Christianity is not what you think… from BELIEF to FAITH

Quite often we use words BELIEF and FAITH interchangeably. The ancient Biblical languages did it – both, Hebrew & Greek, have used the same root word for these. Yet, as you see in English – we have chosen to use different words, even different meaning.
TO BELIEVE is TO ADMIT, to adopt a belief system. Whereas FAITH is much more – it is to COMMIT. To become a Christian is not to adopt a new beliefs only, but is to be transformed into Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Faith is accepting Jesus’ invitation “Follow Me!” and goes beyond an intellectual adherence to certain ideas.
Jesus’ test of faith was not a multiple choice aptitude exam of knowing precepts and formulations, but simply “love for one another.” So, let me put it this way: Christianity is not what you think! As I visit families and people, especially those who have been disconnected from the church in years, I hear time after time their affirmation of being Adventists. And I want to plead with them: you don’t know what being Adventist means! Adventists are first of all Christians! Adventists are not just peculiar people with a different philosophy of theology, not just a system of weird rules, not a list of DON’Ts! Our identity is found in Christ, the Person, in our relationships with God and people, not in belonging to a system
We are people in love with Jesus, people in relationship with God, and in relationship with each other. That’s what the Hebrew concept of the “Covenant” was all about – entering into relationships! That is what Jesus’ concept of “Salvation” was all about – returning to a relationship with God and each other! It is all about being reconciled and entering renewed relationships with God and each other.
Every time we come to the Lord’s Supper we are reminded of the Family we are in Christ. We are challenged to be reconciled with each other. We are invited to renew our covenants and relationships.
This time of the year we look over of what we have accomplished, what we have done, and we also look over the significant relationships that were built, relationships that need to be mended.
And it is in this context I am reminded of Paul’s prayer for all believers “that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, planted in love and built on love.” (Ephesians 3:17) Faith & Love always come together in the New Testament. Faith Produces Love (Galatians 5:6) Together these are the breastplate of those who call themselves Christian. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)