Thursday's Theological Tidbit: Faith

What is faith? This is one of those questions that is often the catalyst for the stereotypical “If I had a dollar for every time I was asked that question…” response from clergy. I would even say it of myself - If I had a dollar for every time I asked this question! Let’s just say I would have a lot of dollars.

The Gospel reading I will preach on this Sunday -- Mark 2:1-12 -- is one approach to answering this simultaneously simple and complex question about the substance of faith.

Immediately after his encounter his cleansing of a man with lepros, Jesus returns home, which Mark situates in the hamlet of Capernaum. Because of the free advertising he receives from his recently satisfied customers, Jesus’ immediate vicinity is soon packed with folks who have heard of his deeds of power and want to see these deeds for themselves.

Amidst the crowd is a small group, a paralyzed man and his four friends. They are seeking an audience with Jesus, but cannot get close because of the crowd, so they try an alternative route. They literally “unroof” the roof of the house and lower their friend into Jesus’ presence! It is this bold action that catches Jesus’ attention, according to Mark… “When Jesus saw their faith…”

Their faith is the catalyst for the confrontation and healing that unfold. Here I’d like to offer one approach to understanding the essence of faith. The word faith — pistis and the entire word family — in biblical Greek is not so much an intellectual process as it is a relational reality. These four friends do not article any kind of creed or doctrine. They don’t speak at all. But they do act on behalf of their paralyzed friend.

Faith in this context - and I would argue that anywhere you see the word faith in the New Testament - is relational. Faith is about fidelity. I think a better way to translate this word here (and everywhere in the NT) is faithfulness. It is the faithfulness of these four that catches Jesus’ attention. Their faithfulness initiates the subsequent “raising” of their friend. Faithfulness leads to new life!

There are multiple moments in Mark’s story of Jesus where faithfulness is the foundation for Jesus’ action. And I would say that it is ultimately Jesus’ faithfulness to God and God’s desire for healing and wholeness, that leads to resurrection and new life.

Our journey as the body of Christ is learning to see God’s faithfulness in action and learning to embody that faithfulness with our lives. That’s what brings healing to our world.