Adrift In The Storm

Earl Gillespie

A Test Of Faith
Adrift In The Storm

Mark 11:22  And Jesus answering said unto them, Have faith in God.
Luke 17:5  And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. No one like to speak of their lack of faith, the church is not even prepared to minister to those whose faith is weak.  Like the prayer group whose testimony of how God was using them to raise people from the dead, Christians have digressed to the point of creating events or incidents to show how God is working in their life.  These events or incidents are self-serving in that they make the person telling the story seems more righteous.  The most vocal has proclaimed that God is doing great things in their life, leaving that struggling soul to wonder why it is forsaken by God.   A testimony is supposed to be a faith building message to the giver and those that hear it. The churches that once supported open testimonies formats during worship services was forced to change because the Devil's influence became apparent.  Many peoples' faith suffered because of the bogus testimonials. 

The Bible definition of "Faith" is-- "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb 11:1), and in the remaining verses of the chapter the Apostle illustrates his definition by the conduct of the Old Testament worthies that he names.  I hold in my hand a check, it is the substance (on paper) of the money I hope to get when I cash it, and the evidence (in black and white) of the money that I have not as yet seen.  There is another side of this analogy that would render the check a worthless piece of paper.  Often a check is refused because the receiver lacks the needed trust in the in the writer of the check.   The testimony of those who have had contact with the writer, even those that are lying can have an adverse effect on the value of the check.  Many valuable checks have been refused because of the slanderous use of the writer's name.  I used that analogy to show that faith is based upon our trust in God, yet because the way God is often presented many lose their precious faith.  

This blog was set up as a bible study blog, and I trust that many of you have been inspired by my writing.  I hope I can return to my verse by verse bible study soon, but for the moment I am adrift in a sea of confusion, my faith is being tested and the very fabric of my soul is being rendered irreverent.  With the recent death in the family there is an awareness  of the underlying hostility that exists between the families and in the churches.   Accusations based upon false perceptions that many was not aware of or long forgotten,  began to surface.  Simple acts of endearment were cast in a fallow light when judged by the inaccurate standards of 'he think or act like'.  These entities rely upon an individual's perception of an event that is often false because of the  impossibility of determining what a person is thinking or why he looked the way he did.   Too often, as people of God, we allow our speech and actions to be tainted by false perceptions of events.  Sibling rivalry, an ancient curse that first reared it ugly head in the Garden of Eden and destroyed the brotherly relationship between Cain and Abel.  This malady plays and important part in the way people are treated in the church and in the home.  Sibling rivalry relies upon false perceptions and it is as contagious as the worst kind of infection.  There is no defense against it and often the accused is the last to know.   What is a false perception?  Can a man of God  or a church be guilty of acting and reacting to false perceptions?   If you knew your pastor or friend was guilty of a false perception how do you respond?   "God told me", is the response that leaves you wordless.   Do you pray to the same God that told him you were evil and vindictive.  Do you ask that same God  to open up his understanding?  There is the illumination of a contradiction here.  

The Devil had learned a valuable lesson over the last six thousands of years.  If he sends so-called demons  or evil people to attract the household of faith, the people's faith would grow stronger.  In the ancient days when the church was persecuted the church flourished and grew even stronger.  The lesson was learned that the best way to attack and destroy church people is to use church people to attack church people.  When the children of Israel were enslaved by the Egyptians, they called upon their God, imagine the confusion that would have prevailed if the Egyptians were serving the same God.  When the Children of Israel went forth to battle, they often had the assurance that God would deliver them.   The Devil learned a valuable lesson when he made a frontal attack on Job.   He adjusted his techniques and brought in Job's friends who used the Word of God against him.   Through it all Job's faith did not waver.   If we could only claim the faith of Job. 

 When the adversities of life deal us a severe blow, it is our faith in humanity that sustains us.  Many will quickly disagree and state that it should be our faith in Christ that should sustain us.   Yet, both are true statements because they hinges upon each other.  Without the support of one the other fails.  We should see be able to see the love of Jesus in the lives of the members of the church and those that we hold dear.   If we loved one another as Jesus said, we would be careful not to judge.  A judge often will make his judgement based upon the arguments presented by the lawyers, therefore his judgement may be in adherence with the law, but is not a representation of the truth.  Of time a judge will render judgement based upon the defendant 'copping a plea'.   Is this the reason Jesus said judge not?   When judgment is rendered, love is not allowed to speak.  Only grace might abound in the face of judgment.  Jesus condemns his church in Revelation 2:4-5,  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.  The candlestick of the church is its anchor, the church should offer a light to those that are struggling, not an emotional high, not a place of entertainment but a place of refuge from the impending storm.   The church that Jesus ordained as his bride, was never intended to be used as a place to go to collect blessings.  

There are those things in life that should serve as anchors to prevent us from drifting. In times of adversities those anchors are tested and many are found wanting because as the song implies, their anchor did not grip a solid rock.  There is a question to be asked, but often ignored, how can you be sure of your anchor when the position of your anchor keeps changing?   There is an ornate message from the pulpit, over the airways, and even most bible studies, the blessings of God are about to rain down.  Hope is being sold.  They are like casinos peddling hope to those who say, "if I keep playing a win is going to come my way".   There are real life spiritual issues that many are facing today,  and sometimes it is hard to find a message emulating from the churches that address these issues.  Mainstream Christianity is dumbing-down and selling out to a message of deliverance, prosperity and entertainment.  But Jesus said in Revelation 2:26,  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:  He ended his message  in Revelation 2:29,  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

When church members are enduring problems, who do they turn to?  Can they turn to their pastor?  A member of the assembly?  A friend or community counseling might be effective.  Jesus introduced a group of people called peacemakers in Matthew 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.  For years I have laid awake many nights crying, "God, where are the peacemakers"?  Those that came in the name of peace brought with them another bag of garbage.   James 3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

 The religious establishment is quick to lead you down the roads of false illusions.  The type illusions that are destructive to the faith.  Having faith is not about buying a car,  nor is blessings about racking up earthly treasures.  Faith is about salvation.  As Christians, we should invest in the "Divine Promises" as to our present salvation. There are three elements in "saving faith." (1). KNOWLEDGE. A man cannot believe in something he knows nothing about. (2). BELIEF. A man may know about a thing, but not believe in it. (3). DEPENDENCE. A man may know about a thing and believe in it, and yet put no dependence on it. To illustrate, you are on a sinking ship, a lifeboat puts out from the shore and approaches the ship unknown to you. Someone tells you of the lifeboat, that is knowledge. You watch the lifeboat as it carries load after load of passengers safely to the shore and you are convinced of its saving power, that is believable. But your knowledge of the existence of the lifeboat, and your belief in its ability to save you, will not save you unless you get in the boat and depend on it to save you, now that is FAITH.

Now there is another side of the lifeboat analogy.  There is a story about people who boarded lifeboats and was never seen again. 

Is there anybody around to help you when you are adrift in a sea of confusion?