What is faith? (pt 1 of 2)

I read an article in the Charlotte Observer on Saturday, March 14 regarding the changing numbers of people calling themselves Christians in N.C. and S.C. (and in fact nation-wide). The numbers are simply staggering.

The poll compares numbers from 1990 to 2008. In S.C. alone (although Nation-wide is following this trend) the number of people who call themselves Protestants went down from 88% to 73%. On the other hand, those that called themselves, secular, or atheist or agnostics or just “none” went up from 3% to 10%.

So, Protestants went down 15%, while “none’s” went up 7%. This is absolutely amazing.

My guess is this is happening for a couple obvious reasons:

1. Fewer people are trusting Christ for the 1^st time, therefore lowering the number of Protestants.
2. More people are walking away from the Christian faith, therefore raising the number of “None’s”.

Here are a few quotes from the article:

“the south is slowly yielding to secularism, non-belief or simple disinterest in traditional religion”

“more people have been willing to indentify themselves as atheist or agnostic in the last several years”

Why is this happening?

I believe its from a misunderstanding in what it means to follow Christ and a misunderstanding regarding what faith in Christ is.

Faith.

I don’t believe that faith is just agreeing that Jesus exists or an agreeing that Jesus is the only way for salvation. It involves these things, no doubt, but those things are the sum of what faith is. Although, this is what we might hear faith be defined as sometimes.

Let’s take a look at what Paul wrote. (remembering “faith” and “believe” are the same word in the NT)

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 – (1) Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, (2) and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

Paul preached the Gospel to the Corinthians. They received it by faith.
This means believers are being saved, provided they hold on to the gospel and apply it to their lives.
Holding fast is a required, necessary fact.

However, the people who at one time believed, but walked away, or subsequently refused to hold fast to God’s Word, provide evidence that they have broken faith with God.
This means, according to 1 Corinthians 15:2, they have believed in vain.

So, what we can learn from these verse is:
THERE IS A WAY TO BELIEVE IN JESUS AND IT BE IN VAIN, AND IT NOT BE TRUE FAITH.  That is scary.  And why we see atheism or agnostics on the rise.

part 2 coming soon….