Fully Activated Faith

“The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyze his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief.” T. S. Eliot

 

I’ve thought about this a lot recently. As a believer, I know that I am called to share the gospel with the world, and yet, seldom do I actively pursue a missional lifestyle.

 

After searching my own heart, I’ve found some alarming and ugly truth. The first is a lack of care for other’s souls. I consider myself a fairly caring person, however, if I truly cared about all people, would I not want to share life-giving truth with them? Secondly, I’ve identified a crippling fear to share the gospel. Fear of rejection, and fear of not knowing how to eloquently and effectively share the countercultural doctrines that I have based my entire life on. Lastly, and most, unfortunately, I began to ask myself how convinced I am that this Christian-lifestyle, my Jesus, is worth it. Though I have experienced how worthwhile He is indeed, I am human and quick to forget…quick to question despite His faithfulness to me.

I think these reservations stem from a continued disregard to our inner theologies. When you become lazy in your spiritual discipline, and passively practice your faith, you are setting yourself up to be lukewarm and ineffective. You may even begin to resent your faith altogether. This is a dangerous state to be in, brothers and sisters. Yet, I think we’d be surprised to learn how many of us have settled for this mediocre Christian lifestyle. If the enemy can’t get us elsewhere- he’ll make us lukewarm and tranced to believe we indeed are active believers.

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If I were an unbelieving person, I probably would not buy into Christianity if most of the Christians I knew were mostly talk and only some do, when convenient.

 

Are we convincing, not for the sake of being convincing, or logically being able to analyze our reasoning for our beliefs, but through our daily practices and actions? Because we care for people’s souls, because the perfect love that lives in us casts out fear, and because Jesus is the only answer and only way?

 

I would have never openly admitted to these fears and doubts had the Spirit not revealed them to me. On the contrary, I often brag about my faith and have wrapped my identity in it. But what good is a biblical degree, a church membership, and a “religious affiliation” if you are not wholly and completely convinced that what you believe is worth dying for so that you may live? With knowing, believing, and LIVING as though it is true, then sharing the gospel doesn’t become a matter of if or if not, but a must.

 

Many of us may not admit to these things. Maybe like me, you did not know they were even there, lurking in the depths or your heart, robbing you of your faith and courage. But I believe the beginning of a sold-out and life-changing, world-shaking faith is when we can rid ourselves every bondage and lie that lives in us consciously and subconsciously. Yet, miraculously, God still works through imperfect humans. How much more wonder and miracles can we witness if we fully activated our faith?

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