Christian faith has been the cornerstone for many believers' lives for more than 2,000 years. In the days of the Roman Empire, and even later in the lives of Joan of Arc and John Hus, people have been willing to die for what they believe. Through all of the religion's ups and downs, it has endured, not because of mighty armies or secular rule, but because of the belief that this world is not the final reward. However, Christians believe they can make the earth a better place by living lives with their eternal reward in mind. Defining faith is a tad more complicated than simple belief.
Belief is knowing something to be true. The word of God admits that even demons are capable of this. God's people, as Christians strive to be known, requires a deeper commitment. Unlike belief, faith goes one step further and instills hope in the person who has it. Hope for a better life, a world of possibilities, an end to suffering, a discovery of world peace, a chance to see those loved ones who've gone before us, and a chance to escape the evils of this world. Quite simply, without faith, there is no hope.
But in order for Christian faith to be functional, it must go beyond even hope. It must become trust. Trust that God will do what He says, that He will work through you to fulfill His purpose, that He will enact a positive and lasting change for those who put their faith in Him and are called according to His ways. Hope is passive; trust is active. With trust, you can control the attitudes and the temptations that too often plague your life. You can overcome the walls of adversity that stand in your way every day. You can truly be called a child of God, because like a good father, He is always there watching over you, and you have the ability to either place things in His hands or struggle desperately against the tides.
Belief, hope, and trust, are all necessary components to have Christian faith, and they show themselves through the relationship you have with Jesus Christ. Many non-believers will admit that Christ was a great man. 2,000 years after his crucifixion, he remains the most influential character in world history. How could he not have been great? But not as many believe that Christ died for the world and rose from the grave three days later to abolish the hold sin had over the world. It takes that belief, that hope, and that trust, to walk in the Christian faith. Essentially, all you have to "do" is let go, and let God's grace do the rest.
Will Love Prevail As the Core of Christian Faith?
Christians today feel threatened from all sides. Forces beyond our control crowd us into a "global village," squeezing us closer to everyone else... often uncomfortably close.
People of diverse cultures and competing religions are only a mouse-click away. They enter our homes daily via satellite TV. Even within our own country, a "culture war" seems to have targeted traditional Christian values.
This clash of opposing views is often unsettling and sometimes downright scary. Yet, beneath these apparent conflicts is a core of common hope and spiritual truth... Love! Indeed, only Love - as prescribed by Jesus - will give us the strength to explore, both within ourselves and in those we view as "the other," the problems which now seem insurmountable.
This is the message of a new book, The Love: Of the Fifth Spiritual Paradigm, published by The Oracle Institute, an educational charity dedicated to lessening the current spiritual chaos. In this unique collection, eleven aspects of Love are examined by New York Times bestselling authors and Pulitzer and Nobel Peace Prize winners. The contributing authors come from a broad spectrum of religious and academic backgrounds, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Evangelical Pastor Brian McLaren, and Professor Robert Eisenman, who was instrumental in getting the Dead Sea Scrolls released from the Catholic Church.
Archbishop Tutu's essay, God Has A Dream, wisely connects the Psalmist's phrase, "Be still and know that I am God," with his own wisdom, "Be still, be quiet, and then you will begin to see with the eyes of the heart." Tutu also instructs us, "As we take time to be still and to be in God's presence, the qualities of God are transferred to us," as one may absorb soothing warmth by "sitting in front of a fire on a cold day."
In Good News for All People, Pastor Brian McLaren reminds fellow Christians, "We still have to come to terms with this small but significant detail: Jesus and his message aren't simply a gift to Christians, but to all the people of every religion. And nowhere is that realization more important than when we are seeking to understand and practice the way of Love - in particular, the way of unconditional Love.