Faith
Posted on October 20th, 2007 by joebib into the joebib writes categoryOne of the key words in the life of the believer in Christ is “faith.” Faith occurs some 400 times in the King James Version of the Bible. We come to Christ by faith. In faith, we believe He forgives our sins. We are commanded to have faith. To live by faith. To walk in faith. We read of little faith. Of great faith. Of being full of faith. Of empty faith. Of faithlessness.
Faith, faith, faith.
But, have you ever wondered about the true nature of faith and what it really means? Most Christians I know would probably say something along the lines of, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, NASB). A good, biblical answer. But, what does that mean, exactly? Is faith something you must seek, or do you already have it? Is it difficult to find? Or, is it not so difficult to find, as it is difficult to have and keep? Why do some people seem to have so much of it, and others of us don’t?
All of this leads me to share something the Lord has been dealing with me about recently, about having faith in my life. Not faith as in the Christian Faith, or as in having faith in Jesus as my Savior. But, faith as in trusting in God in the midst of a difficult situation.
This fall, my oldest son has been finishing up his last year at PBC. He has a real burden for the lost, and so one day, a few weeks ago, he informed me of his intention to go and spend some time among the homeless people around the Burnside Bridge, in downtown Portland. Just reach out to them, maybe give them some clothes he no longer used. He wanted to get to know what these people had to go through living there, and try to share the Gospel with them, and was wondering what I thought about the idea.
Well, there’s nothing like getting out of one’s sheltered environment and seeing the real world up close and personal, so I told him I thought he should go ahead. Why not? It sounded like a good idea…that is, until he mentioned he was planning to do this for an entire three days and three nights. Hold on a minute! Spend every night there? Live there? Out of contact with everyone? No cell phone? No nothing? Just like one of them?
Needless to say, I was aghast! Now the idea was terrible, and I began to panic. My son can be rather stubborn at times (gets it from his mom), and once he gets an idea into his head, there is pretty much no convincing him otherwise. So many thoughts began to race through my mind, as I strived to somehow convince him of the folly of this.
What exactly would he be doing there?
“Nothing in particular, just hanging out with them.”
Would he be taking any money?
“No, what for?”
Well, how would he eat?
“The same way they do.”
Where would he sleep?
“The same place they do, right on the ground.”
What if you get cold?
“They get cold every night.”
Did you talk to your teachers about this? (Good one, Dad!)
“Yep, they’re all for it.” (Thanks a lot, guys!)
What if something happened?
“Like what?”
Well, what if you were attacked?
“Look Dad, don’t worry, the Lord will take care of me.”
Yeah, I know, but….
I heard the voice of God, echoing in my mind…..“Yeah, but what? Don’t you trust Me?”
So, what could I do? — I gave him my blessing — since he was going to do it anyway. And I then proceeded to fret and worry for the next week, hoping he would change his mind. When the dreaded day he was to go down there finally arrived, I was just a mess, wasn’t sleeping well, my stomach was upset 24-7, all the time thinking about what could happen to him. I watched the clock constantly. “What’s he doing now?…it’s getting dark…the Portland weather report says rain…Lord, why is he doing this?…maybe he’s in trouble…Lord, help him…I hope he brought warm clothes…what will he eat?…maybe he’s getting beaten up right this very instant!…OH LORD!”
So, for three long days — and even longer nights — I went through sheer torture. Those with children can probably imagine what it was like for us. We prayed like never before, we fasted, we worried. I couldn't concentrate on even the simplest of tasks, and my mind wandered constantly, to thoughts of my son. And finally, after 72 hours of agony, on the third night when he was supposed to be done with it and back at the dorms, I started calling his cell phone. I must have called him 20 times, praying he would answer. When at last he did, I breathed a huge sigh of relief, and asked him how it went.
He said, “What are you talking about?”
How were the three days under the Burnside Bridge?
“Dad, I’m not going until tomorrow!”
You've got to be kidding me! I had gotten the dates mixed up! I closed my eyes and prayed “No…no…Lord…I can’t handle going through that again.”
Well, to fast-forward to the end of the story, he made it through just fine. Stuck to it for the entire three days and nights. Although there were a couple of hairy situations, he didn’t get stabbed or beaten up, or even hurt, thank the Lord. Gave away some clothes. Shared the love of Jesus with a lot of hurting people. And had his life forever changed.
And, me? Well, I felt ashamed at my lack of trust in the Lord. This was probably the greatest test of faith I had had in my entire Christian walk, and I had failed miserably, worrying and doubting and questioning God for three days.
