The Dangers Of Personal Faith

Historically speaking the idea of a "personal" relationship with God is relatively young in the Christian faith. It is an idea that grew out of the a modern interpretation of the scripture that looked for a formula for salvation. Supreme in that endeavor Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." It's syllogistic nature was seized upon and hermeneutically (approach to interpreting scripture) applied through the lens of a western worldview. In the 1900s the movement of evangelistic crusades, like Billy Graham held, led to the invitation to the altar to receive Christ as one's "personal" Lord and Savior.

And as a westerner in worldview and experience I have used that same approach when sharing my faith, and calling others to faith. When it comes to helping someone cross the line from separation from God to salvation in God, Romans 10:9 gives a great template.

Today,, though, my thoughts returned to this idea of a "personal" faith as I read 2 Kings 16. Ahaz becomes the king in Judah and is not at all like his ancestor David. In fact, Ahaz is shown to have a "personal" faith, that leads to God despising him as king. Though Ahaz lives in Jerusalem, a holy city and one time dwelling place of God's Spirit, he chooses to add the practices of pagans to his "personal" faith. When his city is about to be conquered by Aram, he appeals to Assyria for help instead of his God. And while his nation is saved he goes further down the path of "personal" faith and loots the temple treasuries as a means of paying off the Assyrians. Then he plunders the temple for his personal use. Enamored by a pagan altar in Damascus, he sends architectural plans back to the priest in Jerusalem to replace the altar God had designed. And seals his personal faith when he goes through and removes all distinctive features from the temple that might offend the King of Assyria.

Talk about a sell out. But more and more I find people on spiritual journeys that think they can have a "personal" faith, like a smorgasbord of choices when it comes to shaping their religious faith. The story of Ahaz reminds me that our relationship with God is not about what we want out of it, it's about what He wants out of it. We aren't redeemed by God because of our value, but because of the value of His Son. The Christian faith is not about the Christians, it's about the Christ. We don't shape Him, He shapes us.

Don't try to build your "personal" faith like Ahaz, embrace God in His distinctives, His holiness, His way.

--Ben