FAITH IS ENTREPRENEURIAL

Matthew 14 tells the familiar story of Jesus walking on the water. He had just fed 5,000 people, and they were still following him, so he sent his disciples on ahead, across the lake in their boat while he dismissed the people. We’re told he went up the mountainside alone to pray, and while he was there, night fell. Soon the boat was a considerable way out, buffeted by the wind and waves that spring up without warning on the Sea of Galilee.

Some time between three o’clock and six o’clock, Jesus came to them, and understandably they were frightened. ‘It’s a ghost!’ they cried, but Jesus calmed them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here.’Then Peter said a strange thing: ‘Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you.’ What if it hadn’t been Jesus, but that’s entrepreneurial faith, a faith that wants to explore new territories, to take unfamiliar paths, to see something new, to be creative, explosive. It’s pushing boundaries; loving when we are expected to hate, forgiving when we are expected to seek revenge. That’s what the church should be like.But faith is also fragile, for soon Peter took his eyes off Jesus and his perspective on life changed. He saw the waves and he began to sink. What has changed? He had just demonstrated that he could walk on water; he believed he could do the impossible, and suddenly he can’t. The answer is he was afraid, and fear can destroy us, it can cripple us from doing even the things we know we can do.
It’s like when I was teaching my son to ride his bike. Off he went on his own shouting, ‘Are you still holding me dad?’ and as long as I lied to him he was fine. Then I ran beside him and he saw that he was cycling solo, and ‘CRUNCH!’ He could ride his bike, but fear disabled him.
‘Save me Lord!’ screamed Peter, and immediately Jesus reached out and lifted him. Peter disbelieved: ‘Why did you doubt me?’ said Jesus. Was he cross? No, he responded with non-judgemental compassion. Why? Because Jesus knew that one day soon he would sink in Peter’s place, so Peter wouldn’t have to. ‘I did the sinking for you Peter, I can raise you up.’ So it is in our lives, when we are sinking, when we have failed, Jesus says, I have gone down for you, I have taken your place, I can forgive you. Even when you go down to the grave, I can give you life because I died in your place.’On those nights when it’s dark, when the wind is blowing, and our boats seem so small, when we feel that we’ve been cast aside, I will meet you on the water. I went down in your place, I can lift you up.
That’s the Gospel.