Funnily enough I reckon the "faith churches" in Australia often seem to have the least amount of genuine faith. I think they often-place substitute real faith for a simplified formula product. Faith is linked to one-liner or single passage promises, and is a means to get something that one does not have. The problem arises because people often want an easy fix, a simple answer and clear-cut explanations. I worry that this is the exact opposite of what the Bible is. If it was supposed to be that simple, then Jesus would have spoken plainly like the disciples urged him too.
My definition of real faith: A genuine trust in the Lord and his word that supernaturally saves us and connects us to Him. Real faith acknowledges ambiguities and the tensions that exist in the scriptures and real life, and survives times where we seem not to be able to connect with God in a meaningful way. This sort of faith is a tough faith, with a relentless desire to hold one or die trying.
Faith is closely related or synonymous to belief and trust. Perhaps substituting these words would help those who are in the 'faith churches' to overcome the barrier that comes when you are programmed into a particular belief system by books, magazines, preaching and church culture.
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