Wednesday, June 3, 2009
"What We Cannot See"
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The most common description of faith for Christians is "being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we cannot see." I've been thinking a lot lately about what I can't see, about what is uncertain and unknown to me, and how that demands a new level of faith.
There are many moments throughout the day when I feel the need to justify and explain myself to people. I want to be sure they know that I am right, that what I am doing makes sense, and I even want them to be impressed by my ideas and actions. But sometimes, decisions are made or opinions are formed about me and I don't know why. I don't know where the information (false, as I understand it) came from, and I don't have the opportunity to defend myself.
This makes me think about Jesus, when he was on trial, and the guards would hit him across the face. They said, "Prophecy, who hit you?" Jesus must have been blindfolded, or so bloodied that his eyes were swollen shut. I've always thought that he knew in his "God-ness" who was hitting him, and he just stayed quiet because he was better than that, or something. But maybe he didn't know? Maybe he really was blind. Maybe he had to suffer through the challenge of being accused, beaten, ridiculed and mocked, even though he thought he was innocent.
I wonder if during his trial and crucifixion Jesus ever had a crisis of faith in which he wondered, "Maybe I have failed. What did I do wrong? Maybe I made a mistake somewhere, and I deserve this." To me, this is a new aspect of "faith in what we cannot see." We don't always know why our actions lead us to the result, or why people respond to us they way they do. This is especially the case when acting upon deep convictions. It is our deepest convictions that will lead us to the greatest conflict with others. And this is also where I must have the greatest faith.
First, I have faith in God's justification, and not my own. I recognize that my actions and ideas are full of sin, pride, envy, and desires for self-aggrandizement. Any ridicule I receive, I deserve at my most basic level.
But beyond that, I have faith in God's justification of my virtuous actions. I do strive to be Christ-like, and I know that God sees and is aware. It is not the opinion of other humans that matters, but God's perspective.
This all sounds and feels very "Sunday school-ish" in a sense, but there is a significantly new aspect of faith that is required: Faith that trusts in God's justification of the given situation, and not another humans' opinion. Faith that knows that I am acting out of conviction, and that is enough. Faith that is OK with being hit, struck, accused, beaten, even though I really am innocent. And I do not need to strike back, because I have faith not in my own works or actions, but in God's work on my behalf.
I am called to take up my cross and follow Jesus, even if that means following blindly.
The most common description of faith for Christians is "being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we cannot see." I've been thinking a lot lately about what I can't see, about what is uncertain and unknown to me, and how that demands a new level of faith.
There are many moments throughout the day when I feel the need to justify and explain myself to people. I want to be sure they know that I am right, that what I am doing makes sense, and I even want them to be impressed by my ideas and actions. But sometimes, decisions are made or opinions are formed about me and I don't know why. I don't know where the information (false, as I understand it) came from, and I don't have the opportunity to defend myself.
This makes me think about Jesus, when he was on trial, and the guards would hit him across the face. They said, "Prophecy, who hit you?" Jesus must have been blindfolded, or so bloodied that his eyes were swollen shut. I've always thought that he knew in his "God-ness" who was hitting him, and he just stayed quiet because he was better than that, or something. But maybe he didn't know? Maybe he really was blind. Maybe he had to suffer through the challenge of being accused, beaten, ridiculed and mocked, even though he thought he was innocent.
I wonder if during his trial and crucifixion Jesus ever had a crisis of faith in which he wondered, "Maybe I have failed. What did I do wrong? Maybe I made a mistake somewhere, and I deserve this." To me, this is a new aspect of "faith in what we cannot see." We don't always know why our actions lead us to the result, or why people respond to us they way they do. This is especially the case when acting upon deep convictions. It is our deepest convictions that will lead us to the greatest conflict with others. And this is also where I must have the greatest faith.
First, I have faith in God's justification, and not my own. I recognize that my actions and ideas are full of sin, pride, envy, and desires for self-aggrandizement. Any ridicule I receive, I deserve at my most basic level.
But beyond that, I have faith in God's justification of my virtuous actions. I do strive to be Christ-like, and I know that God sees and is aware. It is not the opinion of other humans that matters, but God's perspective.
This all sounds and feels very "Sunday school-ish" in a sense, but there is a significantly new aspect of faith that is required: Faith that trusts in God's justification of the given situation, and not another humans' opinion. Faith that knows that I am acting out of conviction, and that is enough. Faith that is OK with being hit, struck, accused, beaten, even though I really am innocent. And I do not need to strike back, because I have faith not in my own works or actions, but in God's work on my behalf.
I am called to take up my cross and follow Jesus, even if that means following blindly.
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1 comment:
well said...and so true. God alone knows the truth in all things, and his justification and approval are what we long for, not man's.
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