Modern Examples of the Faith - Pt 1

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV). At the risk of being “politically incorrect” to someone in the next few days, I am going to focus on some inspirational and encouraging stories from the lives of people who have modeled faith in our modern era. It would be easy to go to some of the great men and women who have been or were (until their death) ministers or missionaries; however, I want to look at some others who find themselves in what could easily be seen as a hostile environment in regard to living their faith. So, these people may be a bit of a surprise to you. I hope they will be a great encouragement as well.

Let’s begin in the political realm. There are many that I could have chosen; however, one stands out for me in helping me see the grace of God at work in our lives. George W. Bush is our first “famous Christian.” While Bush was at a backyard barbecue in 1977, friends introduced him to Laura Welch, a schoolteacher and librarian. After a three-month courtship, she accepted his marriage proposal and they wed on November 5 of that year. The couple settled in Midland, Texas. On November 25, 1981, Laura Bush gave birth to their fraternal twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna. Prior to getting married, Bush struggled with multiple episodes of alcohol abuse. Bush said his wife has had a stabilizing effect on his life, and he attributes her influence to his 1986 decision to give up alcohol. While Governor of Texas, Bush said of his wife, "I saw an elegant, beautiful woman who turned out not only to be elegant and beautiful, but very smart and willing to put up with my rough edges, and I must confess has smoothed them off over time." It has widely been reported that his daily readings have always included passages from the Scripture and his consistent declaration to being a “born-again Christian” have caused many to both applaud and ridicule him. For better or worse, accurately or not, George W. Bush became the face of American evangelical Christianity during his eight-year presidency. From his campaign debate statement that Jesus was the philosopher he identified with the most “because he changed my heart” to his claim that he had “more of a theological perspective” on the Iraq War, Bush’s faith and religious remarks are still discussed at length by pundits and believers alike. The Take-Away: Bush will never be called a “perfect” man, or president for that matter. However, his unwavering understanding of the grace of God ought to encourage each of us in the face of both failure and success. I find it encouraging that he was able to point to his faith in Christ even when it was most unpopular and unacceptable. Perhaps this is the at the heart of honoring so many heroes with his “Portraits of Courage.”