for those of you who don't know me - I am a Christian. This question is meant to be thought provoking.
thank you
2007-07-04 15:36:06 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm a christian too, and my experience tought me that not working at my faith, may limit it, and if it is limited, my faith will be weak. And when it is weak then the enemy attacks and I lack the strength to rebuke him.
Also knowing the enemy, everyday tries to destroy our faith some way or another. Will I stand on what I know (about Jesus) or my feelings, when attacks come? My faith has grown so much, I standfast on my Lord Jesus. And He fights for/with me, the spiritual battles.
An image of this would be your body, if you don't work at keeping it healthy, feeding it physically, intellectually and so on, we become weak, ill and die quite fast... Same with faith, we must cultivate it, and through tests and trials, that faith becomes stronger, especially through knowledge of who is God in many details...
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb. 11-1
It is very much a REALITY and truth, and it is to be kept alive.
2007-07-04 17:36:51 · answer #1 · answered by monfille 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hiya Rammie!
Testing faith isn't just about believing in abstracts. It's a meter for what is true or not to the person. Faith is not only up and down, it is sideways as well.
For instance, if you lose your job. Do you use your knowing that a path will open up to you, to guide you through that experience or do you just sit on your sofa and cry? Suddenly shutting down your circuits because the circumstances seem devestating?
Faith = Knowing
of your divine connection. That your movement matters.
That if it takes work, it's not your faith-knowing that is faulty. It could be the wrong path to take, which shouldn't be ignored.
Faith has gotten quite a bad rap. Including, by me because I used it to just not "prove" anything. Which stokes up doubts.
Well, intangibles can be manifest. So before "thine own eyes " can and does happen
As does the maturity by which using your faith to guide you can produce if applied correctly.
So, my question to you is "Do you take everything on Faith?" If you do, does that really work?
How much of a Faith structure is built up by you individually, and how much is pure outside teachings?
I have a story. (short)...
I was learning Chi Qong, and I asked the teacher during our break if Faith was required for this? He told me that it would be better to switch into that because much of why you do these movements is intangible. You have to be in a certain place/sensitivity to even notice the subtle shiftings. When we stay in our head and physicality it's hard to see beneath the surface.
As for our stories...they could all be true or none of them true. But faith is an action of so much more use to you than that.
2007-07-05 02:00:43 · answer #2 · answered by shakalahar 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What's the point of having faith if you don't have to work at it? The reason it takes work is so that A) it doesn't stagnate and B) continues to grow. Faith isn't just some thing that you have and it's just there. It's a living part of who you are. If you don't use it, exercise it, grow it and grow with it, it dies, as could be evidenced by some of the questions on R&S that I've seen. "I've lost my faith..." or some such question commonly comes up. My question to these people would be, "What have to you done to keep your faith strong?" I dare say more people exercise the bodies than their faith.
2007-07-04 15:44:31 · answer #3 · answered by Steve 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hi Ramjet...
Ok....Years ago when the Lord was teaching me about the deliverance ministry that every Christian has as a part of their basic Christian skills to do...He showed me by example experience the same way as He usually taught me stuff throughout the Bible...
Anyway, I probably would have done fine, the minor things were pretty easy, but, curious, I found some books on the subject, which were wonderful, BUT....they kept cautioning the reader/Christian about different things that they had run into during their own education about and doing, and they kept stressing how you must have GREAT FAITH.
Until then, I had no DOUBT about my faith....but reading that over and over, doubt entered into my life....I began stressing and praying for strength and Faith to DO, etc.,. and, both wanting and dreading that the Lord would have me face what the authors of the books spoke of.
More often then not, I trembled when the Lord placed something in my path and said "DO"...and I had to "prepare" myself longer and longer before I could.
Satan wants to destroy our Faith, and we have to protect ourselves to keep what we have....I think it is all the attacks against us is what people refer to "working at it" (IE Faith)
Peace be with you :)
2007-07-04 18:04:07 · answer #4 · answered by ForeverSet 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh my, without writing a book, where to begin on this one? Great question..
First of all anything that is worthwhile and good usually requires some effort. Gaining a college degree takes much time and effort. Worth it? YES. Learning to drive, learning a profession to earn a living Yes, so many things we must do and learn and be blessed by and all are worth it.
But, having strong faith, nothing matters more than that> NOTHING. Its not even really much effort. If we love God and obey, He will bless us with so many things, including stronger faith. SO not really a huge thing to do. But, we need to want to obey God, as it is the only way to be blessed. But not just to obey, but to want to obey, as Jesus did. HE obeyed the Father in every area, and He is our exmpale. The more we do that, and its so easy when you let Him change your heart and give you His desires, and not that of the world, Then you can have such strong faith and live continually in Gods blessings. Work? NO.
If you do something you hate, it is work, When its what you love , you will enjoy it. So, if it seems like work to someone, then they have not received yet the heart of Jesus, they must ask Him for that and He will give it.
Having strong faith will get you thru so many things, as it keeps you in constant communion with God. How many ways can you count the blessings?? YOu cant, as there are too many.. Great thought provoking question, which is always all good.
Thanks.
2007-07-04 15:47:53 · answer #5 · answered by full gospel shirley 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Ramjet, you have to work at ANYTHING that is going to make you a better person. If you want to look better, you have to clean up your act, workout, eat healthy, all that stuff. If you want to learn more, you have to take harder courses, study hard, and do all the readings and assignments. Why should it be any different when it comes to one's Faith?
And I don't mind if you're a Christian one bit. I have a LOT of Christian Friends. Hope you don't mind that I'm a Wiccan *smiles*. By the way, I added you to MY contacts list too. I like how you think. :)
Brightest Blessings,
Raji the Green Witch
2007-07-04 15:56:14 · answer #6 · answered by Raji the Green Witch 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If you can successfully and logically defend your faith to all comers then it will give you strength....
This means when starting out with your faith you will be exposed to lots of attacks from all directions that will make you doubt, possibly a lot, especially at the start. Look for the answers and you'll find your faith will grow stronger and maybe even unshakable.
Don't be afraid to assimilate the odd unknown as well (although if you find yourself doing that a lot it might be time to re-examine your faith a bit closer)....
2007-07-04 15:40:59 · answer #7 · answered by chimerauk 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Since "you live by faith," and nothing can occur that you are not willing (actively, passively or unconsciously) to experience, the only work there is to do is minor. Observe how you feel about what is happening in reality, and then "give up what you do not want and keep what you do."
In contradiction to what most people have been taught to believe, you CANNOT increase your faith by effort, but it does take enormous effort and perseverance to change your mind about what you have learned to "believe" is true.
2007-07-05 06:53:46 · answer #8 · answered by MysticMaze 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What's that mean? I'm a Christian also, but "work" is the opposite of faith.
Faith COMES by hearing and hearing the word of God and when we are born again we are given a measure of faith to use.
The only work we have to do is STAND on faith no matter what our eyes see and our ears hear that is opposite what God says.
USING our faith is a battle to the flesh.
2007-07-04 15:43:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Easy faith that has not been challenged might crumble at the first real test that comes along. When faith is tested, questioned, and still holds firm, THAT faith is not just surface, but rooted in your heart and mind.
Maybe that is why Jesus said to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and all your strength?
2007-07-04 15:41:44 · answer #10 · answered by mistovan 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