being faithful is weird

Being faithful is weird. As a person trying to be faithful, I can attest to this honestly. It is weird because I am committed to a certain way of seeing and understanding life.  It is a way that has historical longevity.  But it is also a little absurd.  I am uncertain about these things.  Contrary to a lot of evidence, some of us believe in an invisible power who is responsible for everything. Being faithful to God means to recognize God's presence in the world. In the face of serious doubts.  

It is not the same as one who acknowledges God's existence.You can believe in God and not notice that God is here.  

Some of us claim that this invisible power, God, is personally knowable. This thought is embedded in the ancient writings of a near middle easterno nomadic tribal group called the Hebrews.  This writing became the bible.  It claims that:

God is not far away or inaccessible to you. God is near. God sees and hears you at all times. God is with you right now.  

God also speaks.  This is a biblical innovation by the Jewish people. God speaks to people; individuals and groups.

God has spoken in ages past through the ancient prophets. Now God speaks to us through His Son, Jesus.

Jesus of Nazareth is God's message to the world. In the New Testament, Jesus' story is shared with the world.

We can access God, the source and meaning of life, through Jesus. This biblical innovation came from the Jews in first century Palestine, who long awaited a Messiah: a Savior and King.  They got one.  And most did not recognize him.  But some did.  They became known as disciples of Jesus, followers of the way, or Christians.

Christians are people who have come to see and know God through Jesus, called the Christ.According to them, Jesus was anointed as God's Son, was a prophet powerful in word and deed, was betrayed, arrested, and crucified under Pontius Pilate; he died and was buried.  On the third day Jesus was raised from the dead as a sign of God's power and promise to renew and restore a decaying world. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.

For forty days Jesus appeared to his devoted followers. Then, he left. He said he was going to the Father. He said he would send an advocate, a helper, a spiritual guide. And the result was a gathering of inspired servants sent out to share His compassion, mercy, and grace with the world. He was gone and they were left behind. Over 2,000 years have past since the time of Jesus.

No matter, in his place the church has been at work. Doing and undoing much of what he first taught and did.

Church is people.  And people have been known to get it wrong at least as often as they get it right. Don't ge tme started about the crusades, various church sponsored genocides, abuses of power and the like.Church has both caused and alleviated suffering. At its best it has practiced the latter.  

Church is, after all people.  People are a beautiful mess.  Flawed, wounded, abusive, abused, broken, vital, creative, inspiring, lost, dying.  We are so many other things, too.  But we are not GOD.  Sometimes  we get that wrong, too. God's dream for the world involves people. Without people, there is no dream. As a husband needs a wife, a parent needs a child, a king needs subjects to rule, God needs people.  The biblical God, at least, needs people.  

Church is a people who are coming to trust and believe that God is in Jesus Christ and that we are called to follow His way. Church is people who believe that His way is good in every place and time. Not my way, Jesus' way.  So what is this way? 

His way includes:

Prayer and Meditation; 

Keeping Sabbath; 

Nonviolent Resistance to oppressive and unjust rule (peace-making); 

Feeding hungry people;

Forgiving sins;

Healing bodies;

Opposing religious authorities;

Telling stories;

Walking;

Weeping;

Identifying with women, children, and other vulnerable people;

Dining with whores, thieves, and drunks;

fishing;

cooking breakfast on the beach;

resting;

suffering;

Inviting others to come along.

Being faithful is weird.