Faith Alive

Daniel 1:8-17; Matthew 9:2-9; Romans 14:22-15:7

Rev. Chris Harbin, Rocks Baptist Church—Pamplin, VA

01 August 2004

We believe in God. By faith we trust that there is only one God. We believe there is no salvation apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are non-Christians who believe these things, as well. James tells us that Satan holds these things to be true. What is the difference in believing certain doctrines and a living faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? How does faith become a living, saving reality? How is our faith any different from those who do not give their lives to God?

Daniel is one of the Old Testament heroes of faith. Daniel’s faith was tested as he was taken away to captivity in Babylonian exile. While in exile, he faced several situations in which he had to decide if he would allow his faith to become an active reality in his life. There were many reasons for him to decide to leave faith out of his actions at the Babylonian court. There was a plenty of pressure for him to conform to the will of his Babylonian captors.

By all accounts, the gods of Babylon had shown their superiority over Yahweh—all accounts other than a few unpopular prophets like Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah. Why should he be true to Yahweh if Yahweh really were not the protector and powerful God he had been led to believe. If Yahweh really were powerful and sovereign, why would he allow the people to be uprooted from the Promised Land and sent into captivity?

When the king’s servants placed food before Daniel, he realized that he must decide whether he would eat the king’s fare or be true to his understanding of God’s instructions. He took the risk of telling the steward that he could not eat the king’s fare, but required vegetables and water instead. He proposed a test of 10 days to allow the steward to judge the effects of following Yahweh’s instructions. The move was bold and somewhat risky. He had no authority to speak to the king’s officers in such a manner, but he knew that if he were to be faithful to Yahweh, it would have to begin with the very food he ate and standing on his convictions. He had to allow his faith to make a difference in his life and actions. For faith to be worthwhile, it must be alive.

Jesus prized those who allowed their faith to take action and lead them into uncertain situations. He seemed to revel in those who were willing to take risks as a natural outcome of their relationship with God. When the quadriplegic man’s friends tore apart the roof of a house in order to bring the man before Jesus, He was touched by their faith and sincerity. He commended them for allowing their faith to invade their lives and direct their actions in an unprecedented manner. While Jesus focused primarily on the quadriplegic’s relationship to God and need for forgiveness, he went on to demonstrate God’s forgiveness by healing the man.

Their faith led them out of their normal routines. It led them so far as to break the norms and taboos of society, prizing their needy friends above and beyond the limits of propriety. They took upon themselves the responsibility to get their friend to Jesus, even though it meant tearing apart the home of another to accomplish their mission. We would be horror-struck at that kind of vandalism in our day. It was very likely just as taboo in Jesus’ day, but faith compelled them to action. Without action, their faith would have been meaningless.

Paul wrote the Roman believers of the need to live in accordance with their convictions. Living out one’s convictions did not mean argue over differing opinions on doctrine, interpretation, or even how the gospel should be applied to their lives. The believers were to live in harmony, based not on consensus of opinion, but on a corporate identity of service to God. Their lives were to reflect their relationship to and dependence upon Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They were not enjoined to believe and apply the gospel in unison. They were tasked to accept one another and hold each other as fellow servants of the same Lord. Each was to live in accountability to Christ in response to conscience.

Their fellowship and unity was not to be based on a common set of practices or even specific understandings of doctrine. They were to welcome one another as fellow servants of God, relying on God’s steadfastness and encouragement to bind them together in unity and fellowship. Jointly, they were to glorify God with a united voice. Theirs was to be a mutual faith—not in definitions of doctrine, but in allegiance and service to Christ Jesus. Their faith was to live and alter their reality as individuals and as a believing community.

It was in that context of mutual faith—mutual reliance and dependence upon God—that faith was to be lived and so bring glory to God. Before being elected to lead the Baptist Sunday School Board, Jimmy Draper wrote, "The power of Christian fellowship still astounds the world. Black and white, red and yellow, young and old, rich and poor, liberal and conservative, men and women, radical and conventional. All kinds of people and backgrounds . . . together . . . all together in harmony with Christ! People, who disagree without being disagreeable, in Christ together! Beautiful! The world stands amazed, and our evangelism and service for Christ is propelled by our fellowship."

That kind of togetherness and harmony is a product of living faith. Living faith takes risks in trusting God. It trusts God, rather than human interpretation, emotional response, or the limitations of our vision and understanding. It steps out into an unknown and often uncomfortable future, trusting God to lead the way and provide beyond our means or understanding. It propels us forward into an experience of unity with and dependence upon Christ Jesus. It demands that we trust. It demands that we allow faith to take on a life of its own and express that life in our actions, character, and fellowship.

Faith must be far more than the set of things we believe. Faith must be much more than lip service to Christ Jesus. Faith must be allowed to propel us forward into the future that God desires for us. It demands that we take risks. It demands the risk of trusting God’s faithfulness beyond that we can see. It demands placing the needs of others ahead of our own. It demands that we give up control over others, and seek something more than conformity. It demands that we join with fellow servants of Christ, even when we may disagree on issues, doctrine, or application of the gospel. It demands that we refocus our lives under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Are we ready to allow faith to truly live? If our faith is truly alive, it will take on a life of its own. It may begin to change our lives, priorities, and focus. It may take over. Isn’t that the point?

—©2004 Christopher B. Harbin

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