I recently listened to a trusted broadcast that spoke of President Donald Trump being the first president to ‘change his faith’ since Dwight David Eisenhower. What do those words mean?.. “Change his faith.” This statement was made by a Christian publication. That’s important. And it is a very popular Christian publication. It is important, because for a Christian to say he has ‘changed faith’ is very, very profound. Now I want to say up front that I am very glad Donald Trump is speaking of his relationship with God. I voted for him and believe he is the best man to lead our country right now. But let’s think about these words describing his relationship with God which came from this Christian publication.
In this brief essay I would like to make the point that when speaking of our relationship with the Christian God of the Holy Scriptures we cannot use the word “faith” in any way other than the same way the Scriptures uses it to describe our eternal state.
The letter of 2nd Peter to the persecuted faithful in Rome begins with Peter defining who the faithful are, in other words those who have faith:
“…To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:”
This brief clause tells us a great deal, but I want to focus on “…a faith of equal standing with ours…” Speaking syntactically, the words ‘a faith’ are (I believe) the object of ‘those.’ This is a specific ‘faith’ that is only obtained by ‘those.’ This is not a faith in anything else but in God our Savior Jesus Christ. This is a specific kind of faith and this letter from the apostle Peter is written to those who have obtained this kind of faith, not creating it or shaping it on their own but by the righteous act of the God, Jesus Christ, the creator of the universe and only as defined by him and given by him. So, it is a specific faith. Peter tells us it is those having this faith only that the following words of his letter apply, have an effect, have any meaning or help or hope. This is the faith of the Scriptures – the only way faith, biblical faith, can be defined.
Why must Peter bring attention to a specific faith? Because any other expression of faith would not be the right faith with which to live in and understand and persevere through the times of which he is going to tell them. In fact the words of Scripture would hold no eternal meaning for them.
Also – any other expression of faith is not the Christian faith. It is not saving faith.
Let me explain why I believe this is eternally important:
I have been known to assuage my conscience after walking away from a spiritual conversation with an unbeliever [that has flopped] by saying to my all-too-eager-to-listen self, “Well, I can tell she has a faith.” My all-too-eager-to-listen-to-myself self says, “Yes! She does – I am so thankful!” And then I become the poster child for multi personalities and say: “Hello! You didn’t even mention saving faith! What does she have faith in?” An internal fight ensues, my all-too-eager-to-listen-to-me self takes the wrong exit on the thruway – out of spite! And the small part of myself that is even engaged in the Holy Spirit sits in the parking lot at Walmart (where I had to turn around) and confesses to the Lord that I did not in fact just share my faith in Jesus Christ. Rather I just had a nice conversation and made a friend (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Most importantly, I need to remember what true saving faith looks like – we all do.
It is the Scriptures that has the authority to define what faith in God -true faith in God- looks like. We cannot. This Christian publication meant to say that Trump changed his denominational affiliation. That is very, very different from changing your faith. While faith can be measured in different amounts (“Oh you of little faith” said Jesus.) It cannot be changed. Nor can someone have ‘a faith’ – which we use to make it sound like we are measuring it. In fact we are not measuring it we are making a statement that means she is on a progressive trend toward faith. (Really?)
Here is the fact of the matter. We obtain faith (however great or small) only by the quickening of it by the Holy Spirit, under the authority of God’s election and because of the finished work of Jesus the Christ. That is the only way we obtain the faith of the Holy Scriptures. The apostle Paul then teaches us in Ephesians (and elsewhere) that we can, in our Christian walk with Christ (sanctification) be being filled up with the Holy Spirit. This means our faith grows but we already have it.
We must be very careful as we share the faith of the Scriptures not to fool ourselves into believing that because someone speaks kindly, believes there is a God – or even a Trinity- that she has a saving faith. We must say the name of Christ – ‘Jesus’ – and we must specifically talk about our need for him – we are sinners by nature and by act AND faith in him obtained by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is our only hope of salvation.
If we change our faith it is no faith at all.