The Metric that Matters Most Is Not Your Doctrine
“Jesus said, ‘Go. Your faith has healed you.’”
~ Mark 10:52“What good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it?... Faith is dead if it doesn’t result in faithful activity.”
~ James 2:14, 17
When’s the last time you heard a follower of Jesus mention faith? I’m guessing only a few days ago. It’s a pretty key topic throughout the New Testament, and comes up in many sermons, prayers, and conversations in church settings.
But it’s also a confusing topic. What is faith, exactly?
We know it’s powerful, because at least six times after healing someone Jesus says to them, “Your faith has healed you.” However, how do we know we have faith, especially the faith that saves and heals and empowers?
It’s not because you prayed a “sinner’s prayer” long ago. Nor is it because you intellectually assent to the reality of God. It’s not even because you wish for world peace or want the best for your neighbours.
The Metric that Matters
James says we know we have faith – the faith that saves, heals, and empowers – because our faith results in faithful activity. Or, as Paul puts it, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6).
James is simply reiterating the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ [i.e. claims to have faith in me] will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do the will of my Father [i.e. who’s faith is shown by their faithful actions] will enter” (Matthew 7:21).
In other words, faith isn’t about passively believing a certain set of doctrines, it’s about the things we actively entrust our lives with, as demonstrated by our actions. If we trust money more than God, our actions will show that. If we trust God more than money, our actions will show that. If we trust God’s healing power is available through Jesus, our actions will show that.
Blind Bart and the Faith that Heals
Take Blind Bartimaeus, for example. Jesus tells him, “Your faith has healed you.” How do we know Bartimaeus had faith? Because there are four demonstrations of his faith in this short story (Mark 10:46-52):
He was actively looking for Jesus
When he heard Jesus was nearby, he started calling out to him
He cast off his cloak
He jumped up and began following Jesus
Every step of the way, Bartimaeus actions demonstrate his faith in the power of God to heal through Jesus. He did not passively sit by the road, say “I believe Jesus can heal,” and do nothing.
Faith Includes Doing and Not Doing
The Greek word Jesus uses for “faith” here is also translated in other places in Mark as “belief” and “trust”. I like the idea of trust that is demonstrated by two things:
First, trusting Jesus as Saviour, demonstrated by not doing works to save ourselves and instead recognizing our works do nothing to save us or open the door to heaven for us because Jesus has done it all.
Second, trusting Jesus as Lord, demonstrated by doing works (i.e. walking in obedience to the commands of Jesus – especially the commands to love God and love neighbour) because we recognize that although our deeds do not save us, they do demonstrate we possess the kind of faith that saves.
We are quick to agree with the first point, but sometimes a little slower to agree with the second. Yet both are true and necessary in order to possess the faith that Jesus speaks about.
PAUSE and REFLECT
So you have faith. That’s great. You trust Jesus has done it all and there is nothing you can do to save yourself. You are leaning completely on the finished work of Jesus on the Cross. Excellent.
Quick question, though: what did you do yesterday (what choices did you make) to demonstrate you have this faith? What choices will you make today to demonstrate you trust God? How are you aligning your attitude and actions with God’s Kingdom in a way that another person could look and say, “That person believes in God,” even if you never spoke a word about God?
NEXT STEPS
Go back to the story of Blind Bartimaeus and apply the same four actions to your life this week:
Look for Jesus. Seek to be aware of his presence and work around you.
Call out to him. Make Jesus your first “go to” in all circumstances, whether you are going to him with gratitude or supplication.
Cast off what hinders you from following him. For Bartimaeus it was his cloak. What is it for you?
Jump up, follow him, and act accordingly.