A Living Witness

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16

Whenever I hear this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, I am reminded that Christianity is not spread through words alone, but also by bearing witness of Christ through our lives. I am reminded of this principle whenever I think of Steven Rutt (who I know as Dr. Rutt).

I first met Dr. Rutt as a student at Arizona Christian University (ACU) where he taught several classes on the Bible and Historical Theology. Unfortunately, I never had an opportunity to attend one of these classes. I really got to know him the year after I graduated.

At the time, my girlfriend (now wife), Alexis, was finishing her last year at Arizona Christian when she told me that Dr. Rutt was hosting “traditional” services for students on Sunday evenings. We both agreed that sounded interesting and decided to attend. As it turned out, these “traditional” services were an abbreviated version of the Anglican liturgy. As someone who grew up with a non-denominational / Baptist background any traditional liturgical style was completely new to me. Despite my unfamiliarity with the liturgy, I found it to be extremely beautiful. Of course, the liturgy is designed to highlight theological truths that, at the time, I disagreed with (such as the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist). In most circumstances, I would not have had patience with such unfamiliar worship styles and theology, but Dr. Rutt was more than willing to take the extra time needed to explain Anglican theology and the meaning behind the liturgy. Because of his steady guiding hand, Alexis and I continued to attend these strange new services which seemed to harmonize the physical matter of our world with the deep spiritual realities set forth in Christianity.

In addition to hosting a weekly service, Dr. Rutt would often have students over to his home where he would discuss theology, politics, and life more broadly with us. These talks proved to be a valuable mentorship opportunity. However, what proved to be more valuable was the ability to see a small glimpse into how Dr. Rutt lived his life. I quickly learned that he did not merely teach theology at ACU; he also ensured his theology impacted his relations with others. The one keyword that comes to mind is “love.” No matter who entered his home, Dr. Rutt would show them love. Generally, this was in small, but meaningful ways. There was never a group so large that the Rutt family could not feed them, yet there was never a single individual who did not receive the time they needed. Dr. Rutt’s personal life truly is a demonstration of Christ’s command that we “love one another, just as I have loved you.” (John 13:34).

Ultimately, it was not only Dr. Rutt’s teaching that impacted my faith. By inviting me to participate in the liturgy and then living his life according to the principles underlying it, Dr. Rutt demonstrated that faith is more than a matter of personal belief. It is a deep fundamental reality that should impact every area of life. There is no stark separation between the physical and the spiritual. The sacraments are a union of physical matter and an even deeper spiritual reality within them. Likewise, we live our lives in a physical world, but those lives must be lived in such a way that the ultimate spiritual truth of Christianity is clear to a watching world. These are lessons I learned first through Dr. Rutt’s teaching and invitation to participate in the liturgy, and then by watching how he lived his life in accordance with the faith from which that liturgy springs.

Isaac Branson