One day the great
Michelangelo attracted a crowd of spectators as he worked. One child in
particular was fascinated by the sight of chips flying and the sound of mallet
on chisel. The master was shaping a large block of white marble. Unable to
contain her curiosity, the little girl inquired, "What are you making?" He
replied, "There is an angel in there and I must set it free."
Every Christian at their confirmation or conversion is handed a large cold white
marble block called religion. We must then take the mallet in hand and set to
work. Religion is not our goal but we must first start there. Now there are many
names for religion. At times we do call it religion but we often use other words
and images to describe it. Sometimes we call it our faith. Jesus spoke in terms
of the Kingdom of God. We say we are the Church, Christians, or Disciples. There
are many names with varying nuances of meaning but in the end they all describe
the same thing. We are a people of Faith, faith in Christ to be sure, but faith
nonetheless.
We are not a business or institution. We do not sell or produce anything. We
advocate no earthly cause. We serve no worldly authority. We come to a church
building made by men. And to do what? Practice our faith. But we just as well
could have met on a hillside or cave.
Our leader is not here, not so that I can show him to you or offer irrefutable
evidence of his existence. That means faith is all we have. We are born through
faith, live by faith, and die in faith. After my death, then and only then will
I know in full, as the Apostle Paul says, when I see Jesus face to face. Until
then I had better understand this religion thing. Now that sounds pretty
daunting doesn't it? Here's the good News. It's not all that difficult. Religion
is a marble slab and we have to find, like Michelangelo, the angel inside.
Chisel with me a few minutes this morning and let the chips fly, and let's find
the faith that lives inside. Faith: it is the angel of our religion. Faith can
set us free if we know how to live it. How do you practice your faith and not
just religion? Jesus outlined faith in Luke 17. He explained there are three
simple ways to exercise faith. Three small steps make up our journey of faith.
1. First, forgiving those who repent.
2. Second, believing just a little.
3. And third, serving as a duty.
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