RE: Faith and Works
September 2, 2014 at 10:05 am
(This post was last modified: September 2, 2014 at 10:10 am by Drich.)
(September 2, 2014 at 4:16 am)Pickup_shonuff Wrote: After hanging out at my parent's house yesterday and talking to my father, it re-occurred to me how unique Christians believe their faith is in comparison to other religions (even Catholics--my folks are evangelicals) because they genuinely think those are works-based systems of salvation whereas Protestantism proclaims heaven's gate open to anyone who simply "believes."
Except that there is nothing simple about it. I could easily conceive of myself going about all the rituals and traditions (the "religion part") as "acts" of faith but ACTUALLY believing all that biblical nonsense (the "relationship part")? Now THAT seems like hard work. At most I can only picture myself as miserably and hypocritically pretending to be sincere while deep down constantly reminding myself how silly and petty and UNTRUE the whole Gospel story reads and feels.
Also, what's this "faith is a 'free' or 'deliberate' choice" thing? I don't get that bit at all either.
Paul tell the Corinthians in Chapter 2:18 The teaching about the cross seems foolish to those who are lost. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.
I will confuse the understanding of the intelligent.”
20 So what does this say about the philosopher, the law expert, or anyone in this world who is skilled in making clever arguments? God has made the wisdom of the world look foolish. 21 This is what God in his wisdom decided: Since the world did not find him through its own wisdom, he used the message that sounds foolish to save those who believe it.
22 The Jews ask for miraculous signs, and the Greeks want wisdom. 23 But this is the message we tell everyone: Christ was killed on a cross. This message is a problem for Jews, and to other people it is nonsense. 24 But Christ is God’s power and wisdom to the people God has chosen, both Jews and Greeks. 25 Even the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom. Even the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
IF you want understanding of the things of God and not simply go through the motions, you Must seek the Holy Spirit first.
It is the Holy Spirit that can provide clarity. In doing so all one needs is a mustard seed of faith, and simply A/S/K for this gift and understanding.
As far as faith, we all have and use a degree of faith in whatever we believe, no matter the subject. Christ tells us if we use the smallest amount of faith and place it in Him/What He says. Then we will be able to move mountains of doubt.
(September 2, 2014 at 5:58 am)Diablo Wrote: That's the problem with belief, isn't it? By definition it's irrational. Of course, some people are smart enough to question their childhood indoctrination, but most do not.
Merrium-Webster Dictionary does not seem to agree.
1
: a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing
2
: something believed; especially: a tenet or body of tenets held by a group
3
: conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence
