Since our early days together in the summer of 2011, we have discussed faith. We have especially focused on Active Faith. We have this phrase which a few people can explain, ‘Actively Faithful Faithfully Active.’ I’ve offered sermons on the subject. I taught Wednesday evening series around studies of its dynamics. I’ve guided small groups to discuss ‘Active Faith.’ Yet, it is my guess that most people still grapple with understanding the idea.
In part, this is because we have heard the word ‘faith,’ since before we were able to form words. Faith conveys a variety of meanings for people and people of influence in our early years helped set parameters of faith for us before we expressed our own perspectives. Some people use faith to mean trust and conviction, which can be so strong that it compels them to do things they might not otherwise do. Some people use the word ‘faith’ to convey a set of theological concepts and practices explained as, “I am of the Roman Catholic faith,” or “I am of the Baptist faith tradition.” Even then, many questions prevail. What kind of Catholic, what stream of Baptist? Several scholars discuss faith as a merger of divine and human power resulting in spiritually transformational actions.
Through the years, you may have met several people who merely refer to a biblical passage like Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen,” whether they understand its meaning. Others may cite a passage from James 2 such as, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So, faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead…just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.” Ways of explaining faith are numerous. Some are even ungodly.
In the 1980s, I wrote articles around the relational themes of ‘FaithWorks’ and ‘FaithToFaith’. I also became involved with the ecumenical group Faith@Work, which began out of Church of the Savior in Washington, DC, envisioned by and pastored by Gordon Cosby. Through this involvement, I eventually published an article for their journal and became acquainted with people who were seeking integration of their faith journeys and their daily work. These people became my guides in exploring how faith and work relate as well as how we grow as followers of Christ through both a journey inward into our relationship with God through Christ and a journey outward in service. All of this was an effort to better lead Christ’s Church in the pathway of Active Faith.
As I have expressed ministry alongside you, you have heard me offer phrases to teach the application of Active Faith. Some of these phrases developed in my language of faith and leadership as I walked among those Christ followers in Faith@Work Network. You have heard me refer to Ministry in Daily Life, the Inward/Outward Journey and Gathered Church Scattered Church. I continue to learn from participants in this movement.
One person I met through participating in the Faith@Work Network and whose Active Faith was shaped by Church of the Savior is Marjorie Bankson. In her excellent book, ‘Creative Aging: Rethinking Retirement and Non-Retirement in a Changing World,’ she observes, “Never before have so many Americans reached retirement age with a social consciousness, advanced education, and such good health.” She cites how people are investing in longer life with a purpose and offers a challenge: “Out of the darkness, dawn comes. Let’s make these extra years count.” Beloved, this sounds like the way of Active Faith to me. How about you?
In next week’s article, I will discuss how Active Faith relates with Integrated Faith and Missional Church.