But How’s the Foundation?

Ravi Zacharias tells the story about going to speak at Ohio State University. As they passed the newly completely Wexner Center for the Arts the driver described this edifice as “one of the first post-modern buildings in America.” When asked to explain the driver pointed out there were pillars which held nothing up and stairs that went nowhere. Dr. Zacharias then simply queried, “I wonder if the builder did that with the foundation.” At which point the driver rather sheepishly admitted that he most likely did not.

If you happen to be in the process of buying a house you realize that regardless of how pleasing to the eye what sits above the ground may be, the strength and stability of what is below ground is so much more significant. Foundations matter.

The Old Testament book of Ezra tells the story of the people returning from the Babylonian captivity to build what is known as Zerubbabel’s temple—or the 2nd temple. In the midst of this construction project they reach a certain stage of completion—it is described in chapter 3 and verse 11: “They sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, ‘For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.’ And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

Foundations are a pretty big deal because when the foundation is strong the building will be strong. However, the inverse is true—that is to say, when the foundation is shaky so is the building. The psalmist speaks to this very idea in Psalm 11: 3—“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

We find ourselves living in a post-Christian culture. So many of the things having to do with truth and morality have shifted. What we thought was solid ground for so long is nowhere near as stable as it once was. As the societal foundation has developed some stress cracks, the building blocks of society have become a bit shaky. Up has become down, right has become wrong, foolishness has become wisdom, and morality has become passé. So what are the righteous to do?

Here are a few unworkable options that we like to default toward—bury our head in the sand or pretend and act like nothing has changed in the last 50 years. That won’t work in our lives and it will have no effect in building the present day kingdom of God. But nor can we acquiesce to the culture as if what God has said doesn’t matter anymore.

Here is a reminder though–while one foundation has shifted one has remained strong. The Bible is still true, God is still on the throne, Jesus still changes people’s lives, and we are still in the disciple making business—in other words, the gospel still matters, supremely. Those truths remain terra firma.

When thinking about how we minister unchanging truth in a changing culture, Andy Stanley said it so well—“date the method, marry the message.” Great reminder!