Christians: do you have faith 'as a Mustard seed'?

Question

Jesus says that the Mustard seed is the smallest seed that is planted. He also says that if you have a corresponding amount of faith, you should be able to tell (on one occasion) a Mulberry bush to uproot and enter the sea, or (on another occasion) a mountain to throw itself into the ocean. In other words, you should have great power at your disposal.

It is no good saying that no one would want to throw a mountain into the sea. This doesn't change the fact that Jesus says it is possible for someone with only a little faith.

If everything rides on how much faith you have (as many of you suggest), then how come no one does miracles of remotely such high calibre? Do you have some faith or not? It seems as though by Jesus' measurement, no one has any faith.

How would you answer this objection?

Answer 1

It says that if we have faith the size of a Mustard Seed then we will be able to say to a mountain, move, and it will move. No one has even that small of faith; however, we do have enough faith for Salvation and to worship God and to live a Christian life. Because we don't have as much faith to move a mountain, we do still have faith and this is why Jesus says, "O, you, of little faith" because in the grand scheme of things, we do have only a little bit of faith.

However, miracles aren't seen today, as much as back then during the start of the church, because they were needed back then a lot more than now. See then, the apostles were creating the church and spreading around the world, they didn't even have a Bible to preach from, they were the Bible. The people needed something to believe in and witness and that's where miracles started at. Also miracles are given to point towards God's power and glory. Maybe it's also because we live in a world that is more affected with sin and sin has en-rooted itself into the church even and the search for miracles come from a place not godly. This is also possible.

Because you cannot work miracles does not mean you don't have faith. To each a gift is given, not everyone can work miracles, in fact no one can, at least not on their own power. It's all done by God and for His purpose. We are but the instruments. There's still Christian here that have faith, a lot in fact, however, the time just not right for God to use us in that manner, to deliver miracles to the people.

Answer 2

It depends on what you consider having faith enough to perform miracles. And it depends on what your definition of miracles is. Some people don't count the creation of life as a miracle. Or health as a miracle. Or healing to be a miracle. What if the mountains in those verses weren't literal mountains? What if they were a metaphor for a person's will? The person who is a stubborn as an ox refusing to move. Faith and love could move that mountain and I've seen that done.

Answer 3

Sorry dude. Not everything rides on how much faith people have--if indeed it was suggested by many. There are also good works that must be done, along with faith.

Christianity does not thrive on indulging people who demand for miracles either (and neither does it thrive on contradicting those who are disappointed by the lack of indulgence). You're looking for a miracle? You won't get any but the miracle of Jonah. Go figure.

Answer 4

What is the real question, that there is no faith or is having faith proven futile coz no one moved mountains before?
Miracles happen every single day by the 100s. We just either chose not to acknowledge them or those that experience it are so humbled by it that they chose to hold it close to their hearts.
Go into the deserts of Egypt and monastries of greece. Go see the wonders taking place with the least fortunate in africa and indea. open your eyes to the ease of solving the most hopeless of problems in the developed worlds of europe and america. Take note of all healings that has taken place and has absolutely no scientific basis nor explanation, only because God willed it through the great faith of his childeren.
All I ask you to do is type 'christ miracle' into google and see what happens.
Oh, and FYI, mountains have been moved, check out the below website.
God bless you and may He revelle to you the truest and best miracle that is inside of you, life in itself.

Answer 5

In context Jesus was rebuking HIS disciples for not being able to free a child from a demon. They asked him why and he told then because their faith was so small. then comes the mustard seed.
Jesus told them the reason why they failed (small faith) and gave them an obtainable faith (small as a mustard seed) If you read the latter lives of some of these disciples they did preform miracles so their faith did grow.

Answer 6

Mountains often times represent trials. If you read the entire passage you can see that Jesus was not talking about moving a physical mountain but the problem of death.

Answer 7

Jesus was admonishing the lack of faith among humanity. He was showing us "Look how small your faith is. It is not even the size of a mustard seed." I believe he said this to humble those who were becoming too self-righteous.

Answer 8

If only I could have the faith the size of a mustard seed, I think my world would be so much better. I have faith but I dought so....

Answer 9

Sorry, but I have enough of a job living up to what God wants, without having to prove myself to people like you by answering their smart-aleck questions.

Answer 10

You are given a measure of Faith "it is a gift" . It grows as you use it. Faith with out use is dead. which is what James was saying and was so badly interpreted to" Faith with out works is dead". "With out Faith we cannot Please God". So Faith is a requirement to Pleasing God.