Twisted Faith

Faith describes trust and reliance. It exists when people trust or rely upon someone or something. Trusting in God characterizes godly people.

Yet, faith can become twisted as Moses discovered. But I have gotten ahead of myself.

By the time Miriam died in the wilderness, Moses and Israel had experienced God’s powerful interventions on multiple occasions. Their memories should have been saturated by ten devastating plagues and deliverance through the Red Sea on dry ground. Furthermore, at God’s command Moses had struck the rock at Horeb resulting in water gushing out. Manna could be collected each morning. Birds provided food in the evening. More recently over a single night Aaron’s staff had produced buds, flowers and fully formed almonds!

The Law proclaimed and Israel had experienced, God is holy. None other is like the LORD. God is not like us. The people were to regard the LORD as holy.

All of this brings us to Israel arriving at Kadesh where Miriam died. One other detail about Kadesh. “Now there was no water for the congregation” (Numbers 20:2).

Thirsty people tend to become cranky people, even desperate people. Knowing what God had done and what God could do was not slating their parched throats in Kadesh. And so, the people unleashed their drama by quarrelling with Moses.

God instructed Moses:

Take the staff and assemble the community, you and Aaron your brother, and then speak to the rock before their eyes. It will pour forth its water, and you will bring water out of the rock for them, and so you will give the community and their beasts water to drink” (Numbers 20:8).

God revealed to Moses that God would use him to bring forth water for the people and flocks. We should note that Moses trusted God. He picked up the staff. He gathered the people. He knew water was about to flow. Moses possessed neither doubt nor fear.

What did fill Moses’ heart was bitterness and anger at Israel (Psalm 106:32-33). Nothing indicates God was angry. God planned on providing what his people needed.

The stage was set. Complaining Israel had been summoned before Moses and Aaron. They knew Moses had consulted with God.  Now Moses stood before them to reveal God’s verdict. How would the God of Israel respond?

Moses unleashed vitriolic words, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?” (Numbers 20:10). The moment’s terseness was punctuated by two swift strikes on a rock. Water flowed. Israel certainly had an impression of their God and it looked a lot like a frustrated Moses.

When people who trust in the Lord combine faith with their own hubris, the result is a twisted faith. Although Moses trusted in God’s word and power, his feelings regarding how Israel should be handled contravened relying upon honoring God’s holiness.  In God’s words,

Because you did not trust in me to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them” (Numbers 20:12).

To coalesce our trust in God with asserting our ways amounts to rebellion (Numbers 27:14).

Enter Uzziah. He too exemplified a twisted faith. Uzziah believed in God and desired to worship God. However, on one occasion he inserted his pride into his devotion to the Lord. Such distorted trust in God by worshipping God in his own way amounted to disobedience resulting in leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:16-21).

Let’s not forget leprous Naaman. He believed that the prophet of God within Israel could heal him. He expected the prophet to call upon the LORD his God to rid him of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:11). He trusted that God’s power could heal him.

Yet, when the prophet told him he should go dip seven times in the Jordan river to be cleansed, his pride kicked in. Naaman resolved to trust in God in his own way by using better water. To consolidate one’s trust in God with one’s own hubris would amount to rebellion.

Fortunately, a servant talked some sense into him. He obediently relied upon God. His leprosy was cured.

How often do we trust in God, but determine we can trust him in our own way? Will we fare any better? How much do we value the New Testament phrase “the obedience of faith?”

God is holy. We can not trust in God as though our will is what matters.

Analyzing Biblical Faith

Faith describes trust and reliance. Faith exists when people trust or rely upon someone or something.

Hebrew Words

In the OT the various nouns built from the Hebraic root ’mn, whose basic meaning is firmness or certainty, convey ideas ranging from trusting to faithfulness (Proverbs 12:22; Psalm 31:23). The verbal form (’aman) can describe the confident trust placed in or upon someone or something (Genesis 15:6; Proverbs 14:15).

The Hebraic root bth, meaning security (Judges 18:7), developed into signifying faith (noun) because the object of trust was regarded as reliable (Isaiah 30:15; Psalm 40:4). Its verbal form conveys trusting in or relying upon (2 Kings 18:20; Jeremiah 7:4).

Greek Words

In the NT and in the Greek translation of the OT (Septuagint), pistis denotes faith and trust. It can also mean faithfulness (Proverbs 12:22; Romans 3:3). The cognate verb of pistis, namely pisteuō, signifies believe, trust or entrust (John 11:26; 1 Corinthians 9:17).

Nature of Faith

While faith signifies trust (noun), how people must rely depends upon each context (Hebrews 11). Where an unconditional promise is offered or assent is required, faith might merely require believing (Genesis 15:4-6; Galatians 3:2-6; Hebrews 11:6). Where commands are issued or the context prescribes a specific action, faith requires obedience or a context appropriate response (Hebrews 11:7,8).

Trust might be either misguided or appropriate. Several reasons exist why faith might be misguided. Someone might rely upon an entity incapable of providing what is sought, such as idols or military power (Isaiah 42:17; 31:1). Another reason involves disobeying God, who is greater, in order to choose to trust in something lesser (Deuteronomy 28:15,52). Still yet, relying in the wrong manner can be regarded as faithlessness and can amount to disobedience (Numbers 20:12; 27:14; 2 Chronicles 26:18).

God is worthy of our trust (Jeremiah 17:7). Because of God’s covenantal promises, sovereignty and his other attributes, God is capable of being faithful and worthy of trust (Deuteronomy 7:9; Isaiah 26:4). Scripture describes living with faith in God as epitomizing how people ought to live (Psalm 62:8; Galatians 3:11).

