the centrality of risk

today was a reading and studying day.  The class I am slaving (joyfully!) on at the moment is about the Pentateuch - the first five books of the Old Testament.

Writing a little helps me wrap my mind around at least some of what I've read.  I've gone through hundreds of pages!  I was struck by Abraham today.

Since I took my first in depth bible study course many years ago (the inductive method), I have had Genesis 15:6 memorized... Abrahams faith was reckoned to him as righteousness.  It was because of Abraham's believing that all the things that transpired throughout the rest of the story were able to transpire... my class notes (written by Eric Ortlund, a fine Briercrest prof) say that "... all creation will enjoy none of what Yahweh promises unless Abram is willing to engage in an act of pure faith; ... to leave without knowing anything about where, or to what, he is going.... "

somehow,  Abraham teaches us that active belief = righteousness.  And, as we see over and over in Abraham's story, the belief isn't a perfect one.  There are lies and human twisting of the promise, deceits that attempt to manipulate outcomes, even manipulate God.  Yet,  an imperfect, but risk taking faith is the intersection where so much rests.  Belief - not behavior - is the foundation of our relationship with God.

Is that as important - or as comforting - a reminder for you all as it is for me?  Of course, behaviour and obedience matter - but the starting point of belief first is crucial; it determines how what follows will unfold.

I hear echoes of Abrahams risk taking story in the actions of the first disciples who respond positively to Jesus' call to 'come, follow me'.  They drop everything and follow a man who is more like a lunatic than a messiah ... and they keep following.  Their following is marred; they stumble lots.  But they are a righteous in spite of their failings, because of their believing.  (and because of God's mercy)

We are called on to sacrifice our comforts, our privileges, our ideas, our security - like Abraham did, like the disciples did. (and like many, many others)  This is righteousness, misguided as it usually is!  Even though we can't know fully what we're getting ourselves into, its that believing - initially and consistently -  that paves the way for everything that follows.  Paired with the lovingkindness (i like finding ways to use that word!) of God, its an amazing force of goodness and grace in the world.

This post reminds me of a woman I am missing today... our internship program ended this past week, and one of our interns returned home to Southern Ontario.  Today is the first day without the familiar swish-swish of her slippers down our halls.... I've shed a mixture of sad and happy tears.  (sadness that she's not with us, happiness that there are so many wonderful things ahead of her!)

This lovely young lady demonstrated some incredible risk taking by coming to live in our neighborhood when her previous experience was so different from anything like this.  She took my advice to 'act like you belong here, because you do!' very seriously for 8 months.  She took relational risks, safety risks, comfort risks, and CREATIVE risks.  She modeled some really important qualities of discipleship, and she did it with grace, courage, and beauty.  She came to a strange place where she knew next to no one in order to completely give herself to learning and serving. Her final reflections grew from a risk-taker's heart, and they revealed deepened self understanding, and a greater awareness of God's presence.

Where are you at with risk taking these days?