Lion Taming Faith

ALL – Psalm 118:1-18
ALL – Proverbs 28:2
OT – Ezekiel 39:1-40:27
NT – James 2:18-3:18

Interesting passage for the day: Fool! When will you ever learn that “believing” is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith. – James 2:8, The Living Bible

Thought: What is belief? Our relationship with Jesus depends on it, so we had better understand a little bit about what it means, right?

Is belief something we do when there’s a story we know is totally false, but we want to have a little fun and play make believe?

Is belief a choice we make about which God we think will take the best care of us and serve our interests the best?

Is belief a set of religious principles we believe are true, a religious formula that will always keep us safe just like the mathematical formula 2 + 2 will always give us the answer we expect?

Is belief something that we can contain in a book or a paper, an official statement that lists the core truths of the universe, but that is only meant to be discovered and doesn’t require any change in our lives? Is belief about a list of principles that govern our lives whether we know it or not, like the fact that the earth revolves around the sun and the moon around the earth?

Not according to James. James doesn’t deny that truth exists, and that it is important to acknowledge and know the truth. What James denies, though, is that believing the truth is a passive activity. Belief doesn’t sit in a recliner looking up at a plaque of creeds on the wall. Belief depends on the truth enough to risk everything on it, like a skydiver depending on a parachute. Belief submits to the truth, like a lion tamer submits to the principles that keep the lions from ripping him to shreds. Belief obeys the call and command of the truth. Belief follows the truth. As Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Belief goes wherever truth leads, because belief can find life nowhere else.

Anything less is not really belief.

Question: How much do you need your beliefs? If what you claim you believe were suddenly proved entirely false, would your life be changed at all, or would it continue pretty much as it is right now?

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