JESUS IS LOOKING FOR FAITH
We know the Church is being corrected in some of our doctrines and beliefs regarding the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Whether it’s the use of spiritual gifts, the accuracy of prophecy, or the veracity of our leaders, we are being disciplined. But this process is not meant to reduce us – it is meant to purify and empower us. It is not only our doctrines that are being tested, but our faith in a supernatural God.
I have sensed a rising hesitancy to step out in faith regarding the things of the Spirit. Because of the ongoing scrutiny and exposure of false teachings and practices, there is a growing fear of being unfaithful to God’s Word. Some who believe in spiritual gifts and long for “more” of God, are pulling back and beginning to doubt those “impressions” they once received. Given the rising call for biblical accuracy and accountability, there are some who have begun to pull back from their pursuit of “spirituals” (1 Corinthians 14) for fear of being misled or deceived.
But as much as we must let the Word of God ground us, we cannot give in to a fear that kills the life of the Spirit. We must be scripturally accurate, but never at the expense of God’s power. And I’m not talking about leaders who compromise integrity for the sake of impact, but calling attention to the many believers who simply want to KNOW their God. And here’s the dividing mark that I’ve recently discovered. Throughout the biblical narrative, it’s FAITH that God responds to. Not theological precision.
Jesus didn’t reward or respond to those who were theologically perfect, but to those who walked by FAITH and dared to believe in Who He was. He recognized and championed those who were willing to step outside the norms of the day and the strict protocols of religion. He performed miracles when He saw that kind of faith (Matt 9:2, Luke 8:44). Throughout Scripture, God responds to spiritual hunger – those who are zealous for His presence and His power (Psalm 107:9).
It is possible to be grounded in the Word and yet hesitant – even resistant – to the very ways the Spirit moves. It is possible to be theologically accurate, but void of the Spirit’s life. Even spiritually dry. And as I have personally considered my own experiences and priorities in the light of recent exposures, I have determined that I would rather be criticized for my zealous faith than accepted for my theological prowess. I will always pursue integrity regarding spiritual matters and am willing to be corrected when wrong. But I never want to lose my passion for God that pursues things that can’t be fact-checked or verified by scholarly research.
Some of the major spiritual revivals of past decades are being criticized for false signs and wonders, and even totally disqualified because of some of the leaders involved. But I can personally testify to the power of God that was present, because I was there. And while it is true that some of the major leaders of past revivals are now known to be frauds and fakes, it is also true that the spiritual hunger and faith of the people who came was REAL. Regardless of who was on stage, the crowds of people who came to those past revivals were hungry for God. It wasn’t always because of the leader, but because God Himself was showing up. People came with expectancy, longing for encounter, believing that God would meet them. And it was that collective desire to touch God that drew heaven to respond. And many are still testifying to the positive impact those experiences had on their relationship with God.
For many who have “tasted and seen” the various outpourings of God’s Spirit in past years, it has not been mere emotionalism. Scripture distinguishes between empty enthusiasm and genuine faith. Because what God honors is not hype, but heart posture. He comes to those who are humble and contrite (Isaiah 66:2). He heals and restores those who earnestly seek Him (Jeremiah 29:13). He rushes to those who cry out to Him (Psalm 34:17). Yes, we must live up to the standards set forth in His Word. But they were never meant to limit or restrict our zeal for Him, as much as to undergird and protect us in the journey.
I serve a God beyond time and space. One who defies the natural order and is beyond comprehension or understanding. He calls us to believe for things that “…eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has the heart of man imagined” (Is 64:4). So I accept the fact that faith will always carry risk. It will always invite criticism. And it will usually look foolish to the doubting Thomas’ who need tangible proof. But faith is not proven by how well we analyze or dissect it, but by how we respond to His voice.
Jesus was not looking for doctrinal precision. He was looking for faith. And His challenge still remains. Even as we fine tune our doctrines and correct some false teachings, we must never lose our zeal for Him that is, at times, crazy, irrational, and unproven. Spiritual pursuit was never meant to be “safe.” It was meant to be fueled by an unwavering faith in a God who doesn’t always makes sense, but gives us life everlasting and joy unspeakable. IF we believe.
