Faith, Freedom, and the Fabric of Society

“We walk by faith and not by sight.” - II Corinthians 5:7

During the last season of Lent, I led a series of conversations on the nature of faith, which generated a plethora of perspectives that enriched everyone who was a part. This fall, I'm going to share some of the most salient thoughts that come from those discussions so that, together as a congregation, we'll explore the nature of faith at its core.

What does it mean to believe and trust in God?

We live in New York City - a society of people with many different faiths and no faith. How, as Christians, are we to relate to those people while sharing the nature of our convictions and passion, respecting each person's journey and freedom of conscience to decide for themselves what they believe? Living in America, we speak much about freedom of religion, which is sometimes unclear - whether that means freedom from religion or exercising religion within certain constraints to not impinge upon others' ability to do the same.

These complex relationships of faith in our society require us to carefully think through faith in a pluralistic society - but not a secular one. Unlike other countries, America is not a secular society. It is a society that has its roots founded in religion. And so, we will explore, together, what role religion should and does, or does not, play in the public sphere.

Often, we are afraid as individuals to speak of our faith to others, in the workplace or on the street, for fear of coming across as a religious zealot. But when we remove religion's fundamental role as part of the very fabric of our society, we lose the common ground for our morals and our shared sense of purpose and service beyond ourselves.

Prayer of Confession

Lord, Your Spirit has given us hope, courage, and love. But too often we are timid in our faith, failing to follow Your Word, Your ways, and Your will. We forget all You have done, and we become focused on ourselves. Cleanse us of fear, grant us focused purpose, and most of all, a heart filled with love that we might faithfully serve You in joy.