thinking about faith and works
I think that faith, while definitely applied differently in some ways from person to person, is lived out in its wholeness and completeness in very similar ways, or at least it should be. Why? How do we learn (and we must learn works, even if from the Spirit) of works? The bible, as either given to us as lessons in the forming of our whole and complete person, or by our own reading of it, is that which teaches us not just "how we should live," but how we should express our faith through works (i.e. loving the least = loving Jesus), therefore creating a commonality within the realm of faith expressed through works (all for the sake of furthering the Gospel message while furthering our own personal walk with the Lord).
Keeping this previous paragraph in mind, it seems only pertinent to suggest that some "Christians" protest at being "judged" not because they are being judged by other Christians, but because they are not living out their supposed faith and God is convicting them. And it is infinitely easier to pretend that the source of such conviction is other people. For they are not the Living God, and their mutual imperfection allows such "Christians" to maintain their lie by assigning a truth to a created being, who cannot be a source of truth and is therefor much easier to resist than God, who is the source of Truth, both as its master and as His Father. ;)
I also think it is important to note that it is only necessary for God to correctly perceive someone's faith. Our perception of someone's faith (and its depth), or lack thereof, is something I believe God reveals to us through the fullness, wholeness and completeness of that person's actions over time, allowing for the importance of relationships to maintain it's proper place. For we were created to be relational, first to God, and then to each other (displayed very clearly in scripture, both old and new testament). So I suppose its less of a question concerning whether or not someone has faith, and more about whether or not it is important that we know.
But I am also of the opinion that if you are living fully in the light and are not struggling with strongholds of sin in your life, then your walk will clearly display the nature of your faith. So perhaps that is my final observation from this perspective. If your faith is not clearly displayed in your works for the purpose of glorifying God and furthering His Kingdom, then you either have no faith, or your faith is subject to the potency of strongholds of sin in your life that cause your works to be an appropriately intermittent display of a walk that is stumbling and unsure, lamed by the pain of unhealed wounds.
Keeping this previous paragraph in mind, it seems only pertinent to suggest that some "Christians" protest at being "judged" not because they are being judged by other Christians, but because they are not living out their supposed faith and God is convicting them. And it is infinitely easier to pretend that the source of such conviction is other people. For they are not the Living God, and their mutual imperfection allows such "Christians" to maintain their lie by assigning a truth to a created being, who cannot be a source of truth and is therefor much easier to resist than God, who is the source of Truth, both as its master and as His Father. ;)
I also think it is important to note that it is only necessary for God to correctly perceive someone's faith. Our perception of someone's faith (and its depth), or lack thereof, is something I believe God reveals to us through the fullness, wholeness and completeness of that person's actions over time, allowing for the importance of relationships to maintain it's proper place. For we were created to be relational, first to God, and then to each other (displayed very clearly in scripture, both old and new testament). So I suppose its less of a question concerning whether or not someone has faith, and more about whether or not it is important that we know.
But I am also of the opinion that if you are living fully in the light and are not struggling with strongholds of sin in your life, then your walk will clearly display the nature of your faith. So perhaps that is my final observation from this perspective. If your faith is not clearly displayed in your works for the purpose of glorifying God and furthering His Kingdom, then you either have no faith, or your faith is subject to the potency of strongholds of sin in your life that cause your works to be an appropriately intermittent display of a walk that is stumbling and unsure, lamed by the pain of unhealed wounds.
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