Private and Public Faith

So my brother got confirmed today, and his proclamation of Christianity reminded me of the intriguing dynamics involved with the Christian faith. In one aspect, being Christian is a very personal matter. Faith is about having a personal interaction, dependence, and relationship with God. Every Christian has their unique testimony and their unique encounters with this very personal Jesus. In fact, I would go as far as to say that every Christian has their own unique view on who exactly God is.

However, as my brother went before the entire congregation proclaiming his faith along with the eight other candidates, God reminded me of the very communal nature of Christianity. Our faith is not only about understanding God in a very deep and personal way, but also about connecting with an extensive and immense community of believers. You see, my bother was not only affirming a profound faith in a God who has personally touched him and making a commitment to pursue Jesus wholeheartedly, he was also proclaiming his commitment to the community. That is one unique and mysterious aspect of this Christian faith, the notion of unity through diversity, the fact that people with different cultures and backgrounds are unified with a common vision, hope, and the fact that God has encountered their lives in a profound way. Like the parable of the lost sheep, God not only draws us to himself, he also draws the sheep back among the other 99. When we under go these types of public declarations, we enter into a serious contract and commitment to the faith we hold and the community we are a part of.

This public ceremony is a two way exchange of the person publicly committing to God and God publicly committing to this person. The community also becomes unified with this new member. The community now has the responsibility to encourage, love, and rebuke in order to help this member fulfill his/her commitments.

I believe that our words carry much weight and to violate such public and life-altering promises and vows is not only a violation of our credibility but a mark on a God who always remains faithful to his words. Christianity, in my opinion, has a large basis on notion of keeping one's word. We constantly find mentions of promises, covenants, and contracts throughout God's interaction with mankind. The major foundation of the church sits on the solid foundation of God's infallible words. If God's words were not reliable, then we would not really have anything else. So as we live out our commitments to God, we should not forget our responsibilities to God and our obligations to the community.