Walk on Water

Belief verses faith.

There's something utterly sickening about hearing Christian church leaders poke around at the edges of others' doctrine, notice something suspicious, and use that as a basis for disrespecting their teachings while encouraging others to do the same. The root of the problem isn't the examination or the suspicion - it's the overemphasis of beliefs.

There's something wonderfully warming about getting to know someone and seeing their faith played out in everyday situations. The goodness isn't that the actions are rooted in the deepest and most specific theological knowledge - it's in faith being made complete by action.

James 2:14-19: What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder.

I know too many Bible-believing Protestants who avoid the book of James and this passage because they, like the protestor Martin Luther, find it hard to reconcile the that actions are necessary in the Christian life but salvation is by faith alone. But the most difficult passages are often the most worth studying and enlightening. Wrestle with this on your own - I just want to share a few connections and reflections.

Faith bringing about deeds.

Matthew 14 tells the story of Jesus walking on water. I can certainly relate to the disciples in their initial response - fear - but can't imagine having the second response: "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water" (v. 28). Why? Rob Bell says this: "If you are a disciple, you have committed your entire life to following your rabbi. If you see your rabbi walk on water, what do you immediately want to do? Walk on water." Does Peter believe that God can make people walk on water? Certainly - that's right in front of his face in Jesus. Does Peter have faith that God will empower him to walk on water? He sinks, Jesus catches him and asks, "You of little faith." More Rob Bell: "What does Peter lose faith in? Not Jesus; Jesus is doing fine. Peter loses faith in himself. Peter loses faith that we can do what his rabbi is doing."

It's in Matthew 17 where Jesus makes this crazy claim that if "someone has faith as small as a mustard seed, they can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move'" (v. 20).

People in the Bible are real people who have doubts and make mistakes. Some also have faith.

When David sees Goliath taunting, his eyes don't focus in on the nine-foot tall warrior but on the God's power in overcoming those who defy Him and stand against His people. When Paul sees himself chained to prison guards behind bars, his eyes don't focus in on the possible lonely and painful end to his life and ministry but on the opportunities to preach Christ in places as yet unreached and on the opportunity for God to use and deliver him in miraculous ways.

Jesus says the Kingdom's at hand, a people under God committed to doing what Jesus did: living life that is truly life in relationships and with money and in work and with time and in all other conduct, serving others by providing healing and freedom and truth and food and clothing and shelter and encouragement. Do I have faith in that? If I do, shouldn't that be shown in me meeting new people and digging deeper with old acquantainces because God can use me to bring them closer to Him. If I do, shouldn't that be shown in me living without stress but with a sense of urgency because I can make a difference in a world that has so many needs. If I do, shouldn't that be shown in me stepping out of my comfort zone to pursue experiences in different cultures and the betterment of schools and purpose in work and intentionality in rest and support for things done right and the refining of things perverted and the shalom of those around me.

It's a shame that so many let the faith and deeds debate remain at an academic level related only to justification. This is about action and what God desires to do in the world through us. Do you believe He can, and do you have faith He is?