But, I also learned a very valuable lesson through it all. I found out it is so easy to tell someone else — as I have done hundreds of times over the years — to just put everything, all your worries, in God’s hands, and trust Him to work it out.
To just have faith.
But, when it happened to me, when it was my life, when I was powerless to do anything but just to trust Him, when I was the one who had to stand on faith, and faith alone, I found out it’s a totally different ballgame.
"Increase our faith!" (Luke 17:5, NASB)
-joebib
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October 20th, 2007 at 8:34 am
Good for your son–that’s the kind of thing I would have liked to do when I was young. I find it hard to believe that any of the PBC teachers would advocate it though. Ken Malmin wouldn’t let me walk off of church property by myself because he felt the neighborhood wasn’t safe.
October 21st, 2007 at 7:34 pm
There’s something funny about faith. Most of the time faith doesn’t make sense. It can even look downright foolish. It can make me feel at peace about things that should be terrifying me. But I’ve also found that faith is the best feeling.
To absolutely know that there is a God out there in this big universe, who also lives inside of me and who loves me more than I could even begin to THINK I love my own children is a great feeling. He knows me and cares so much that He thinks up these wonderful ideas of ways to bless me even in my worst times and all He wants me to do is to let go and LET HIM.
Letting go is the hard part. I tend to think too hard, worry too much, don’t believe I’m good enough and I find it hard to let go and see what God will do. I do, however, happen to be a little adventurous and most of the time I don’t worry about looking a little foolish and I truly have a desire to see His best in my life. So for me faith is a necessity, not an option.
I’m learned through my experiences though, that having faith doesn’t always mean it will be easy or that I will never worry about money, or that I will get everything I ask for. I find it’s worth it anyway.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:01 am
If we define faith as simply believing in something that can’t be seen - that is, something that can’t be proven - then we have a very shaky definition of faith. If this is all we need to have faith, then believing in the tooth fairy or the Easter Bunny is the same as having faith!
I don’t think most Christians can give a concrete definition of what faith is, and they skirt the issue by saying that faith can’t be proved or defined and that is what makes it “faith”. I think this is a terrible definition, and leaves opportunity for heresy, failure, and most often simple disappointment that can and does lead to disillusion. If one can’t properly define what faith is, how we can build our faith in God and what we believe in?
I think most Christian’s idea of faith is a glorified hope, wishful thinking, or simply a positive attitude. This makes them no better than Scientologists or purveyors of “The Secret”. If faith is simply just mind over matter, then why do so many people have such a hard time getting it? If faith is just convincing myself that everything is going to be alright, then it would seem reasonable that everyone could have the faith to do many miracles. After all, Jesus said that all we needed was the faith of a mustard seed to move mountains. So, how come nobody moves mountains?
I think the prototype of great faith in Abraham is the best example on how to begin to define it. God told Abraham that he would have many descendants. Abraham believed him, and it was that belief in God’s promise that was attributed to him as faith (see Romans 4). Without the promise, Abraham’s hope for a son was just an empty wish. But because God promised, Abraham’s hope became belief, which in turn became faith.
If someone says to me, “I have faith in God,” then I say, “For what?” If God has not promised you anything, how can it then be called faith? But if my brother says, “I belive that God will raise me up on the last day because I have put my trust in Jesus Christ as God’s Son,” then I say, “You have great faith!”
Here’s a touchy one:
“I have faith that my sister will be healed of cancer.”
“Really? Did God promise that to you?”
Jesus did tell us that He would give us the Holy Spirit to heal the sick, but did he promise that every believer would be completely healthy all the time, and that no believer would ever die of illness? Doesn’t the fact that many Christians die from disease that could be healed tell us something about the difference between hope and faith? It is truly sad to see someone’s relationship with God destroyed because they are convinced that they failed to have enough faith in a difficult situation, especially in the loss of a loved one. When all along it was God’s intention to take that person home.
On the flip side, the Bible does tell us to pray often, and to pray specifically for the healing of others. We are to continue to do what we can where we can in working the practical application of the Gospel. But I would caution to be careful to not confuse faith with simple obedience. If anything Jesus promised us that life would be hard and that we would face many difficulties and trials. Faith is not a magic cure-all for our troubles.
So, Joebib, how does this story fit into your faith? Does your trust in God to work things out jibe with your story? (Romans 8:28) What if your son had been killed that weekend? Would your faith have changed then? Or would you feel that you had failed?
