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Christianity was supposed to be about becoming like Jesus. | |
We went in the wrong direction. |
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Having Your Own Faith
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| Paul wrote the Ephesians about spiritual maturity; Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; The reference to “children” is interesting. Most people are raised in and inherit the Christian tradition of their family. The acceptance of this tradition by a child can range from actual faith (trusting) to a sort of accepting without much consideration. The doctrines and assertions of an inherited faith tradition are often never questioned. As a result, even those who have held to a particular brand of Christianity their whole lives might find themselves unable to defend their faith if challenged. The bullying and mockery faced in school can cause one to repudiate that which was never fully understood anyway or sublimate that which is still held in faith but weak.. What can move one out of the category of “child” in faith is to exercise that faith. By questioning and examining one’s faith, one can deepen faith so that it becomes unshakable. Another technique to deepen faith is to strip it down to the core and build on that. For Christians the core is that Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again in payment for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Additional doctrines might be seen as peripheral and may not need as full an investment. A key element in having one’s own faith is to invest oneself. There is a difference between saying “I believe Jesus died for my sins” and sating, “I know Jesus died for my sins”. James writes that even the demons “believe” there is a God. Certainty for trust often comes from experiencing something proven to be true. Perhaps the most pervasive idea used to destroy faith is evolution. It is almost universally cited as fact and cited by “experts” as truth. However, if one examines this “fact” it basically says that nothing existed and then it blew up and became everything which then organized itself into us. There is seemingly no end to the number of experts, authorities, and voices that assert claims to undermine faith. The more they are exposed to the cold light of truth, the stronger one’s faith can grow. The exercise of discernment also helps to deepen faith. When one can see the world less in terms of money, celebrity, and power, one can see it in truth as a prison fed by self-seeking and consumptive desires. One becomes less dependant upon what others say and more able to make one’s own observations and conclusions. Someone who has never deepened his faith is vulnerable to the ravages that can be caused by another who would assault him with doctrines or assertions. This results in being “blown” in one direction or another. A mature faith often allows for greater access to discernment and knowledge of truth. Rather than depending on what someone told you about Christ, one can have this knowledge through personal experience. Philippians_3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; |
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Information about Christianity and the Christian life. |
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