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Observations

What Takes More Faith?

We should probably be slow to comment on those who see their faith as providing them with all sorts of material benefits, if we already have those benefits and show no signs of being prepared to be sawn in two.

We are continually told by celebrity preachers that if only we have enough faith, God will do a miracle for us. Believe for a BMW and you will have your BMW. Trust God for healing and you will be healed. You may want to throw a substantial sum of money in the direction of the celebrity preacher in order to prove the depth of your faith – it will probably help.

Then again, Hebrews 11 tells a different story of faith:

There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.  Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.  They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated

Hebrews 11:35-37

Just a quick question? Which takes more faith, to trust that God will provide you with a BMW just because you want one, or to trust that God knows what he is doing and will take care of you while you are being sawn in two?

True Christian faith is tough and it’s gritty. It’s not about having a comfortable life, good health and lots of money, but it is about taking up our cross and being prepared to suffer for Jesus.

The prosperity Gospel which turns Almighty God into a slot machine is a heresy which blights the church worldwide. Then again, is the sort of comfortable Christianity that we have in the West, where suffering for our faith and taking up our cross are merely theoretical discussions any better?

We should probably be slow to comment on those who see their faith as providing them with all sorts of material benefits, if we already have those benefits and show no signs of being prepared to be sawn in two.