At Bible study this week, the leader said, "Our faith depends on incarnation." She went on to elaborate how Christian faith depends on the idea that God took on human flesh.
I don't disagree, but it's rare that I've heard "incarnation" fill in this blank: Our faith depends on _____.
How would you fill in the blank? I think this question could fuel an entire season/decade/lifetime of faith formation classes.
For some of us, we might answer with "crucifixion." We might say our faith depends on substitutionary atonement--or in more simple terms, that Jesus must die on a cross so that all humanity can have our sins forgiven.
More of us would probably answer "resurrection." If there is no resurrection, is all of Christianity pointless? For many, the answer to that question would be yes. I could make a case for following God through a Christian path, even if the bones of Jesus were found in an archaeological dig. But many people would not agree with me.
I've had many people tell me that Systematic Theology classes would challenge my faith, but so far, my Church History classes have been more challenging. It's hard to see the choices made by church leaders, hard to think about roads not taken, hard to think about what seemed worth dying for. Does our faith depend on a belief in the Trinity? It could have been otherwise. Does our faith depend on male pastors and bishops? It could have been otherwise. On and on I could go.
What does your faith depend on?
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