Last week my daughter and grandson helped me with the construction of a barn for my goats. The day after putting down the corner posts, I discovered I placed one four inches off. She suggested I leave it and adjust board lengths as I built rather than pull up the post, drill another hole, and move it to the correct measurements. I laughed and proceeded removing the post. Knowing she was unfamiliar with the logistics of construction, I explained if the foundation was off by four inches by the second story roof it might be off by a foot.
For Christians, establishing an accurate foundation is essential. Jesus taught it must begin with a solid base. He gave the illustration of one man who built a house on the sand and one who built on a rock. He explained that building on a solid spiritual base required hearing and acting on His words. Note this only begins the building process. After establishing a solid base, we must lay the foundation and then build the structure. In ancient times, the first step in construction required the placing of a corner stone. It became the reference point for the direction of the building and for keeping the building square. For believers, Christ Jesus Himself is the corner stone (Eph. 2:20). Four times the writers of the New Testament quoted the Old Testament verse, THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. Jesus becomes our reference point for building our spiritual lives. He is the rock we build on and the cornerstone of reference for our foundation.
One question people have often asked me, “Why are there so many denominations and various church beliefs?” My response begins by telling them no church or denomination has an absolute perfect doctrinal or belief system. Interpretation is subject to man’s culture, traditions, weakness, and even his sin nature. However, the uncompromising element of any Christian’s beliefs requires that they build their foundation on the rock of Jesus word with Him as the cornerstone. If you ride down a road where new construction is taking place, you will see numerous foundations that look similar. However, if you return a month later, you will observe the builders constructed multiple styles of houses according to the owners taste. You may see brick houses, log houses, or vinyl siding houses. Some may be large with five bedrooms or small with only two, various colors, and various floor plans. You normally overlook the fact they are square and symmetrical. Houses built on a correct foundation, even though different in style, will be proportionate. On the other hand, if see one skewed, or leaning like the Tower of Pisa, you will immediately take note. Chances are the builder laid the foundation wrong or built on unstable soil.
This principle of construction can apply spiritually to believers, churches, and denominations—even with the same foundation build Christ, not all will look the same. Each one will have its own unique variations based on worldviews, perceptions, and traditions. Note three examples. Western missionaries insist on making church buildings square, which offends certain Zambian tribes. Instead, it would fit the cultural norms if they constructed the building round, because many believe evil spirits hide in corners. Now, anytime I preach or teach, I wear jeans except in most Afro-American churches where the protocol requires a suit and tie. In India, one must remove their shoes at the entrance of the church sanctuary—different structures, but all with the same foundation.
Paul takes differences a step further when he writes to the Romans. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only (Rom 14:2). Often people follow certain teachings because they are not strong enough to enjoy their freedom in Christ. Much of our work has been in churches that require women wear a head covering, usually a scarf. I personally disagree with this interpretation of scripture. Yet, my faith and my wife’s faith are strong enough we are free from the tradition. Nevertheless, not to offend those who practice this, she will wear a scarf. In many countries, husbands sit separate on one side of the church with their wives sitting on the other. In Central Africa, churches forbid the traditional drums because of the association with ceremonies of witchcraft. For the few whose faith is strong, the drums become a beautiful instrument of worship.
I am not suggesting variations of practice include sin that clearly violates Biblical teaching. All Christians have unique differences they feel they must observe. However, if we build on Christ as the foundation and corner stone, our structures may look different, but they will be square and symmetrical. My goat barn looks totally different from our large main barn. Yet, we built both on a solid foundation symmetrical and square. Paul admonishes, The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him (Rom 14:3), in other words, two structures, but the same foundation.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Make sure you build your life structure on the foundation and corner stone of Jesus’ word. Do not regard with contempt those on the same foundation but with a different structure.