Weekly Thought – April 23, 2019
Fred grounded his faith in scripture. His profound belief in God and His Word formed his foundation. He did not spend time trying to justify objections from non-believers. He valued intellectual integrity, but didn’t “put much stock” in endless debates trying to prove God.
BWF Project, Inc. has large goals for 2019. We are excited about the work that is ahead. And thank you, as always, for your faithful participation with us.
The Practicality of Faith
Being immobilized and bedridden, I watch a great deal of educational television (or so they name it). Recently I heard four scholars discuss the authenticity of the Bible. On another night archaeologists discussed the discovery of Noah’s Ark. They followed Biblical directions to Mount Ararat. After a group of my friends lost real money on an oil exploration in Israel based on the existence of tar pits as described in scripture, I find such endeavors less credible.
I watched a long program discussing the historical evidence validating the resurrection. I acknowledge there are weighty Biblical scholars who major in the area of scriptural validation and verification. I choose to accept its authority and authenticity by faith. What it says I believe.
I certainly applaud those who are gifted to study the historicity of scripture, but it cannot be just an academic exercise – it has to be taken beyond that to a faith position.
My personal conviction at this advanced age is to focus more on obedience to the scriptures rather than the validation. By faith I substantiate it.
Those who search for Biblical antiquities like the Ark assuming its discovery will cause non-believers to immediately turn to faith in Christ are operating on sight, not faith. I am not diminishing their scientific enterprise, but to think salvation comes through seeing the Ark seems counter to scripture. Those who are blinded to spiritual truth will continue to be so, even in the presence of the original Ark.
I had a preacher friend who became popular in Hollywood, divorced his wife, and married a young, more glamorous woman. When we met sometime later he said, “Fred, I have become a Universalist, let’s discuss religion.” I said, “There’s no point discussing what you want and need to believe.” The humanist is not going to accept the Biblical definition of truth. Jesus said, “I am the truth.”
At a couples’ retreat I was drawn into an intellectual discussion about comparative religions (against my better judgment). I thought I was holding my own until one of the wives broke in to say, “I don’t understand one word you all are talking about. All I know is that I love Jesus.”
I am not saying faith is putting your mind on the shelf. After all, we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. We are to be faithful “dividers of the word.” But we aren’t to spend our time on useless debates. And we are to be prepared to defend the hope that is within us. But it isn’t to be an intellectual dueling match.
My own prayer is, “Lord, I believe – help thou my unbelief.” I don’t need proof – I need obedience.
This week think about: 1) What do I accept by faith? 2) How apt am I to get into circular arguments about religion? 3) What is my source of authority?
Words of Wisdom: “My personal conviction at this advanced age is to focus more on obedience to the scriptures rather than the validation. By faith I substantiate it.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty.” (Genesis 15:6 NET Bible)