Picking the Right Faith Print E-mail
By Chuck Gutenson
Oct. 17, 06 11:51
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With so many different theological beliefs within Christianity, how can we be confident that we're living a faithful life?  Should we just pick one and hope we're picking right? D.M., Chicago 

 

How are we to know when we are "on the right path" with regard to our Christian faith and practice?  If by "know" you mean to ask how can we have complete certainty, I am not sure there is an answer.  As you note, there are many groups offering somewhat different beliefs and practices, and each of those groups is "sure" they have it right (or, at least, righter than anyone else).  Perhaps, however, that kind of certainty is not what God is after.
   

If you examine the major traditions within the Christian faith, there is a great deal of agreement.  We affirm the trinitarian nature of God, restoration to right relationship with God and our fellows through faith in Christ, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for walking the life of faith. On practices, we pretty much agree that we are to celebrate the sacraments of baptism and eucharist, engage in works of mercy, and live in ways that are worthy of our being called God's children.  So, before we focus on differences, we should celebrate our common heritage.

 

At a deeper level, though, we need to think about what it means to grow in our faith over an extended period of time. When we begin the walk of faith, we are, metaphorically speaking, like little children. As little children, we only have a beginning grasp of what it means to be a Christian and to live faithfully as one. 

 

For us to grow, there are three ways in which we are guided to maturity: First, we have friends and family who serve as mentors in the faith. They both teach us and demonstrate for us what it means to be faithful to God.  Second, we participate in the distinctive Christian practices of baptism, eucharist, bible study, prayer, etc. These serve to form us into the kinds of people God intends. Finally, and most significantly, God's Spirit leads us in the path of faith encouraging here, correcting there so that, over time, we come more and more to conform to the image of Christ.

 

Just as engaging in "guitar player practices" makes us better guitar players, so engaging in this set of practices makes us more faithful Christians.


LIST OF COMMENTS

1/8. Jesus, the Good Shepard
Written by JRPierce  | Oct. 18, 06 21:24

I have had the same question in the past, and I have found comfort in many passages of the New Testament, but in particular in the story of the Good Shepard as told to us in the gospel of John.

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me". John 10:14 (NIV)

It is exciting to me that Jesus knows his "sheep". So, eventhough there are different Christian denominations I believe I can have hope that the Good Shepard will direct me through the power of God the Holy Spirit to where I need to be spiritually. To be a little cliche... God believes in me and is certain about my faith. Even when I waver, or maybe don't have a clear focus on my walk with Jesus, God is there.


2/8. Love
Written by mouse  | Oct. 19, 06 18:22

I remember an old hymn from my youth,

They will know we are Christians by our Love.

I do not believe that anyone has a monopoly on truth, and so I have found the best guide to be Love.

 


3/8. Good comments
Written by mistformsquirrel  | Oct. 30, 06 12:35
JRPierce, mouse, great comments;

I agree with both of you.  God will put us where He wants us.  He knows our hearts; and if those are in the right place, then He will make any adjustments necessary as long as we are willing to hear Him when He calls.

I also believe that the Christian heart should most especially reflect Love, Compassion, and Mercy, as these three things are the major foundations of Jesus' teachings.  So even if you don't know that God is pulling you in a direction - He is, it may just be that the pull to that direction is so natural, so subtle, that we don't need any 'extra' encouragement; rather we can just see it through the acts of those with who we would worship.

And in the end that's all it is - we worship.  As long as we're honoring God, does it really matter what we call ourselves, or how we divide ourselves up?  We're all related in that most essential way.

4/8. I know the truth...
Written by A Faithful Christian  | Nov. 01, 06 12:02

Is Pontius Pilate running this blog.  I remember his words when Jesus said to him, "Your are right in saying I am a king.  In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."  And what was Pilate's response???

"What is truth?"

Jesus asnwered that as well when he prayed to his Heavenly Father, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

It would be nice if you are going to call yourself "faithful" if you were really faithful to something besides your own thoughts and ideas.


5/8. How do you know?
Written by emoody  | Dec. 19, 06 16:08

   One simple question w/ many answers.

"If you were to die today, do you know for certain you would go to Heaven"?

To this question many answers are possible. Most will answer "yes" and then go on to say they have done good deeds and are basically good people.

Others just dont know. Scripture alone tells us we need to be perfect, and Holy just as God is perfect and Holy but alas we fall woefully short. Its not by "works alone" lest no one can boast but it is a Gift from God. So how can you be sure?

Search the scriptures and meditate on what you have read, place yourself in amentorship relationship, pick up and study materials written by Godly men like  John MacArthur, J.I Packer or Charles Spurgen, go to a church that teaches the truth, not what you think you want to hear that will make you feel good. Remember that most of the message Christ had for us was a warning of what will happen to those who deny Him. Christ did indeed die for our sins and rose again on the third day defeating death.  We need to repent, change, turn away from our sin and turn to God. We have been appointed to die once and be judged, there will be no second chances and being good just wont be good enough.

Dont be fooled by those who would have you believe truth is a variable. God alone holds a monopoly on truth and love w/ out Gods truth is a good feeling and good feelings dont get you into Heaven.


6/8. Good Thoughts!
Written by Mark  | Mar. 07, 07 17:48
I am pleased to see that several who have responded to this blog have pointed out the importance of following Truth rather than man's ideas or emotions.  There is such a thing as absolute truth and it is knowable.  God's word, the Bible, is truth.  We would do well to study it (and to allow it to speak for itself rather than trying to force it to prove our positions).  Our maturity is a reflection of the degree to which we have allowed Christ to conform us to His image.

7/8. Just a Thought
Written by Seminary Student  | Mar. 12, 07 10:23

I would simply like to point out to you crusaders for "Truth" the many instances when we have KNOWN the ONE right truth in the past, only to have it refuted later. 

There was a brilliant Bishop of Alexandria in the fourth century who was very faithful, well loved and convinced of the truth: God is One.  He went to Constantinople for a conference and left, having been told that the TRUTH which he found in a "plain reading" of scripture, through mentorship with older bishops, and by a life of very faithful discipleship was, well...  heresy.   Orthodox Catholic and Protestants (and the Orthodox family) for the last 1700 years have rejected Arianism.  Hymns and scripture of the 4th century used to say "there was a time when he [Jesus] was not" ...they died out after the second ecumenical counsel that proclaimed Christ con-substantial with the Father, and therefore eternal. 

   which truth do we believe?  John 1:1 "in the beginning was the Word" or Deuteronomy 6:4 "here O Isreal: the Lord your God, the Lord is one."

OR is the truth perhaps a little more complex than ANY supposed "plain meaning?"   there are 2000 year old churches of various  forms that still maintain the plain meaning of scripture supports neither Jesus's eternity (pre existing... not resurrection) OR the trinity itself.  Are they wrong?  are we wrong?  how can you state so clearly that the belief you happened to learn because you were born here rather than in Syria is correct???


8/8. What is you Point?
Written by Mark  | Mar. 24, 07 09:32

Your point is elusive.

Do you see a conflct between John 1:1 and Deuteronomy?

There is such a thing as truth and it is knowable.  It is not nuanced or subject to cultural understandings.  It transcends culture and time.

Truth is revealed Himself through nature, the Bible, Natural Law, and even through reason.  It is not as hard to find as you would seem to make it.

 
Last Updated ( Oct. 17, 06 13:50 )
 
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