“Iffy” Faith 2

Last week we looked at “iffy” faith and, no, we weren’t speculating “if” someone had faith. We were looking at a kind of faith (unfortunately, pretty common) that fits into the “if – then” category. It is a conditional faith— “God if you will do __________ for me, then I will believe you, obey you, etc.” (I saved the article below in case you missed it.) That kind of “iffy” is what most think about when something is described as “iffy.” Well, this week, I want us to look at a good kind of “iffy” faith . . . a kind of faith for which we all need to strive—an unconditional faith.

Most of us remember the story of “the three Hebrew children”—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Along with their friend Daniel, they had been captured in Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar and his army, and were taken to Babylon to be re-educated and put in the service of the Babylonian Empire. Evidently, one of the “team building” exercises for all new government employees was a corporate worship experience to show loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar. (He had commissioned a 90-foot tall, golden statue before which everyone would need to bow.) It was a big deal (the statue, the gathering of people, and the expectation). A full orchestra (including “zithers” . . . whatever those were) was to play a loud song and everyone was to bow down and worship the image. No problem for most of the people who knew where their paychecks came from. But it was a problem for the three young Jewish men who knew that God’s law forbid them from worshiping anyone or anything but Him. So when everyone else hit the ground, they kept standing. (Talk about standing out in a crowd!) Nebuchadnezzar suggested that the band play a second verse for the three, and if they didn’t bow then, they were gonna’ burn (by being thrown into a fiery furnace).

It was at this point that we learn about their faith. In Daniel 3:16-18 it is recorded that they said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Did you catch that? “But even if he does not….” They had an “iffy faith, but it was an “even if” faith—even if things don’t turn out like we would like to see them, we are not going to turn our backs on God by being disobedient. Wow! That is strong faith! (By the way, they got thrown into the fire, but God protected and delivered them . . . to the amazement of all who were gathered.)

“Even if” faith is the kind of faith that propelled the early church forward. In Acts 4 we read that the religious hierarchy “commanded” Peter and John to quit teaching and preaching about Jesus (verse 18). They even threatened them if they chose not to keep quiet (verse 21). But Peter and John made it clear that even if that was the law, “we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (verse 19). They continued their ministry and in Acts 5, we read that all the apostles were arrested and put in jail. After being released by an angel they went right back to preaching. When they were re-arrested and reminded of the “strict orders” that they had been given by the religious court, they responded (verse 29), “We must obey God rather than men!” In other words, “Even if you keep arresting us, we will keep preaching.” They did, and the church grew.

Hebrews 11 is called “The Faith Chapter” and describes many great victories that men and women, living by faith, experienced. The Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego experience is mentioned in verse 34. But in verses 35-37 it says, “Others were tortured and refused to be released . . .. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated….” Then verse 39 says, “These were all commended for their faith . . ..” Yeah, they had “even if” faith. “Even if” faith is unconditional—no matter what happens we will believe and obey. God honors that kind of faith. God expects that kind of faith. God can help us develop that kind of faith.

How “iffy” is your faith? Maybe stated better—what kind of “iffy” is your faith?

Mark
July 28, 2010

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From July 21

An "Iffy" Faith . . . of the First Kind 

During his earthly ministry, Jesus described people’s faith in various ways. He talked about people with “no faith,” “little faith,” and even “great faith.” For a couple of weeks, I want us to look at two kinds of faith that fit into what I would call the “iffy faith” category. In fact, I would go so far as to say that all of us have one of two kinds of “iffy” faith.

The first kind of “iffy” faith is “if – then” faith. It is faith that says (though not always out loud), “If God does _________ for me, then I will _________.” It is a conditional faith; “God, you first.” It may surprise you that some famous people in the Bible had this kind of conditional, iffy faith.

One example is Jacob whose name was changed, later, to Israel. (Yes, that Israel.) On the first night of a 20-year journey that Jacob took, he had a dream of a stairway to heaven (no, not the one in the Led Zeppelin song) and God spoke to Jacob about His plans for him and his descendants. When he woke up, Genesis 28:20-22 records, “Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.’” (Emphasis added)

Wow! There were a lot of “ifs” attached to his faith! “God, if you stick with me, and if you protect me, and if you give me food to eat, and if you provide clothes for me to wear, and if you bring me back home safely, then You will be my God, and I will worship You here, and—God, be sure you get this—I will tithe!” Don’t you know that God was impressed by that! Now before I get too hard on Jacob, I stop and remember that there are times I must sound pretty much like him . . . how about you? We want God to carry the weight of the relationship—to do a lot of stuff for us—as a pre-condition for us honoring Him and living obediently before Him. Sometimes, we might go so far as to say, “God if you don’t do this, then I am not going to really believe that you love me.”

Now, some think Jacob shouldn’t be “Exhibit A” in living by faith (after all, the name Jacob meant “Cheater”), but there are others in the Bible who could be put in the same faith category. Gideon is remembered as a great warrior for God; he defeated a mighty army with his small band of only 300 people (and 1 big God). But before it all began Judges 6 records that Gideon struggled with whether to believe God for the victory. You may remember how he asked God to give him a sign that He would do what He said that He would do. He put out a fleece (animal skin) on the ground for an overnight display of God’s abilities. Judges 6:37 records what he wanted to see in the morning, “If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” (Emphasis added) Actually, he needed a second test the next night, only in reverse. (God “passed” both tests.) But again it was, “God only if you do ________, then will I believe.”

How often is your faith “iffy” in a conditional sort of way? That is not a healthy faith. Next week we are going to look at a second kind of iffy faith, but one that is better. But for now, take a look at your faith and see if it is a conditional faith . . . and one in need of strengthening. Among other things, growing a strong faith requires our removing the conditions that limit faith.

“If” you check back next week, “then” you will get the rest of the story.

Bro. Mark
July 21, 2010

PS Thanks to Brent McDougal’s message at the DBA Pastor’s Conference, July 19, for the initial idea used for this article. He is the new pastor at Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Dallas.

Unless otherwise noted, all scriptures are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)