"Supersizing Our Faith" - II Timothy 1:1-14 - October 7, 2001

Recently I went through the drive-thru at a fast-food restaurant and after I had placed my order the attendant asked me if I wanted my order "supersized." It was a tempting offer, another 15-20 French fries and a large soft drink that would last the rest of the day. "It only costs 29 cents," she said.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could "supersize" our faith? The church could have a drive-thru window where folks could just briefly pass by on their lunch hour and just drop a few extra coins in the offering plate. I wouldn’t laugh too long, however since there are people who believe that increasing their faith is like going to Walmart. Everything you need is there, just drop in when its convenient and be on your way.

Like many churches we have experienced an increase in attendance since the events of September 11th. People are turning to the church for assurance, comfort and hope. Some just want some answers. For many their faith has been shaken and they are trying to find something to hold on to or to give them grounding.

I was talking with a woman this past weekend who vowed never to fly again because of the recent terrorist attacks. She is afraid, her faith also badly shaken. Millions of others who wonder why such a terrible tragedy could happen are searching and re-examining their faith. Renewing or "supersizing" the faith in people who are experiencing overwhelming fear and anxiety is a tremendous challenge if not impossible. How can we make the transition from fear to faith, from panic to normalcy, from chaos to peace?

Paul’s method of enhancing the faith was not simple. According to Paul, faith is enhanced when there is a willingness to suffer, a commitment to quality teaching, a passion to stand up for the gospel and a dedication to self-discipline. Obviously, these involve a life-long process of being involved in the community of faith. It would be helpful to have some way to speed up the process since we live in a culture that is used to fast-food, rapid transportation and instant gratification.

Fear is debilitating. It drains us of energy and can even cause depression. Fear causes folks to withdraw, inhibits them from moving forward or being adventurous. Fear adds to our vulnerability, making us more likely to be influenced by voices that lack credibility. Fear in fact distances us from God.

Paul was in prison unable to be with the people he loved. He was aware of their insecurity and of the need for their faith to remain strong during perilous times. From a distance he coached them by reminding them of the faith that already dwelled within them.

First, Paul tells them to "remember" the faith of their ancestors, specifically their mothers and grandmothers. It seems to me Paul is lifting up the importance of nurture and encouragement. In times of crisis a mother holds her child close to her giving him/her reassurance and comfort. Hugs and hand-holding can go a long way to restore confidence and hope.

Many older and wiser people are calling us to "remember." Remember Pearl Harbor, remember the Great Depression, remember World War II. We got through those times and we will get through these.

But sometimes the elderly become afraid too. How could this happen in America? I was chatting with an elderly lady who lives in nearby Anna. I reminded her of the earthquake that happened there in the late 1930’s. Remembering that event helped her to overcome her fear in the present.

Secondly, Paul reminds them to "rekindle the gift of God that is within." In other words, we have the power of God within us. It is not something we have to go to Walmart to purchase. It doesn’t have to be supersized since the God’s power within us is already huge.

For me, rekindling our faith is like an old bucket of paint. You pop off the rusty lid, break the crusty layer and underneath lies the original paint, the oil now separated from the coloring compound. You stir them up resurrecting the paint to a form that can still be used.
I believe this is what Paul means when he tells us to "rekindle our faith." We have to stir it up, restoring it to its original form in order to use it in the present.

And third, Paul tells them to "follow the pattern of sound words." Paul was concerned that the church would be misled by false teachings, that rumors and small talk would be taken as truth. There was a story floating on the Internet since the attack that a man had ridden the rubble from the 81st floor and was miraculously saved. There was also a photograph of a man on the roof of the World Trade Center with a jet plane in the background just several hundred yards away. But, these were both false. They are just concocted stories that are passed on as a result fear, or even false hope as the case may be.

Consider the sources of information you are listening to. Are they credible or are they trying to sell you something? Are they trying to scare you or are they, like Paul, appreciating you for the faith you already have?

Paul didn’t expect his followers to be super heroes. He knew they were human, vulnerable and at times afraid. Ultimately he reminds them (and now us) of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. What we do to respond to the crisis may not be enough. It may not always work. We may even feel guilty for making mistakes. This is where grace comes in. We are forgiven, already redeemed. God is still in charge. And on this World Wide Communion Sunday we reaffirm that forgiveness Christ gives through the bread and wine. If you want your life "supersized" then eat and drink from the table of the Lord.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio