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Jun 14, 2006
faith Sometimes I wonder if I'm really a Christian. All it takes is faith, right? That's why I wonder. Do I actually have faith? How much faith does one need? How is that even quantified? James 2 complicates it for me. Actually, it clarifies a lot, but it makes me wonder about my own faith even more. James discusses the interplay between works and faith. Some think he is challenging Paul doctrine of faith only by adding a works element. James even says says that it is not only by faith we are saved, but also by works. But, he's not advocating a works system where a set of works gets you into heaven. It's not works. Rather, it's living by faith. James makes two other statemnts that help clarify. One is that faith without works is dead. And, he also says that you say you have faith, but I will show you my faith by what I do. In other words, your faith should affect your behavior. What clarifies all of this is the biblical examples that he uses, in particular the story of Abraham. He discusses the part where Abraham is told to sacrifice Isaac. So, Abraham takes Isaac to the place that God instructed him to go, made the altar, placed Isaac on the altar and was ready to preform the sacrifice. Then, God told him not to finish it. Of course, we tend to understand this in the sense of Abraham having to give up his son. That in itself makes it a compelling story. But, there is even more to it. God had made a covenant, a promise to Abraham, that through him there would be a great nation. Isaac was the fulfillment of that promise. And now, God had asked him to give up what he had promised to him. So, when Abraham put Isaac on the altar, he was placing everything on there, his hopes, dreams, and ambitions. He trusted that God would come through in his promise. He had faith. Which begs the question, if Abraham had not put Isaac on the altar, then where is his faith? That's the point that James is trying to make. James make it pretty simple. But, we don't like that answer. We prefer to have a bit of room to waiver now and then. We like to take the simple way and still be able to claim faith, that we believe. But, as James points out, even the demons beleive. And yet, there is grace. Only, faith is the prerequisite of faith, right? So again, what is faith? Or, perhaps more accurately, where is my faith. What am I willing to put on that altar? Or, maybe more importantly, what do I refuse to put on that altar. I like the version when I get to keep some of it. In the end of the story, Abraham got to keep everything. In fact, God put a ram in the bushes for Abraham to sacrifice. It didn't cost Abraham anything. The point wasn't what Abraham lost or had to give up. Rather, it's what he was willing to give up, and even more importantly who he was willing to give it to. And that's my struggle. I don't know what I would put on the line. So what does that say about my faith? posted
by Unknown @ 11:41:00 PM |
