Awaken Your Sleeping Faith
Oftentimes when I’m preparing a blog, I have a definitive concept solidly in mind and “start writing it” in my head days before I even sit at the computer. Then, I’ll think of something else or I’ll have an experience that completely changes my blog plans. Pastor Drew’s recent teaching entitled “Work Your Faith” did just exactly that…I had a clear blog idea and now instead I’m following up with personal reflections on his message. One of the key ideas in Pastor Drew’s teaching was how our faith can naturally wax and wane (“sleep”) and how we should respond. It was nice to hear that we can challenge what appears to be dead faith to discover that it is merely asleep. How can we awaken a “sleeping faith?”
One of my favorite gospel narratives common to Mark, Matthew, and Luke is where Jesus brings a seemingly deceased little girl back to life. These passages deliver a broad range of images, thoughts and feelings to my mind and remind me of Pastor Drew’s teaching on “working our faith.” I find these passages engaging because they show how dramatically our lives and experiences can and do change when we walk in faith with Christ:
“While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official Jairus, saying, ‘Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore.’ But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, ‘Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well.’ When He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and mother. Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, ‘Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep.’ And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died. He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, ‘Child, arise!’ And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat. Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.” (Luke 8:49-55).
Can our faith ever truly be “dead” (fully apart from Christ) or is it merely “asleep?” Let’s dig deeper…it’s important to understand these passages in context to understand their full implication and impact. Unlike those in the U.S today, funerals in most ancient cultures, including the Jewish ones during Jesus’ time, did not include reverent music and quiet whispers. Instead, funerals included loud wailing by professional mourners and dissonant music played by paid musicians. Jairus was a local synagogue leader and likely a wealthy man; he probably hired a sizable number of mourners and musicians for his daughter’s funeral.
Jesus shocked and irritated the mourners by instructing them to depart, proclaiming that the little girl was not dead but asleep. The people’s mournful weeping swung quickly to harsh, derisive laughter…the type by those by those who feel superior to others…and showed that their tears were indeed insincere, a paid-for act without any genuine sorrow or any real faith that Jesus could raise Jairus’ daughter. In brief, it all boiled down to faith.
There are occasions where I feel like my faith isn’t dead, but might be wanting to sleep…and I need to awaken it…jostle it…or “work it” as Pastor Drew phrased it in his recent sermon. Jesus splashed the equivalent of cold water on the “sleeping faith” of the mourners.
Mark’s account of this event adds these details: Jesus “entered the room where the child was. Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, ‘Talitha kum!’ (‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk” (Mark 5:40-42). Christ could have easily recovered the little girl with a simple word or gesture, but His intimate interaction demonstrated a degree of love and compassion far more than necessary. And it showcased His power over every enemy of humankind, including “the final enemy” of death and hades. (compare with Rev. 1:18)
So, I ask myself. I know can always expect my faith to be dismissed by doubters and naysayers, even among those in the Christian body and Christian-in-name-only types. Does it have an impact on my faith or willingness to believe? Do I and have I ever disparaged anyone else’s faith? For me, the answer is no. Nothing will ever separate me from the love of God expressed through His son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:38-39). My faith will never sleep…I won’t let it.
How about you? How do you rouse your faith when it looks to sleep?
JG