Why is faith so difficult?

The Reverend Dr. Teri McDowell Ott is a pastor, writer, and editor/ publisher of the Presbyterian Outlook in the USA. While reading her blog recently, I was reminded of the time when Jesus told his disciples that his time with them would soon come to an end. The disciples naturally struggled with the news, partly because they had come to rely on having Jesus with them. Then Jesus promises that while they won't see him physically, he will still be with them spiritually as he prepares a place for them so they can be reunited with him in the spiritual life that continues after their physical death. Then we have a lovely insight into the disciple Philip's faith when he announces that he wanted some tangible proof before he was going to accept what Jesus was saying! 

While this conversation is unfolding, the disciple Thomas's thoughts have been elsewhere, so he has missed what Jesus was promising, and he finally interrupts Jesus by saying he hasn't understood what Jesus has been saying. If Jesus is going to be dead and buried...Then how can we know the way?

Teri then questions whether we have ever found our faith difficult, which is a good question! For who hasen't gone through periods of time when we question our faith, our beliefs and our hopes? Faith is not always easy. Sometimes we too can have our questions. For example: “Why does faith require so much effort, patience, courage, and strength of will ?' Couldn’t Jesus have made our life of faith a little easier?

It is true, Christian faith is not always easy to live – and more significantly to understand – because faith it is not something that can be rationalized or explained in simple words. This is partly because faith is primarily built on a relationship and not primarily on things like divine revelation or even the teachings of Jesus.

Christian Faith is also grounded in ancient Hebrew/Jewish history and writings. It has passed through twenty centuries of formation and development. While this can become a good excuse to ignore Christianity, and many do. However, the Theologian, Paul Tillich, in his book the “Dynamics of Faith,” described faith as containing a dynamic quality.

”Faith, in the Christian context, is more than mere belief; it’s a dynamic and transformative force in the life of a believer. Faith, as described in the New Testament, particularly in its original Greek context, conveys trust, confidence, and reliance. Faith as ultimate concern is an act of the total personality. It happens in the center of the personal life and includes all its elements.” The human mind’s most centered act is faith. Everything revolves around faith. It is not simply a function or section of a man but his total being   If faith becomes static, if it fails to move us, open us, deepen us, better us, then it is no longer faith.  Instead it is an idol; it is simply another idol that we put up on the mantle to worship but with which we don’t actually do anything.

Couldn’t you make this a little easier, Jesus?  Thanks be to God the answer is “No.”²

Faith is not easy because Faith is not something static that you can pride yourself in.  Or having attended the course, read the book, and studied the Bible doesn't mean you now understand all there is to know about Faith. Faith is not static. Faith is a living dynamic because Faith opens the door to allow God’s presence and peace to journey with us and within us. It is always unfolding as we learn to live within its shadow and begin to recognise its presence hovering within our struggles and joys. And this doesn't apply only to those who follow the Christian Faith.

For example, I recently came across an article on The Difficulty of Sustaining Faith by a practising Buddhist. In response to a practitioner's complaint that, having faithfully tried to follow all the instructions he had been given, he had so far not experienced the enjoyment of peace and security promised in their practice. Instead, he had encountered 'great hardships' that had 'showered like rain upon him' and now he had had enough. He had reached the point of giving it all up because he felt he was wasting his time!

However, when he discussed his struggles with his teacher, his teacher suggested he should choose a place that he considers “special” and possibly even “sacred” and use it only for his meditation practice. If he did this faithfully and regularly, then he would begin to cherish that space as he started to grow and develop his faith and practice ³.

Kia Mau te pai ki a koe I to haerenga!

May you find peace and good will on your journey!

Phil

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1, Teri McDowell Ott – encouraging courage

2. Tillich, Paul. Dynamics of Faith. New York: Harper, 1958. Print.

3. The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra.