Presumption is when we step out in an effort to what we want from God.
Faith is when we step out in obedience toward what God is wanting from us.
I've butchered the way my pastor eloquently stated it, but I was challenged over the way we can use the word "faith" in a manipulative sense.
I don't fully understand how faith works, but I am very bothered when I see it used as weapon. As Janelle and I were on our baby journey, we had several times where individuals gently or bluntly challenged us that our not getting pregnant was due to a lack of faith on our part.
At one point, an individual came and said, "I've been praying with faith for you to have a baby. Where's your faith?" (to which, I wanted to respond, "I think my faith is somewhere in my fist, can I show it to you?"... but I didn't)
Who is the source of faith? I don't fully understand how faith works, but I am very bothered when I see it used as weapon. As Janelle and I were on our baby journey, we had several times where individuals gently or bluntly challenged us that our not getting pregnant was due to a lack of faith on our part.
At one point, an individual came and said, "I've been praying with faith for you to have a baby. Where's your faith?" (to which, I wanted to respond, "I think my faith is somewhere in my fist, can I show it to you?"... but I didn't)
Is it us, or is it God?
I Corinthians 12 mentions faith as a spiritual gift.
One of my favorite Gospel stories is in Mark 9 - the story of the father who brings his demon possessed son to Jesus. Jesus says that everything is possible for him who believes.
The father's response... "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (mark 9:24b)
I believe, help me overcome my unbelief!
No answers here... just a bunch of jumbled thoughts.
I never want to presume on God.
I want to trust.
3 comments:
hey derry...i just wanted to say that i really enjoyed your 'silence' series in the Effect...i was dealing with an unanswered prayer the first week that got answered during break...and it's been really really great. so, yeah, just thought i'd let you know that it was a great couple of weeks...and it also made me miss senior high with you talking :( but that's alright, i'm finding great things in the young adult group...
If your thoughts are jumbled, then so are mine. You expressed exactly my own thoughts about faith.
Derry,
I was in the meeting as well and the examples given were very practical- we don't go breaking our glasses and say "God is gonna heal my eyes." I had a friend who died 'trusting God' when he stopped taking his insulin for diabetes. I also was healed of a life threatening disease, and also Lupus, but I didn't go off my meds until the doctor said they were making me sick and it's time to go off- it was cooler that way actually to hear the doc say, "you are healed!"
But ya know as I ponder this further I realize that Abraham in most if not all church circles today would have been viewed as darned presumptious in offering his kid. Can you imagine what the pastors at NMC would say to you if you said God told YOU to offer that new baby up? Or how about Esther, give me a break. Can you imagine one of the teens in your youth group telling you God is sending her into the haram of a Muslim and she is not married and she is required to sleep with him? ALL for the glory of God? Hmmm.... that would be viewed as not only presumptious but also immoral! How about if you built an ark Derry and it was in the middle of Nevada. I was in NV a few months back, trust me, the local pastors might ask you to get a psychiatric evaluation if you did that... said God said a flood is coming to NV.
But the examples of presumption given in the sermon clearly showed some stupid actions- and ...... the actions in the Bible WOULD BE VIEWED as stupid, idiotic and presumptious to those who love God in today's church.
So what are we do to? OBEY the voice of God. I'd rather hear teaching on how to discern the voice of God, than presumption vs. faith. I am so glad we have a pastor, Pastor Dave who KNOWS the voice of God. :) I'd also like to see sermons on why the gifts are alive and well today and GOD needs us to walk in them. I have in my pinky more supernatural power than any newager could ever imagine. And the only difference between a psychic and a prophet is one is for the dark kindgom and one is for the light side. (wink)..... I'd like to see more teachings on how to walk in an abandoned lifestyle for Jesus and learn to reject the voice of the path of least resistance.
I was teaching a group of people thru business, disciplining is what I was doing but they call it coaching, and I said: The path of least resistance is heavily populated.
Derry- I think the path of UNBELIEF is heavily populated, not the path of presumption.
Ok, there's my rant.. ( tee hee)... all for His glory! :)
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