a nutshell)
1. There is only one God. Have no other gods but God.
2. Don’t make any images or idols and bow down and worship them.
3. Treat God’s name with respect and reverence and never use it casually or as a swear word.
4. Remember the Sabbath – reserve the seventh day each week (generally accepted as Sunday) as a day of rest and attention to God.
5. Honour your father and mother. They created you and gave you life.
6. Do not murder.
7. Don’t commit adultery. Be faithful to your marriage vows.
8. Don’t steal.
9. Don’t tell lies. Be honest.
10. Don’t be envious of anything that someone else has.
To these commandments Jesus added a further one, recorded in John’s gospel, chapter 13, verse 34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Even many people who don’t identify as Christians would adhere to many of these principles. Biblical ethics form the basis of Western law and many charities. But one doesn’t have to look further than the nightly news to see the results of living without Christ- violence, theft, immorality, corruption, addictions, lack of respect for the lives and property of others, and numerous other sins that destroy individuals and the society in which they live. This world is in desperate need of Christ.
Therefore we need to need to preserve and uphold the foundations of our faith. How do we do this?
· Knowing God – by studying His word.
· Prayer- for God to reveal Himself through Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, through His word, the Bible and through our life experiences.
· Prayers of intercession for God’s church and for other people.
· Prayers for revival in the world.
· Fellowship with other Christians in a church community where we can impact the world corporately and where we can learn and build each other up for God’s kingdom purposes.
· Living out our faith in whatever spheres of life God has called us to – in our families, workplaces, areas of study, neighbourhoods, social groups and every area of our lives. Living out our Christian ministries whether it be in the areas of preaching, teaching, missionaries, prayer warriors, practical helpers, counsellors, musicians and artisans and many more.
· As we learn, training and teaching others about God.
Most importantly, we are to persevere. We are to resist sin and temptation. We are to hold on to Jesus throughout this earthly life. God gives us life and the best life we can possibly live is the one lived in fellowship with God through Jesus Christ.
“.. let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12: 1,2)
