The Core Message of the Brookside Institute

The Brookside Institute is a lot of things.  It's a series of classes on the Bible, Christian theology, church history, and more.  It includes this blog.  Maybe someday it'll add some other things (I've always got ideas!).  But what's the unifying idea that I'm committed to threading into whatever we do?  What's the filter that helps us discern whether something aligns with what we're about or not?  What's the core of the core of the core of the Brookside Institute?  I'm glad you asked.

In a couple of words, the core message of the Brookside Institute is that foundations matter.  Or, to expand a bit:  We never move past the foundations of the Christian faith.  Yes, we can build on these foundations - but we never operate in isolation from them.  We're never to drift away from them.  Foundations matter.  Ask any structural engineer or home builder and they'll confirm how important foundations are.  Or ask the apostle Paul, who clearly valued "establishing" the church at Thessalonica in their faith (1 Thess 3:1-2, ESV).  

Paul and Peter both made a habit of reminding others of truths already communicated - they wanted to keep building on and reinforcing a strong foundation.  Check out a few biblical examples of this for yourself.  (I've italicized some phrases that really drive home this value of reminding.) 

• Philippians 3:1: Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2: As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.  For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
• 2 Peter 1:12-15: So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.  I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.  And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

A summary?  Foundations matter.

Grounding ourselves in foundational truths of the Christian faith will give us a strong foundation (yep, there's that word again) on which we can grow as believers.  Reinforcing foundational truths can protect us from shifting soils that threaten the integrity of our faith.  As we seek to carry the Christian faith forward faithfully - and pass the baton along to those who will come after us - the thing we need most isn't something new and novel.  The thing we need most is a strong foundation.

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How about you?  Do you agree that we should never move past the foundations of the Christian faith?  Why or why not?  If you agree, what are the building blocks that go into laying a strong foundation for the Christian faith?