The argument we are having about faith starts with the difference of opinion about “STRONG FAITH and WEAK FAITH.” It is my position that: “there is no strong or weak faith, but it is the application of that faith that comes across as strong or weak.” – Henry Cotton.
We can look all throughout the bible and find example after example of people exercising faith. If the question of whether their faith is strong or weak comes into question, then I have a couple of questions of my own:
- What are the criteria for determining if a person is exercising strong or weak faith?
- Where are these criteria found?
- Who makes the determination if the faith being exercised is strong or weak?
- Exactly WHAT IS FAITH?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
What does this definition mean? Let’s look at what the Greek meanings of some of the key words in this verse means:
Faith – (4102 from 3982) ASSURANCE, BELIEF, BELIEVE, CREDENCE
Substance – (5287) ESSENCE (compound of 5259 & 2476 [MEANS]
Hoped – (1679) ———— 1680 ANTICIPATED, EXPECTATION, FAITH, CONFIDENCE
Evidence – (1650) PROOF, CONVICTION
A person would be in order if they were to say: “Faith is the essence of things anticipated or expected, and the proof of things not seen.”
Does anyone disagree? Okay. Let us take a look at the word “faith” again. Is the word supposed to be taken Literally, Symbolically, or Metaphorically?
Literal – Taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory.
Symbolic – Serving as a symbol.
Synonyms: figurative, representative, illustrative, emblematic, allegorical, parabolic, nonliteral
Metaphoric – A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Characteristic of or relating to metaphor.
Synonyms: figurative, allegorical, analogous, symbolic, emblematic, imaginative, fanciful
If we are going to take the word faith “Literally,” we must take into consideration certain passages of scripture:
- “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day*.” 2 Timothy 1:12C
*This scripture helps us to realize that Paul was not talking about having a “blind” faith, because he emphasized that he “KNEW’ whom he believed!
- “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith*, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
*being that every Believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, every Believer has faith.
- “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.*”
*The word measure here means: “limited portion”
- The word does not say “A” measure of faith, but clearly states “The” measure (or limited portion. STRONG’S 3358)
If a person is contending that this “Limited Portion” is talking about an actual physical amount of faith, then I have one more question; what does the following passage mean:
“19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief*: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” MATTHEW 17:19-20
*Remember, EVERY BELIEVER HAS FAITH! Jesus clearly stated that it was not their lack of faith that kept them from casting out the demon, but it was the PRESENCE OF DOUBT/UNBELIEF!
Remember what Jesus said to the man who came to Him concerning his child:
“23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” MARK 9:23-24
CONCLUSION –
As forestated, scripture after scripture can be shown of examples of faith being executed. I believe that the scriptures used here clearly illustrate that it is NOT the literal amount of faith in question that does the work, because if all it takes is faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain, then how much faith is enough?
Secondly, if every man has been given a “limited portion” of faith, and we were to take this verse literally, would that portion be smaller than the mustard seed or greater? Thirdly, I think that the verses in Matthew 17 and Mark 9 makes it clear that it is NOT the literal amount of faith that does the work, but the presence of unbelief that hinders the faith one has from being effective
For those who might want to contend that Faith is be taken as Symbolic or Metaphoric, that will yield another set of challenges (I think that will be another discussion for another time).
