What is Your Fulcrum of Faith?
During this time of social distancing I struggle to keep track of my days while not “going” to church. I watch recorded and live-stream church events, but without social interaction something is missing. My frame of reference and purpose for the coming week seems altered somehow. Since my last post where I pondered my fulcrum of faith, I have given this some thought.
First, just what is a fulcrum? The dictionary defines it as:
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The point on which a lever rests or is supported and on which it pivots.
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A thing (or person) that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event, or situation.
With this in mind, we must ask the question: Does a church or Jesus fit this description?
What is the fulcrum of your faith? #ChurchOrJesus #WhatIsAFulcrum Click To Tweet
Gathering with other believers is essential for a healthy spiritual life. The current shut-down makes me think about Christians in other countries who cannot meet out in the open. Their faith is strong but outward expression of that faith is banned. Could it happen here in our country? Possibly.
Maybe there is something to be gleaned during this season of isolation.
Is it possible that those who face persecution for their faith view the fulcrum idea differently?
Does devotion to Jesus grow stronger within them, despite what’s visible to others?
Has the faith of our persecuted brothers and sisters surpassed our understanding of what walking worthy of the Gospel looks like?
In short, is Jesus the fulcrum of their faith rather than a church?
And what does this shift in thinking look like for us in the go-to-church culture?
No one can take Jesus away from us
Depending on where you live in the world, churches have been removed and compromised due to extraneous circumstances like war, government oppression, and suppressed freedom.
The good news is, no one can take Jesus away from us.
When we see a church as the fulcrum, we might be tempted to think once we do our weekly duty we are free to live the remainder of our week in quiet submission. In reality:
You can have church and tradition without Jesus.
You can have faith and worship without Jesus.
You can do good without Jesus.
But if we see Jesus as our fulcrum, our daily actions take on a deeper focus as we become more aware of His ever-presence.
When Jesus Is Central, He is our Fulcrum
When we go to a coffee shop we encounter people in a similar way that Jesus met with the woman at the well. Hearing gossip or belittling others might elicit a response similar to when Jesus spoke to the woman caught in adultery. Walking with Jesus means He goes everywhere we go, and He calls us to be His witness.
Jesus as our fulcrum will help Scripture become alive in the people around us. No longer two-dimensional words on a page, but three-dimensional people in our world.
We all know that Christ’s Church isn’t a building, yet when we think church, we often think about our local congregation and the building where we meet.
When we think of the Body of Christ—His worldwide Church, we see people of every nation, tribe and tongue gathered around the common message of the Gospel.
Building or No building, WE are the Church. And Jesus is our Cornerstone. #FulcrumOfFaith #WhatIsTheChurch Click To Tweet
Building or No building, WE are the Church and Jesus is our Cornerstone.
Not a doctrine or creed
Not a preference or worship style
Not a denomination
Only Jesus crucified, dead, buried and raised to life—victorious over sin and death to be our Savior and Lord.
THIS is our fulcrum.
This is what gives us purpose every day and transforms us from a church-goer, to a living-every-moment follower of Christ. So, let’s shift our thinking so that:
Every action hinges on Jesus.
Every thought captive.
Every need finds hope.
Because Jesus holds all things together, and in Him mercy, grace, forgiveness, and power are found.
Recognizing and establishing Jesus as our fulcrum pulls us in, closer to the central message of the Gospel.
Discovering the power of His presence will set the Body of Christ free to BE the church rather than just attend a church. Because ‘a church’ is temporal, where Jesus and ‘His Church’ are eternal and nothing can prevail against it.
Something to think about…
What are your thoughts? How is Jesus your central or essential role in every activity, event, or situation?
How is Jesus your central or essential role in every activity, event, or situation? #FulcrumOfFaith #WeAreTheChurch Click To Tweet
Add your thoughts in the comments below.
Jeanne
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Indeed Ms Jeanne. While I love my church and my “Family of Faith” I worship with, they are NOT the reason I go to church. I go to church to learn how to become more like Christ. I go because I need to experience Him together with other sojourners in faith. What a wonderful message; and question to ask ourselves. Who or what is the fulcrum of our faith? Amen!
Amen, J.D. – we do need to be together in this journey. It is interesting how this pandemic has opened new avenues to do just that. Thanks for your thoughts today
Jeanne Thank you for this reminder. Yes Jesus must be the center and focus point of our lives no matter what. Otherwise we are a sinking, desperate and fearful lot.
I go to church for Christian fellowship and cooperate worship to grow in knowledge and faith of Jesus Christ and support my fellow believers. He is my fulcrum of faith!
Amen, Diane. We have more brothers and sisters than we can imagine. All following in the dust of our rabbi, Jesus. Thanks for stopping by today and sharing your thoughts
Hi Jeanne,
Thanks for the reminder that the church is not a building and Jesus is our foundation. I address the “new underground church” in my blog. God bless your continued faithfulness in ministering through your blog. In doing so, you are bringing Christ to the world.
Thanks, Sheree. All over the world there is an underground church thriving in the love of Christ despite their inability to speak freely. Being separated during this pandemic here in the west has given us a glimpse of the difficulties they may face, one of which is isolation. I appreciate your comments
Thank you for your message! It is always good to know others are feeling the same. With my mom with dementia in a nursing home lockdown situation and my husband also dealing with memory loss I need Jesus every day, every hour! I miss the fellowship of church but God has blessed me with the support of family and friends. I am comforted with God’s word! Thank you again!
I can’t imagine all you are facing right now, Lorraine. It must be so difficult not to be able to see your mom. I am thankful that God gives us strength for each day as we depend on Him. I am glad you have family and friends nearby. Thanks for sharing your heart
I love this Jeanne! You are so right if anything other than Jesus is our fulcrum we will get off-track. He is essential and He is our reason for church. But we are the Church with Jesus as our Head. Thank you!
Thank you for your thoughts, Stephanie. And you’re welcome 🙂
Jeanne, thank you for bringing into focus who we need.
I often wonder how people without Christ can go through life……..but I too, was blind, but now I see.
The building and our brothers and sisters in Christ all have a place, but to use your words HE needs to be our Fulcrum.
Yes, Jan (MOM), His word is clear about assembling together so we don’t dispute our need for Christian community. Just to be cautious of church and tradition replacing our need for Christ alone. Because once we find ourselves without the fellowship (like in times like these), we need our firm foundation to be solid. He provides our every need, including Himself in times of isolation. Thanks for your comment today
Attended FCCP this am “in person”…about 20 people, most wearing masks-no socializing afterward, but good to be in the familiar routine! Leaders trying to figure out how to ease in to the new normal.
Are you listening in on my conversations? 🙂 I just had a conversation within the last week about how, as the global church, we can sometimes tend to evangelize people to the church. But, what if we focused on having everyone meet Jesus? The “church,” ministries, fellowship…all that is so important, but how would the unbelievers in our lives respond if they could actually sit down and talk to Jesus?
I love how the Holy Spirit moves and speaks. Unity in purpose and message. Love it. Thanks for sharing this, Kelly.