turnipg03

                There are a numer of different manifestations of "faith" within the Christian circle today. These "faith"s have different foundations and therefore produce different results.

                There is what we call the "mentally-based" or "intellectually-based" faith. This faith is a mental ascertation to the fact that God is real and/or that God is all-powerful, supreme, and omni-present. A person operating in this type of faith will emphatically acknowledge that God exists and even that He can do anything, but their lifestyle will deny that faith.

                James addresses this type of faith in his letter. Verse 2:19 reads, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder." As James describes in the rest of his letter: Just the acknowledgement of the reality of God is not necessarily the genuine faith that God desires.

                Another type of faith is what we call the "emotionally-based" faith. This type of faith is harder to identify since some of its elements and teachings have a level of validity to them. This is the type of faith that attempts to manipulate our thinking, speaking, feelings, emotions, and even our surrounding circumstances in an effort to acheive, or "keep" our faith.

                Individuals who are operating in this kind of faith spend a great deal of time "confessing" that they believe, while not confessing the "negative", or their "circumstances". They try very hard to hold onto a "positive" attitude. They tend to deny or ignore surrounding circumstances. They are afraid to admit to others or even to themselves that they have doubts, fears, or frustrations.

                Am I saying that I do not believe in "confessing" our faith? Or in looking away from the circumstances? Or in keeping a positive attitude? NOT AT ALL! I believe that all these things have their place. But when we say that these are the elements of true faith, then I believe that we are in error. Let me give you some examples from scripture and from my personal life:

                When Jesus walks on the water in Matthew 14:25-31, Peter also steps out and begins to walk on the water. We find that when Peter "saw the wind, he was afraid" and he begins to sink. Now should Peter have kept his eyes on the Lord? Perhaps. But notice that Jesus did NOT say, "Why did you take your eyes off of me?"; but instead He says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

                We are convinced that genuine faith will be able to see the circumstances, and yet be able to still believe; bringing those circumstances to the Lord in prayer and supplication.
              
                Another example, from my own experience:

                A number of years ago, I went through a time of great need. I had lost my job and eventually had to live in my car. The head gasket deteriorated so that I could no longer start my car to keep warm. As winter approached, an area church offered to let me sleep on the floor in the church until such time as I could get "back on my feet".