I have a question which requires an answer. The question is:
What do you think the gift of faith is?
a) the common faith shared by every believer
b) the faith of a skeptic or one who struggles with doubt
c) the faith of one who searches deeply but does not struggle with doubt
d) other
This question requires nuance. I am speaking here of the gift referred to in Scripture (cf, 1 Cor. 12:9). It is not, by nature, the faith all believers have in common. That is my opinion. But, you are allowed to disagree. If you answer D., you must explain. The difference between B. and C. is not the level of spiritual maturity but the natural inclination of the person. One can struggle with doubt (or not struggle) and have a folk-type faith that is unexamined and unquestioned. Or, one can struggle with doubt (or not struggle with doubt) and have a deep and vibrant relationship with the Lord that includes intense study and searching.
My bias is coming out here, because the real question I am asking centers on the two middle choices. Is the gift of faith given to the one who searches and struggles with doubts or to the one who searches and does not doubt?
I'll tell you what I think once everyone has responded, so please respond. I'm not posting again until somebody does.
6 comments:
I'm not so sure it's not both...or even more. The "gifts" that this passage is talking about are all used to reach out (evangelize, if you will); whether it's the gift of speaking in tongues so people of different dialect can understand the word, or the gift of wisdom so their knowledge can be spread. In my opinion, the scripture is not referring to how a person is given this gift of faith, just that they are given it by the Lord 'as he determines'. Whether it is a skeptic who struggled in finding his faith, a person who thoroughly researches their belief, or even a witness to a miracle that is led to have more faith...they all have the gift of faith which is intended to be used as a tool for reaching out. Maybe this was a trick question, but in my opinion B, C, and D can explain the gift of faith. To answer the question you were really asking, I do not think the gift of faith is narrowed to one OR the other.
By the way, Systematic Chaos by Dream Theater rocks, if you don't have it already.
Now if only we knew who anonymous was!
apparently my faith is kept secret...just kidding. You know the answer to your rhetorical question.
I've given some thought to the response of our anonymous blurker...
I do like the ideas presented in the comment. However, I have some concerns that I must raise.
First, contextually, I think it may be better to say that the purpose of these gifts is not for evangelism, but for the edification of the church. 1 Cor. 12-14 constitute a complete thought for Paul. 12:7 says that these gifts are given for the common good, and ch. 14 especially seems to imply that Paul is trying to show that no gift is more significant than another (particularly, tongue speaking) but that all gifts should be used for the edification of the body "in a fitting and orderly way" (14:40).
Given this context, I think it is difficult to say that all people have the GIFT of faith. Certainly all have faith, but to assume that from this passage would imply that all the Christians in Corinth have all the other gifts mentioned here along with faith. This does not seem to be the case (12:28-30).
Unfortunately, this does not get us any closer to an answer to my question. I am inclined to think that the gift of faith may be related to the person described in option B or C. I am more inclined to think it is option C, simply because it seems that all who search deeply will at some point have to wrestle with doubt, skepticism, or some kind of troubling challenge to the growth of their faith.
In truth, there probably isn't an answer to my question. And that's okay.
He strikes again..
Wouldn't an evangelist's work be considered as edification to the church? Since "to edify" means "to uplift", I would like to think that missionaries are uplifting the church. Fair enough, I agree these gifts are not limited to evangelism...there are numerous other purposes for these gifts. Evangelism was just the first that came to mind.
Secondly, I think you misread that line about "they all have the gift of faith". My apologies. I do agree that the 'gift of faith' in this passage does not refer to your answer A (that's why I didn't list A in my conclusion). My comment was simply a continuation of the previous sentence, hints the '...'. What I meant was; whomever He determines to give the gift of faith to, no matter how they came to receive it (whether a skeptic or researcher), they still have the gift. So I don't think I was assuming that all the Christians in Corinth had all the other gifts mentioned here along with faith.
The point of the whole blurker's comment was partially what you mentioned in your second to last sentence. I do not think there is one single way to receive the gift of faith. I pray that I do not worry about how this gift is given, rather I pray that I am given the gift.
FYI, in your reply to my comments you pretty much joined Answers B and C. Because in your post you stated that:
c) the faith of one who searches deeply but does not struggle with doubt
Which is basically what I attempted to state in my first comment, that it is a combination of both.
Contextually, I think evangelism is separate from the edification Paul has in mind in this passage, but otherwise, agreed.
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