Have you ever had one of those days when everything seems to converge on one particular topic. One of those days when it seems pretty obvious that you are meant to learn some lesson or at least reflect upon some subject. I'm having one of those days right now!Faith . . . what is it all about? I was confronted with this question last night. The movie Simon Birch happened to be on television. We haven't had cable for a while - it is simply a luxury beyond the means of poor graduate students or maybe we just have different priorities - needless to say, our choices are quite limited. So, when a quality and entertaining movie like Simon Birch comes on you take the opportunity to watch it.
The entire movie is wonderful exploration of the foundational faith questions. Is there meaning and purpose in our lives? Or, can we simply explain all of existence through causal relationships? Is there an overarching narrative within which we all play a part? Or, do we explain all things by reducing them to their simplest parts - mass and energy? Questions that go all the way back to Herodotus, Thucydides and byond. The movie thrust me right into the center of our human quest for meaning. I went to bed with questions, and no answers.
Providential guidance has continued to direct me on this quest throughout the day. I'm not quick to make that assumption; however, all of my predetermined devotion, study and reading for the day has revolved around the meaning of faith.
It is a simple word in the koine Greek - pistis. I know, it sounds kind of vulgar when transliterated into English . . . get your mind out of the gutter. Most importantly it is a relational word that carries the connotation of trust and commitment. Moreover, variations of this word can be translated as belief, faith, or trust. It is evident, when the term is used in the Bible that in almost every case it is not referring to belief or faith in abstract concepts or principles, but rather belief, faith, or trust in a personal being.
Even in my reading of James, in preparation for a small group study this evening, faith is used over and over in a relational context. It seems to me that Martin Luther really misunderstood this epistle. In his attempts to exclude it from the canon; regarding it as empty and down right strawy, he missed out on the deeper relational meaning in this powerful paraenesis. While there is an emphasis on the "law" and "works" in conjunction with faith, they are completely understood in a relational context to the Lawgiver! As the author says, "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said, 'You shall not commit adultery,' also said, 'You shall not commit murder.' Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law." (James 2:10) You see the unity of the "law" is based on the one Lawgiver.
Faith, then, evokes a way of life that is shaped by the One in whom we trust. We do not believe in or have faith in abstract propositions; rather, we have faith in the Living God. This is evident in the recurring call in the Gospel according to John - "come and see." The two disciples of John ask Jesus (their new Rabbi or Teacher), "Where are you staying." Jesus says, "come and see." And the very next verse says, "They came and saw . . . " Then Philip proclaims to Nathanael that they have found the Messiah and he's from Nazareth. Nathanael said, "can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip replies, "Come and see." It is only through this real encounter that faith is possible because faith is personal, experiential, and relational.
When I find myself struggling with faith it is usually because my attention has been diverted toward abstract ideals, instead of focusing the One in whom I trust. I still don't have any answers, but maybe this was what I was meant to discover and explore today. If you are struggling with questions of faith, I would encourage you to lay aside the abstract belief systems and structures, at least for the moment, and as the Psalmist says, "Taste and see that the LORD is good, blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him." Is Jesus worth checking out? Come and see!
Blessings ~ RLS
N.B. I'm in no way suggesting that belief systems and structures are unimportant. They enable us to flesh out this personal knowledge linguistically, which is of great importance from a relational perspective. However, the theological language itself must not take the place of first order knowledge.
2 comments:
I have always thought of James as being a definition of faith. Hebrews 11:1 gives us a simple definition of faith: being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Paul tells us what faith does: for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. But the early church seems to have misinterpreted faith as license. So James expands the definition of faith: faith that does not produce deeds is not saving faith--it is an appearance of faith, but not the real thing. It was enough for Martin Luther to take us as far as he did. Others needed to stand on his shoulders to get us the rest.
Good post, and nicely thought provoking.
Thanks for your encouraging comments . . . you are one of the sharpest weary and worn engineers that I know! And I do know a couple more engineers ;) I hadn’t really thought of the progressing development of the biblical notion of “faith,” but you make very interesting point . . . and, this is why we need the entire scope of Scripture, rather than pulling and picking proof texts. Blessings ~ RLS
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