Inadequate Faith

Written by cycleguy on August 21st, 2009

I tried the inadequate faith strikethrough  but it didn’t work on the title so here is what I really want to say: inadequate incomplete faith.   Maybe even incomplete isn’t adequate.  🙂  One of the false teachings of the Health/Wealth Gospel (besides God promises you health and wealth) is the old argument that you are not healthy or wealthy because your faith is incomplete.  It is usually worded like this: “You don’t have enough faith for God to honor your prayer or our prayers for healing or wealth.”  I will be rather blunt and since I don’t use curse words I will clean up what I really want to say: “That is pure poppycock!”    What’s got me thinking about this?  I am glad you asked!  😉

I have been reading through the Gospels all year.  Read them then repeat.  So that means several times this year I have read the passage I read again from Mark 9…the story of Jesus and His encounter with the father whose son was possessed and was mute but when it seized him would throw him down and the son would foam and grind his teeth and become rigid.  (verse 18)  He brought his son to Jesus because he had been asking the disciples to cast the demon out and they could not.  While talking with Jesus the son did his thing and Jesus asked the father how long it had been happening.  The father answers him but then says one of the most curious phrases (at least to me) in the Scriptures: “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” The man was desperate, on his last leg maybe and he says, “If.”  Jesus doesn’t get all over his case or rip him apart.  He simply says, “If?  All things are possible for one who believes.” The father then says what I consider to be a classic statement: “I believe; help my unbelief.” Jesus then casts out the demon and cures the boy.  I see so much here.

  • A father’s desperation brought him to Jesus.
  • That desperation led to a cry for help.
  • He expressed an incomplete faith and that he needed help to make it greater.
  • There was no rebuke from Jesus for his lack of faith!!  Holy mackerel!  Do you see that?   No words of “Sorry I can’t heal your son.  You don’t have enough faith.”  No “You need to do this or get this for it to happen.”  Jesus took the man from his point of belief and answered his request. I like to think He took the man’s #5 faith and made it a 10.

I too struggle at times with my faith.  Not that I doubt God’s love or grace or compassion.  I don’t.  But because I can’t see what is beyond the curtain, so to speak, I have times of questions that require Jesus to take what little faith I bring and make it complete.  It is not a “I want health” thing nor is it “I want wealth” thing.  It is a trust thing.  A faith thing.  One that is willing to take what little I have and bring it to the “Completion Consultant.”

Your thoughts?  I would love to hear them.

 

2 Comments so far ↓

  1. Robin Rane' says:

    Good word Bill. The teaching that you can have it “all” if you have enough faith is nuts. Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered. Why would we think we would be any different.
    I’m so thankful God isn’t angry or surprised when we have a lack of faith.

  2. cycleguy says:

    Thanks Robin. Of course you know i agree with you about the “nuts” part. I’m with you on the God isn’t angry part also. Thanks for the stop over.