When did the term 'faith' get reduced to the weak definition of merely 'believing in something'? Many who are said to have 'faith' - have it like one has a pair of shoes, or a car, or that trophy deer head on the wall. It's something they have, one more possession that they've collected along life's journey that they can sit back and admire. But for the true follower of Christ - Faith is much more than this - it must be - it has to be. For faith is not just a belief in God or that God exists - that's for the casual at heart. No, faith is so much more. Genuine faith means I will take risks - because faith is risk. Faith spoke when the three Hebrew children defied a king and told him that their God "would" deliver them from the furnace. Faith spoke when Jesus released storm canceling power in a boat one night on the Sea of Galilee - then rebuked the disciples for not speaking to the storm themselves. Faith spoke when Peter told a dead girl to simply "get up" in Acts 9.
Why don't we see the miraculous in America like seen on the mission field, like we read about in the Bible? Because we've forgotten what faith is. We've forgotten what it means to go out on a limb, and trust that God will meet us there. With a wink and a smile we tell someone we will pray for them - but whatever happened to stopping to lay hands on them right there and then asking them how they feel, is the lump gone, has the pain disappeared? You don't see that very much anymore - even in most of our churches. Why? Because that's risky. We might look stupid. We think 'what if nothing happens'? It's time to change our thinking: 'What if something does happen?
Jesus' commission to us from Matthew 10 still stands today: "Preach the kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Since the Biblical definition of belief is actually obedience, this short list requires obedience to the call - faith - and that is spelled r-i-s-k.
Excellent post, Eric. I wonder how many elders in our churches ever read James 5:14-15.
ReplyDeleteI like your take on this.
ReplyDeleteI think you're absolutely right in saying that Christians these days are unwilling to take risks in a demonstration of genuine faith. One thing you didn't emphasize, however, is that these risks must be taken to do the will of God. No matter how strong our faith is, anything we do outside the will of God will fail. For instance, if I had faith that I was going to win a million dollars, but God didn't think that would be good for me, it would not happen.
ReplyDeleteI think one reason why people are afraid to step out in faith is because they don't know God's will for their lives. The only remedy for that is time spent studying the Bible and praying.
Winning a million dollars isn't the issue here however. The will of God is for us to do the work of the Kingdom - since we know that it's God's will to save all and heal all - therefore, we can and should move in the faith required to operate in the realm that He's called us to.
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ReplyDeletePastor Eric- You are sure to be used by God in the days ahead. I have posted a series of prophetic utterances the Lord has given me to speak openly about the days ahead. I would be encouraged and blessed if you would read them and test them as one of His servants and one of my fellow brothers in the Lord. The Kindom of God is nothing like we think it is nor try to make it out to be. It is completeley inverse to everything we think, feel, know, and see in this kingdom of the world.
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I'd be honored to read them
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