Faith stands in contrast to fear and faithlessness. Fear can arise when people focus upon something within creation rather than upon God (Isaiah 7:4,7,9; 2 Chronicles 20:15,20). What distinguishes heroes of faith such as Joshua and David from their brethren was their unrelenting dependence upon God and confident conviction that led them to action. Hebrews 11:1 highlights this aspect of faith’s confident expectation.

Salvation

Proclaiming the gospel is intended to cause hearers to respond with faith (Romans 10:17; 16:25-26; Acts 20:21). In order to be forgiven and right with God, people must rely upon Christ (Romans 3:25; 2 Timothy 3:15). Paul sought to lead people to respond with the obedience of faith (Romans 1:5).

Conversion summaries in Acts do not delineate the details about how people rely upon Christ (Acts 6:7; 15:9). Sometimes Luke’s conversion summaries use the verb believe (Acts 4:4). Paul also used the noun faith and the verb believe to summarize depending upon Christ without explaining its details (Romans 1:16; Ephesians 2:8).

When these authors do delineate how people rely upon Christ, faith requires believing truths about Jesus (Romans 10:9; Acts 8:12), confessing Christ (Romans 10:9), and being baptized (Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 2:41). Thus it is after baptism, not after simply believing the message, that someone can claim faith (Acts 16:31-34).

The Christian Life

The disciple’s life is lived with faith in God and in Christ. To live with faith involves both depending upon God as well as exemplifying a life congruent with God’s word (James 2:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:3). For the disciple to live with faithfulness embodies one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). To remain in Christ requires continuing in the faith (Colossians 1:23).

Creed

Faith can also refer to the doctrines Christians hold to be true. Hence the faith teaches about Christ’s saving work (Acts 6:7; 1 Timothy 3:9). The faith can also pertain to the larger body of teachings from God’s word (1 Timothy 4:6; Jude 3) 

Faith Versus Works / Paul Versus James

Because of Romans 3:28 and James 2:24, some regard James as contradicting Paul. In reality they addressed two different contexts. Their messages do not conflict.

When Paul wrote about faith and works, he was addressing the context of becoming justified, that is entering salvation (Acts 15:1-2,9; Galatians ). Paul defended the principle of trusting in Christ against observing the Law. Notably, reliance upon Christ requires both belief and actions of faith (confession & baptism). These acts are not the works Paul denounced.

James’ context focused upon how the saved should live. James pointed out that living by faith demands appropriate actions, not mere mental ascent to truths. James’ usage of works is equivalent to Paul’s “work of faith” (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Faith/ Faithfulness of Christ

The literal phrase “faith of Christ” or “faithfulness of Christ” appears nine times in seven verses in the NT (Romans 3:22,26; Galatians 2:16,20; 3:22; Ephesians 3:12; Philippians 3:9). Most translations understand these phrases to mean “faith in Christ.” Some exceptions are the KJV and NET. 

If these are referring to Christ’s faith or faithfulness, they do not alter the necessity for our faith in Jesus. If they refer to his faithfulness, they might refer to his submission to crucifixion. Or they might amplify our understanding of Jesus’ role in our salvation. Not only was his sinless life necessary for our redemption (1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 2:1-2), but also his faith/faithfulness (Romans 3:22-26).

Believer: An Interesting Term

I find the term believer fascinating. Some of its intriguing facets include its frequency and the obfuscating manner in which people use it.

Perspective Pebbles

My young friend’s thoughts were eloquent, typical and certainly not Christian. He seems to distrust scripture. What could be said that might provide him the opportunity to reconsider?

I have decided to share with him some perspective pebbles, not full-blown thoughts, but merely some seeds warranting further reflection. The following pebbles are not politically correct, but they just might be more helpful.

Handbook For The Christian Journey

Make it simple. Keep it practical. Peter delivers.

The letter of 1 Peter offers us a short handbook on how to live the Christian life within a hostile society. It may have other purposes as well, but it certainly provides us with a practical guide for traveling to heaven. Five practical commands show the way.

The Unity Principle

Whether people find themselves embroiled in controversy or enjoying the blessing of unity, identifiable principles are always at work.  Why? Because discord and solidarity are the fruits of value-based issues that function according to predictable processes.

Faith Beyond Belief

Having successfully pushed a wheelbarrow heaped with potatoes across the thundering waters of Niagra Falls,  the tightrope walker asked, “Can I do this with a man in my wheelbarrow?” An enthusiastic roar arose from the admiring crowd, “Yes, you can!”

Wasted Ink

We Americans thrive on practical checklists and how-to guides. Keep it simple. Make it practical. Cut to the chase. These ubiquitous phrases provide proverbial guidance for weeding out the immaterial from the valuable.

Are biblically literate Americans tempted to rush through or even skip over the first three chapters of Ephesians to arrive at the really good part—the practical advice on Christian living? Except for a few proof texts, might some Christians functionally treat the early chapters like wasted ink?

How might Paul respond to such thinking?

Finding Hidden Manna

“To the one who overcomes, I will give him some of the hidden manna” (Revelation 2:17). This cryptic claim is promised to the Christian victors in Pergamum.

We know manna is the food God provided the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 19). But it was not hidden. It abundantly fell everywhere around the camp! What is John communicating with “hidden manna?”

103 Church Appreciation

Are we as distressed with our society as much as Lot anguished over his? (2 Peter 2:7-8) Do we echo Israel’s prophet who asked why God had not handled all that was wrong? (Habakkuk 1:2-3) In spite of how dark our culture might become, God can build the brightest of beacons in that darkest corner!