Irrational Faith

Logic. According to the dictionary, Reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity or a system or set of principles underlying the arrangements of elements in a computer or electronic device so as to perform a specified task.

Logic is needed. Something used to determine one's next steps, or to deduce a solution to a problem. There is logic in science, math, in the business and in ones own home. It is safe to say that we would be lost without it. Scripture is full of logic.... and yet Scripture is also full of Irrational Faith. Don't get me wrong. Logic is good and needed. However, if we only lived by that which we can comprehend we wouldn't be living. I know I sound like a silly school girl running on and on about feelings, emotions, heart.... actually this is nothing of the sort. It is something a little different. As I have walked with God over these past 18 years, I have noticed that somethings He does just isn't logical....not to my finite mind anyways. If we only view the world through the eyes of logic we miss the wonder. Let me just put it this way.... 

If we were all so logical, Peter would have never stepped out of the boat.

"During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." -Matthew 14:25-28

I don't care who you are, walking on water just isn't logical. It's not reasonable. It's not normal. It doesn't follow any scientific rules. Yet, He did it! Our God created logic. Don't put Him in a box. Wonder at his marvelous works! Stand in awe of his mighty power! And step out of that boat! There are many times in ministry that things aren't logical. However, when God is working, you step out of the boat. Because where God is at work, that is where you want to be. And sometimes it just isn't logical. It wasn't logical for me to leave a good paying job, where I ministered to my coworkers, was moving up the preverbal ladder and enjoyed it! But guess what? It doesn't matter cause when God says "come" you GO!

Sure, to us seasoned followers of Christ it makes more sense. But logical? No, it can't be logical. Why? Because we can't reason it all out. We, in our finite minds can't understand or hash out all the reasoning of an infinite God.

"Faith is permitting ourselves to be seized by the things we do not see." -Martin Luther

Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Isaiah, Peter, Paul...each had irrational faith. Faith in something they couldn't fully comprehend or see but yet they believed because they knew the one who promised is faithful. Hebrews 11, the hall of faith, tells us of many of these men's journey of faith. "By FAITH Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.... By FAITH Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went...By FAITH Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice....By FAITH Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born....By FAITH Moses...chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin....By FAITH the people passed through the Red Sea on dry land....By FAITH the walls of Jericho fell...." 

As I pointed out in my last post, our God is reason, and truth. I am by no means negating the necessity of logic. However, our God is so much more. Just like He is perfectly just and perfectly merciful all at the same time, He is also created order and logic as well as irrational faith, generosity, and love. It doesn't always make sense in this world but I don't care. Because in those moments I again stand in AWE of my amazing Savior. Wonder at His marvelous work. There is a time to study and discover Him and then there is a time to sit in awe and wonder at His feet or to jump out of the boat and walk on water. I guarantee you Peter didn't take the time to calculate the probability of him staying afloat. No, he jumped in. He ran to his Lord. Why? Because his Lord had beckoned him.

"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat and walked on water and came toward Jesus.

A Word about the Word

James 3:1 

"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."

Be prepared my readers for I am about to go on a tangent. Why? For some reason this topic keeps coming up in my life. I tend to see it everywhere; in the events around me, in my scripture reading. It has to do with The Word. Not any word. Not the words we speak day in and day out, not these words that your reading on your screen. The Word…

"In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him and without him not anything was made that was made." 

Logos. A greek word many of us churchy kids grew up hearing. Reason. Jesus. He was there in the beginning. Yes. But, Oh my friend how there is so much more! Logos: a word, a statement, speech… a divine utterance. In the beginning was a divine utterance. There was reason. (Let us think about that for a minute. Can we not appreciate REASON in our world today? A world where reason often seems lost.) There was more; there was truth. Remember the account of the garden? God made everything and He made it VERY GOOD. It is hard to imagine as we sit in our broken, fallen world. Oh how I long to see my saviors face and watch as he creates the new heaven and new earth….it will be perfect, just like Him. What a precious thing that is given to us. John 1:14 says that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…."He was/is the divine utterance, He is truth, He is reason.

Not only did God give us his son in the flesh to come, live, die and rise again, but He gave us His Word in book form. The Bible. King David, many years before Christ was born, told us how precious the Word of God was. He said it was a lamp unto our feet. He said that we should meditate on it, and memorize it. If we do it will keep us from sin and we will bear fruit. Hebrews tells us that His word is sharper than any two edged sword. It cuts through our thoughts and motives. He tells us that His Word is food, a map, and a sword. He tells us that it is hope and a refuge. It is truth.

Proverbs 30:6

Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

I am a firstborn…of 6 children. I have a lion personality. An ISTP if that means anything to you. My spiritual gifts are teacher/exhorter and my love language is words of affirmation. It is safe to assume I like to talk and I like telling people what to do. I've pretty much made a living off of it. It is a passion of mine to see young girls taught scripture and equipped to teach others. However, teaching is serious business. In proverbs it talks about the "Fear of the Lord." I know what that is. I have super loving and awesome parents. My dad was my hero. He would take me on dates. He would write me postcards when he was traveling a lot. I never doubted my fathers love for me. However, when I back talked to my mom and I suddenly saw my dad turn towards me and I knew what was coming... that is holy fear right there. The same is true with my heavenly father. I never doubt His love for me. However, when I stand before a group of girls or children ready to teach, that holy fear is there. I pray I never lose it. I believe we should be sober-minded when we teach. Why? James 3:1.

These are not opinions or frivolous words being thrown around. They are not a Halmark card greeting, they are not a valedictorian speech or even the State of the Union Address. Ya, some of those are important and incredible but this…this is so much more. This is Logos. THE DIVINE UTTERANCE OF GOD! 

So, although my motto is still "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season…" I pray that every teacher stands before the Lord sober-minded. Peter tells to be sober-minded because our enemy is prowling around seeking someone to devour. Don't let it be you or those you are teaching. How can we as humans... failing, sinning, blubbering humans, stand before anyone and preach the Word? KNOW THE WORD. He did not tell us to hide our light under a bushel. He tells us that He will be with us. He has given us everything we need to succeed. He dwells within us. I'm not saying we should give up or that we shouldn't have this many teachers. What I am saying is let us take our job seriously. The Lord has allowed us to be apart of His great plan and kingdom. So STUDY to show yourself approved. MEDITATE so that you may not sin against Him. And above all remember….

2 Peter 1:20 

Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 

Let us be STUDENTS of the Word! Don't take things at face value and don't expect anyone else to. Do your research, study, prepare, dive into the Word. There is nothing better, nothing more rewarding the getting to KNOW your Savior.  :)