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:12 am
FMIC;
I have a story for you. I have a freind who was going in for more tests and exploritory sergery possibly, to repair a blocked valve in her heart. Mind you she is near 60 and has other medical issues that might interfer with this procedure. Any way, my sister and I planned to go up and support her in any way posible. The night before I woke up in the middle of some thing going on in my spirit! As I lay there awake and listening to the most powerful prayer I have ever heard. I realized the Lord was using me for his purposes He didn’t need my faith , he didn’t even need me to be awake really.he showed me that night it has nothing to do with me except that I am the store house for his holy spirit, he will call me, he will move me he will use me all I have to do is be willing to be used. Even then I’m not sure it matters he is calling the shots. thats why he calls it surrender its out of our control. I’m sure thats why its so hard for us, we need to analize it, understand it, see a sign, call it some thing, have a word, read a sctipture, conformation from someone else, some kind of proof.
When I stood at her hospital bed and told her what had happend, she said that’s good enough for me, he’s already taken care of things then.
Needless to say, they did nothing to her, the blockage was gone no sign of anything.
Betty
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:24 am
Betty, that’s a great story and a wonderful example of faith.
a) God chose to heal this woman.
b) God spoke to you through the Holy Spirit to deliver the promise.
c) You believed God. That’s faith!
d) God healed her.
“26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” (Romans 8:26-27)
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:05 am
FICM –
It seems the inerrancy of the Scriptures isn’t the only thing you have pondered. Although I now agree with you, since you are right this time
Those are some excellent insights on faith. The hypothetical question you pose about my son is penetrating, and definitely cuts to the heart of the matter.
I hope (and believe), though difficult, I would still maintain my faith if the worse had happened, in keeping with the attitude of the “Three Hebrew Children” in Daniel 3:
No, contradiction certainly doesn’t negate the concept of faith as taught in the Scriptures. In Hebrews 11, the great “Faith Chapter,” the author chronicles the glorious victories of faith, and summarizes it all in verses 33-35a:
But then, a marked change takes place. In the middle of verse 35, the author changes his method and lists — as if with the intent to save the best examples for last — what would usually be perceived as a lack of faith:
We have on the one hand, getting one’s dead child resurrected. And on the other hand, going through the agony of being sawn in two.
So, which is harder to see through to the end? Which takes greater faith?
-joebib
October 25th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Jobib– I think I’ve broken the code for your name. Your lament on this site is the same as Job’s complaints to his friends… say it out loud, Job I B.
October 25th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
I would like to say it is very refreshing to hear that your son is wanting to live his faith to such an extent. Hopefully he can team up with Sarah M to spread the sincere love.
Very interesting thoughts on faith.
October 26th, 2007 at 3:30 am
Norella! Where you been?
I thought perhaps one of those “covert-op” guys — decked out in full camos and faceblack — from one of the local, MFI-affiliated, “F.A.R.C.E.” (Forced Aerial Reconnaisance and Conversion Exercise) Units had finally succeeded in hunting you down, hovered over your house in a huge Blackhawk, repelled down into your backyard, and terminated you “with extreme prejudice,” as the wet-workers say.
Grabbed and forced back into weekly IC attendance, that is.
Or, maybe that your boss had caught you posting at work, and had snipped the tiny cable to your blazingly fast, 2400-baud, antique modem. Told ya to upgrade when you had the chance.
Saying (chanting) it right now…
Thanks. He and some of his radical buddies have rented a house over in the Albina District, to do just that, try and lend a helping hand to the ‘hood, etc. Providing he doesn’t get knifed first, that is
Meanwhile, he is enrolled at PSU this fall for his Masters.
I’d appreciate your prayers for him (and for my nerves, too).
-joeb
October 26th, 2007 at 7:38 am
WOW!
Anytime you worry about him, you can be thankful he’s not a marine in Iraq. Having my kid in the service would bring my heart to a stop.
This subject of faith and can we trust God to keep our family safe shakes me to the core. When my daughter was 13 there was a 13 year old girl across town of a Christian family that was attacked raped and killed on her way to school. Nothing that the family did caused it, not drugs , not alcohol, not even a stupid decision. Around that time I had a dream that a wolf was looking in my kitchen window and woke terribly frightened. I still start praying every time she leaves for a run after dark.
I have to conclude that my prayers are to “work with God” and should anything horrific happens my He will be with me.
Even discussion of it now, brings up anxiety, but at the same time, prayer and faith.
Okay, back to work.