A word that is often used, as well as misused and misunderstood, in religious discussion is the word "faith." We speak of belonging to a particular faith and also of not having sufficient faith. We sometimes contrast faith with works or deeds. There are also times we use the word without any religious implications. Jesus used the word faith often in the account of his ministry in the four gospels.
He rebukes his disciples for not having enough faith as they journeyed through a storm and became afraid. Once he said that faith even as small as a mustard seed can accomplish great wonders. In the gospel of Matthew, a Roman officer begs him to heal his servant.
When Jesus decides to go to the home the officer bids him to just give the order "and my servant will get well." (Matthew 8:5-13) Jesus remarks, "I tell you, I have never found anyone in Israel with faith like this." Later on we read of an incident when a woman suffering with a health problem for 12 years decides on her own just to come from behind Jesus and touch the edge of his cloak.
Jesus turns around and says, "Courage, my daughter! Your faith has made you well." (Matthew 9:18-22) Such events throughout the gospels certainly inspire and astound us. We sometimes feel guilty at not having faith comparable to that of the Roman officer or of the woman who was sure even a touch of Jesus' garment would bring healing.
Then we may have people chastising us for our lack of faith. Faith is not always a "quick-fix" or an immediate answer to what we desperately need. Faith is trust, faith is hope, faith is holding on. We know people, devout and faithful believers, who undergo circumstances we may describe as unjust and oppressive.
At times such people may question the value or purpose of faith, sometimes such people lose faith. One can hardly imagine how difficult it was for people to keep faith after the holocaust experience of the Second World War, or after a tsunami and an earthquake, or after witnessing genocide and terrible starvation.
Should survivors of such disasters continue to believe in a loving providence after the devastating loss of family and property? The wonder is that many people continue to persevere in their faith and continue to place their trust in the will of a Sovereign Creator and Lord.
The whole of chapter 11 of 40 verses in the Letter of Hebrews is devoted to the theme of faith. The author begins by stating, "To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see." (Hebrews 11:1) Then the writer continues to tell us of the people of ancient times, the heroes who were exemplars of strong faith. We are reminded that "no one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him."(Hebrews 11:6)
Faith in the Bible is always faith in God's power, purpose and will. It is not faith in our worthiness or our piety. Faith is trusting even when the situation does not match our expectation. To Paul, we are put right with God by faith, not by our deeds or by our observances of regulations and traditions. Paul writes to the Romans, " He (Jesus Christ) has brought us by faith into this experience of God's grace, in which we now live." (Romans 5:1,2) Paul also found it necessary to remind congregations that faith cannot be separated from love.
To the Galatians he says what ultimately matters is "faith that works through love" and in his admonitions to the church in Corinth he reminds them though they can move mountains with their faith and yet lack love, they are nothing.
Paul encourages his young friend to "run your best in the race of faith." (1 Timothy 6:12) He speaks of the end of his own ministry. "I have done my best in the race. I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)
We are all in this venture, this race of faith. We sometimes feel we are losing, we sometimes feel we are winning. But let us remember faith itself is a gift and we need to pray for more faith even when we feel confident and secure in an unpredictable world.