Reflections on Faith and culture

Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-16

I originally went on this trip to Venezuela for my own self-absorbed purposes.  I wasn’t really sure what I might learn.  I thought I would learn something about Latino culture, meet some nice people, learn how to be in ministry with people different than myself, travel, and get class credit.  I don’t know about you but I often see God as “other worldly.”  I believe all the Sunday school answers.  Prior to this trip my idea of faith was believing that God exists, Jesus lived and died for our sins, rose from the dead and that the Holy Spirit is present- gently guiding, encouraging us to do what is right but all the while thinking I was still in control. Never really expecting modern day miracles, much less actively asking for them to occur.

When I see the “God is my co-pilot” bumper stickers I often laugh and think to myself- If God is the co-pilot you are in the wrong seat my friend.  But, if I am honest, I actually live my life more like the bumper sticker than I want to admit.  Yes, God is in my life, but I still get to make all the decisions.  God is just along for the ride.  From time to time, when life hits turbulence I might throw up my hands and ask God to take control, but it is never for long.  As soon as I stop panicking and gain my confidence I take the controls back.  I might throw God a quick “thank you Lord for handling that little problem for me- I’ll take it from here.” 

I never realized before how arrogant my thoughts were and how much I had to learn; how little I knew about God, about my relationship with Jesus Christ and how the Holy Spirit is active in this world.    

I looked at the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the early Christians and I thought- Oh, that must have been hard on them.  But, it is so far from my reality that I honestly struggle to relate.  Even when I see miracles and God’s provision in my life and the life of those around me, I often dismiss it as chance, giving God only perfunctory credit for answering my half-hearted prayers.  My time in Venezuela helped me see, helped me understand how these stories still apply today.  God really does provide.  God really does answer prayers.  God really is active and alive in this life.  Not just in the past and not just in some distant future, but now.  I just have to pay attention long enough to notice.

As I read the scripture for today.  It seemed to come alive in the lives of the people I met in Venezuela.  While there I was able to meet people and hear stories of what life is like in that country.  I repeatedly heard stories and saw dramatizations of crime, danger, poverty, corruption and hope. 

I realize that hope may seem like an odd word to include in this list but despite all the negative energy and circumstances that surround these resilient people, there remains hope and faith in God to lead them to a new and better life.  They believe without a doubt that this is the new City of God.

Venezuela is a beautiful country abounding in natural resources and potential for greatness.  The land is rich with fertile soil, petroleum products and minerals with a beautiful and varied landscape.  Yet, it regularly has shortages of food, water, paper products, and other basic necessities of life.  The people have become so accustomed to life like this that it is a normal to be surrounded by crime, bribery, and manipulation. Homes and businesses alike are walled and gated to provide some level of security.  People try their best to travel in groups and stay on well-traveled paths for safety. 

And yet, while this is their reality, the people we met continue to have hope.  Most everyone we encountered, including people outside the church were friendly, happy and genuinely nice people.  Although they don’t have much, they share what they do have, greet you with a warm smile and often a kiss on the cheek.  They are industrious, kind, hospitable and full of hope and love. 

My first morning there, my Venezuelan roommates surprised me with an orange in my bed and fresh made hot tea.  They knew I was in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by an unfamiliar language so they shared their love for Christ and me through hospitality.  Instead of giving up and succumbing to the negativity of their environment, isolating themselves from this stranger, they chose hope.

Like Abraham, they desire a country built on faith whose architect and builder is God- not government, crime and corruption.  While the country of Venezuela is culturally catholic many are not practicing and according to some I met, witchcraft is still very common.  But, the people have chosen not to give up on God and the church but to seek a better way.  The Methodist church in Venezuela is less than 20 years old and has fewer than 30 churches.  Yet, while they are few in number, they know their trust lies not in themselves but on God who is greater than any government and greater than any church. 

They turn to stories like that of Abraham and see themselves.  They go out in faith, worshiping and praising our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ sharing the Good News of salvation not just in the eternal life but in this life.  While they could easily look at their surroundings and feel that their land is barren, they see the birth of each new Christian, and each new church as a seed of their faithfulness. 

The Sunday we were in Venezuela I was privileged to attend worship at the largest Methodist Church in Venezuela, Resurrection Church in Barquisimeto.  They have an average of 700 in attendance each week and the speaker that day was a high level government official who was stepping down to go into the ministry.  He spoke with a prophetic voice of how God, not the government, was in control, reliable and active.  He called out the government for not keeping promises to provide and encouraged people to understand that the love of Christ never fails and God never breaks promises.  Christ is the face of hope in a sea of corruption and disorganized government.

 The other church I was privileged to attend was a small 50 member church which although small, is in the process of building an orphanage.  They find hope in living in the Kingdom of God in the here and now.  Not waiting on an eternal peace which is promised to all those who believe but also the understanding that God is calling us to meet the needs of our community, bringing the Kingdom to life now.  There is a complete trust in the promises of God not just in the next life but in this life. 

God may have started this faith with one old man and one barren woman but together they had one son and the seed of promise was planted.  Like Abraham and Isaac, they know they may not see the full fruits of this New Jerusalem for which they ardently pray but they have assurance in the Promise of Christ.  Each time faith is shared, each time someone new comes to know Christ, each time a seed of hope in Christ is planted they glimpse the future God has promised them. And they have complete faith and trust that this will come to fruition. 

This sense of hope was felt deeply in their prayers.  Their prayers and preaching were emotional and heart felt.  They constantly gave praise to God repeating thank you Lord, Praise God, Glory to God.  Even those who seemed to have little to our standards, had faith enough and were more than grateful for all they do have.  As they prayed, even when one led the prayer, they all combined their voices giving encouragement, power and relevance to the words being prayed. 

Their prayers echoed their belief that God is alive, present and ever working to make this life better.  They cried, they laughed, they sang, jumped and clapped for joy in their worship.  There was no restraint, no holding back.  They believe God will answer their prayers, and even if they don’t see the results now they rejoice in each step towards the fulfillment of that promise.  They aren’t naive and they don’t turn a blind eye to the world around them, instead they embrace their faith and trust that the Holy Spirit is leading them to bring God’s kingdom here on earth. 

I was ashamed of myself and our culture when I witnessed their faith. It seems some days we have long given up on a God who performs miracles.  When we see miracles happen we write it off as chance, coincidence.  We depend on government and non-profit organizations to relieve suffering and care for the broken and lost.  We leave it up to someone else to bring God’s kingdom to this place and then get upset when things aren’t done the way we think they should be.   

We take scripture that tells us the poor will always be with us and we experience people who, in their effort to survive, take advantage of systems and the kindness of individuals so we choose to wash our hands, write them off and look to our own personal future of salvation instead of truly believing that the Kingdom of God is present and the Holy Spirit is active in this world today and that the promises of God are not only for eternal life but for this life too. 

I challenge you to go back, look at the stories of Abraham and Sarah and the miracles of Christ and pay attention to the world around us.  Children who should have never survived an illness, cancers that have been healed, jobs acquired just at the right time...  God is there ready and willing to hear your cries for a miracle too.  God wants your life, this life, to be full of love, joy and peace.  God wants those of us who have faith abundant to share the Kingdom of God with others. 

Where is God calling us to bring the love of Christ?  This religion which we so proudly call our own started with one voice of faith, one action of trust in God and Christ keeps calling us, sending us and urging us to have this same faith and willingness to step out and bring his kingdom to this community and this world and to every person we meet.  What is the Holy Spirit leading you to do?