Hindrances to Authentic Faith
March 1st, 2010
Here are a few thoughts that I decided not include in my sermon of James 2:14-18 regarding Authentic Faith.
Hebrews 11:6 The writer says…Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Well, if faith is so important—and if James is right in that we must speak of our faith AND show our faith in action—we would be wise in asking, “What are hindrances to my faith?”
Hindrances to Authentic Faith – reasons why we don’t have legit faith/reasons why we have trouble trusting God/Jesus…
- Fear of man – rather than being a missionary (living out your faith, doing your faith around the lost, being light
in the darkness) we tend to recluse ourselves from the needy because we have genuine fear and intense anxiety when around the needy. - My own pride/arrogance – I am smart enough to “wing” the Christian life. I don’t really need to pray, serve, share, etc. So long as I look the part, I don’t have to play the part. Also, I really don’t have the time to invest in my faith—time to read, pray, serve, etc.
- Selfishness/Fear – We fear that God may ask us too much of us. We fear that we may have to open up our life to others—this scares me to death! I like my walls of protection my “privacy.”
- Scared of ending up weird. All those I know who have really worked hard at their faith have ended up being really strange. (they probably ended up being extremely legalistic—that’s why they seem strange)
- Too Easily Satisfied – We settle to just know more than the next guy rather than to live by faith—NOT just knowing. We live just enough like a Christian to “fit in” but not enough to be considered authentic by Christ.
- Romans 10:17 – Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
- In John 16 Jesus says, to ask in order to receive. Have we proven that we are desperate for faith? Do we ask for it. Ask and you will receive.