This is a longer article, but I honestly believe it is worth the read. I encourage you do invest a bit of time to consider the ideas in this post. I believe it will clarify some important things in your thoughts about the subject of faith. It will also address some silly and harmful ideas as well. FAITH, it's not what many people think it is. So, what is it?
I've heard so many teachings about faith that the word leaves me numb. I don't even hear it in a sentence. It's like there is a blank spot in my mind when people talk about faith. Even a pop music star used it the other day to describe why she's been so successful. I marveled at what she seemed to mean - that faith was some kind of mystical power that helped her get what she wanted. In her case, fame, wealth, notoriety, adoration, success. I don't know what she really meant, and I seriously doubt she could have articulated a clear definition of faith, but it underscored for me how crazy ideas have become about the virtues of the Christian life.
So, what is faith?
Faith is not what most people think it is. Faith in not some kind of magical Disney-movie fairy dust, which, if you sprinkle enough on your troubled life, your dreams will come true. Faith is powerful, true enough, but it itself is not a mystical power of any kind. Faith is the confidence produced by being fully convinced that what God says is actually true, and placing all one's eggs in that basket, so to speak. Hope, in the Greek, is the exact same word, only, hope is faith as it looks to the future. Faith and hope is sincere persuasion. It results in the conviction of heart which forms the basis from which one makes the decisions of their life.
One of the remarkable traits of the early church was a strong sense of confidence; and such was that confidence that writer St. Luke calls it boldness. Early believers' faith showed up in the form we might call courage, and it helped them face the toughest things in their lives with grace and joy.
Faith is boldness, or at least faith produces boldness. Faith produces courage, or one might say that courage is faith. Say it whatever way you like, but these things are synonymous.
If faith is present, confidence - boldness - courage will be present. Weak confidence is weak faith. No courage means no faith. Demonstration of boldness equals the presence of authentic faith. My faith can be measured by my courage to live out the things I say I believe. If I do not live it out, my faith is false. St. James says the same thing when he says "faith without works is dead." Let me say it this way, "Confidence results in action; no action equals no confidence."
Pastors sometimes face a "vote of confidence," that is, they face a vote of "faith" on behalf of their congregations. If people don't believe in a pastor, they don't trust her/him. If people don't trust you, then, perhaps you need to ask yourself the question whether you present a credible life - one in which people can feel confident or not. Do you engender confidence in others, or do they find you less than credible? This is a good question for everyone to ask.
Beyond that, ask yourself what you yourself have confidence about. Are you confident about the gospel. Are you bold about Jesus? Do you trust that Christ is the only hope for your salvation, or are you tentative about your commitment to him and his Church. Do you believe that Jesus is in control of his Church today, or not? Are you confident in HIS Church, not in a denomination or a special para-church organization? Are you bold about the community being built by Jesus? If not, why not? This is a question we must own, one way or the other.
What about miracles, healing the sick, glossolalia, prayer, proclaiming the gospel, giving to the poor, stewardship of the planet, feeding the hungry, loving your secular community, and so forth? Do you have faith? Does your life project an on-going confidence, courage, boldness - faith-ful-ness? This is how the writer to the Hebrews describes the heroes of faith in chapter eleven. They are all people who were fully persuaded that what God has promised he was also able to perform - and that he who cannot lie, promised them wonderful things that he has every intention of delivering.
The writer of Hebrews said, 32And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (Heb. 11:32-40 - English Standard Version)
The story of faith is still unfolding.
You are part of that story. Are you convinced? Will YOU be commended along with these faithful servants of God . . . will I? Well, as for me, I am confident that HE will do in me all he has set out to do. He will fulfill every promise and complete every work now in motion in my life. I don't know the details of how it will all unfold, but I do boldly proclaim His faithfulness and grace. I do trust in that grace which he alone is. I am confident he will succeed in his plans for my life - despite all odds and against all comers who attempt to derail his work in my life. Stand with me this year and proclaim with fresh confidence that Jesus Christ is Lord - to the glory of God the Father - and let us see how lives of authentic faith (courage), might transform our city, neighborhoods, families and friends.
How will we do this? Our faith will grow as we listen to what God says, and place our trust in that. This means we need to become, ever more, people of God's Word, because "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." (Rom 10:17) This does not mean we can unthinkingly take the written word at face value without a relationship with the LIVING WORD who stands in eternity beyond the printed page, or deal in a literalistic way with the text like a reckless biblicist (those so-called fundamentalists) do. Faithfulness to hearing God's Word means digging into it so that we might know it in greater depth, and live it with deeper conviction.
Positioning our lives to hear God's Word
There are many ways to do this, and we should do them all, and often. Expose your mind to the Word of God, to faithful, wise and accurate teaching, to personal Bible study, to hymns and songs that articulate the beautiful awe inspiring nuances of Christian thought. Those who think Christianity shallow and harsh couldn't be farther from the truth - though Christians themselves often fall short. The Word itself hides mysteries and will not reveal its secrets to those who come at it in a hackneyed manner. It is a closed book to the flippant and the self-satisfied skeptic. They ought not think they will hear anything from the Spirit, or that they would recognize it if they did. But, we who believe can get God's word down inside of our brains and hearts - more than this, we are expected to. Pray the scriptures like The Sermon on the Mount, or the books of Ephesians,Colossians or Hebrews and watch what will happen in your own life. I guarantee you something good will take place, and your confidence will grow stronger as you do.
Finally
ONLY YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN FAITH. No one can give it to you. God will help it to grow, and others will walk with you on this journey, but you and I alone are the ones who will finally govern whether we will lean on God in faith or not. Look intently into HIS Word and watch your faith grow strong. Like the picture above, it will become a shield for you, and it will defend you against many troubles. This is as true, as clear and as direct as I know how to say it.
Selah
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