Four Legs and a Stretcher
Constructing an Intentional Faith that Leads to Godliness
by
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The classic novel, “The Agony and the Ecstasy,” (2) is the reason I love history. When I read first read it at the age of 15, this biographical work, describing the life of Michelangelo Buonarroti, captured my attention like no other book I had read up to that point. My required high school study of history had been mechanical and boring. But this book introduced me to history as a story - a story about real people. Michelangelo’s magnificent artistic creations became linchpins in time and a frame of reference for other historical events that piqued my interest. It made history real and meaningful to me.
I share this anecdote with you because it makes the point that we are intellectually and emotionally drawn to understand and conceptualize almost everything in different ways. And faith is no different. While the scriptures provide inerrant truth about what faith means, requires, and does, God created us as individuals, and the way we perceive and apply our faith is as varied as we are. Perhaps the perspective this book provides will help make faith more real and practicable to you.
As an artisan who makes and restores furniture, the metaphor of constructing our faith like the base of a chair, speaks to me in a way that makes understanding faith plausible. The comparison of building a base of faith like that of a chair is an apt comparison with how we build the foundation for a spiritual, moral, and purposeful life. The five components of a chair base, that of four legs and a stretcher, constitute five areas of spiritual formation that Godly faith requires:
The four legs represent truth, love, fellowship, and the faith disciplines
The stretcher which connects them together characterizes the practice of being spiritually minded about them
Like a chair without a dependable base, a life that is supported by something that lacks these five components of faith cannot be trusted to support life in a useful and meaningful way. The author and designer of life intended for each of them to play a vibrant role in the way we construct our lives. We will study what comprises each of these elements of faith, how they are shaped, and their interrelationship and connection with each other that shows us how to build a base of Godly faith that securely and dependably supports a fulfilling life.
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About the Book
The five components of a chair base, that of four legs and a stretcher, represent five areas of spiritual formation that godly faith requires.
The four legs symbolize truth, love, fellowship, and what the author calls faith disciplines—and the stretcher that connects them characterizes the practice of being spiritually minded about them.
God intended each of the components to play a vibrant role in the way we construct our lives. Like a chair with a dependable base, a life supported by these five components can be secure, rewarding, and purposeful.
This devotional explores each component in detail, including their interrelationship and connection to each other. As you read, you’ll consider questions such as:
• How can you build a base of godly faith that securely and dependably supports a fulfilling life?
• What purposeful steps must you take to grow and mature in faith?
• How can you apply the concepts of purposeful design and engineering to your life?
Throughout the book, you’ll find anecdotes and highlights from the author’s life that will make your journey of faith relevant and achievable.
Take a fresh approach to understanding, applying, and growing in faith and spirituality with the wisdom in Four Legs and a Stretcher.
About the Author
F. C. Vogt has been a professional furniture conservator and maker for almost fifty years. He has been pursuing spiritual truth since his teenage years, studying philosophy, apologetics, and systematic theology both academically and informally. This is his first book.