Faith – In Other Words - Part 1

The writer of Hebrews 11 states from the get-go that faith is an assurance, a conviction, in and of something not seen, but hoped for. Hope in this instance is rock solid, based upon the character, and articulations of God; his person and his word, in other words.   

Hebrews 11 is a, maybe the, pivotal text in explicating faith – why is it, what is it, what does it accomplish, and where does it come from?  These are all vital and essential matters to address, if not for clarity then, at very least, to help clear up misunderstandings.  For instance, faith isn’t in no-thing, and faith isn’t a whimsical ideal that has no connection with reality.

I suspect though that we have lost sight of this and commodified faith.  We have made it a means to an end - an end we often determine, one we would prefer.  God has become a slot machine that pays out, and scripture has become a series of principles to utilise, not the word and life of God that challenges us more than it mollifies us.  Biblical ‘principles’ have taken the place of biblical ‘word.’  Truth has been traded for utility – which is the sin of this swap. 

There is no question that the scriptures are laden with sage advice for living, but not instead of, not at the cost of a knowledge of, and submission to, the God of scripture, the Christian God, revealed in Jesus of Nazareth.   

Truth is a person to love and obey – not a principle to pragmatically employ to fulfil the goal of personal happiness.  Nowhere does Scripture address in promissory terms the Western enshrined ideal of happiness.

Maybe we could speak less of using faith, increasing faith and speaking in faith (all of which we validly do - this isn’t my point).  We could rather say, let faith define you, grow in faith so that we grow to be more like Jesus, let faith be seen in good works, kindness and less in the kind of ‘baptised’ self-absorption that has become common. 

Hebrews 11 goes on to define, defend, and display faith that may be a shock to our expectations.  We could call it: Faith – in other words.