Under what circumstances can I expect you to have peanut butter?
As you're thinking about this question, let's talk about what faith actually is. If you ask people what faith is, you'll get a plethora of answers, and most of these answers will begin with "I think" or "To me", etc. Faith is one of the most fundamental aspects of Christian doctrine. Attempts to define it apart from Scripture leads to egregious misinterpretations at worst; confusion and uncertainty at best. Like love, which is another biblical concept that is constantly reinterpreted to fit comfortably into people's lifestyles, faith has become gradually misunderstood. We've allowed figures of speech or "Christianisms" to enter into our vocabulary as quick and easy ways to describe faith to others. Unfortunately, these "isms", meant for good, are wholly incomplete and inadequate. They were meant to be an aid, not the definition itself. Most Christians have forgotten what faith is.
So what is faith?
Hebrews 11 has become a definitive Scriptural text on faith. And before one of you with some formal biblical training (or ones that read a lot of it like I do) jump to the question of Pauline authorship, please know that this is solid for at least two reasons: 1) It is accepted as canonical scripture by men far smarter than we are and by the early church who sacrificed much greater than we have to preserve it; and 2) the chapter cites biblical references from the old testament for sake of clarity and accuracy. It's a good chapter.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for the conviction of things not seen.
- Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
Depending on your translation, you'll find two words here that are something like "assurance"and "conviction". Don't get caught up in the differences in translation. The two greek words they're interpreting are "hupostasis" and "elegchos". J. Vernon McGee has a great commentary that accompanies Hebrews 11:1, particularly regarding the Greek terms used to define faith. Ultimately, faith is not a stab in the dark; it's not blind. It relies on believing in what cannot be seen, yes; but not on that which is without proof. Billy Graham hit the nail on the head when he described the actions of God being like the wind. Just because you cannot see it (perceive its existence with your eyes) doesn't mean it does not exist. In the same manner, scientists have never "seen" atoms. They're too small and require a microscope. In fact, you've never actually "seen" your own face. You've only seen pictures or reflections of it. And now your squinting to see how much of your nose or mouth you can see, and you look ridiculous.
The accuracy with which we perceive what cannot be seen with the naked eye is based directly on the tool with which we view it. How good is the microscope? The camera? The mirror? We cannot see God. He is spirit (1 Tim. 6:16-17; John 4:24), but that does not mean that He is not evident. He enters His creation as God incarnate in Jesus, communes with believers through the Holy Spirit, and manifests Himself through creation (Rom. 1:18-20).
Where does faith come from?
"But if you ask where faith and confidence may be found or whence they come, it is certainly the most necessary thing to know. First, without any doubt it does not come from your works or from your mere, but only from Jesus Christ, freely promised and freely given."
- Martin Luther on faith
Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ (Rom. 10:17).
It is a divine gift (Rom. 12:3).
We hear and believe. God works our salvation through His grace. Faith is given to us by God and we respond to it, gaining access to it by hearing the Gospel of Christ. There are many biblical examples where people respond, revealing the quality of their faith - or their acknowledgment of truth. During Jesus' ministry he often points out the faith of the men and women who receive healing and wholeness, while often citing the initially small faith of the disciples. Faith comes from God and not from us. This assurance is based on who Christ is. These people were healed and the disciples failed not because one had access to faith and the other did not, but instead because of the acknowledgment of who Christ is and the recognition of his authority.
Your "assurances" - the evidence of things unseen - is based upon the actions of God, particularly with regards to the redemption plan for mankind outlined throughout all scripture from beginning to end. It is evident from biblical examples that faith can grow. The disciples went from a ragtag team of cowardly fishermen to fire tongue spirit filled preachers who boldly proclaimed the Gospel. The things Christ said they could achieve if they possessed the smallest of faith they were now doing. But understand! It wasn't because of them. It was because of Christ - faith in God - that they were able to accomplish such things. All authority is given to Jesus.
Faith is the only way to please God (Heb. 11:6).
We offer our faith back to God because He gave it to us. We offer our love back to God because He loved us. We offer sacrifices to God because of that with which He blesses us. Starting to see a pattern? It's almost like God provides us with the means of pleasing Him. In and of ourselves we have nothing that can please Him (Isaiah 64:6), so a loving God gives us what we need. Therefore, we demonstrate our faith through the acknowledgement of who God is and who Jesus is as part of the Trinity. This belief results in a heart change; a change in the very core of who you are. It is a work brought about by God that allows you to overcome the bondage of sin. This change manifests itself in a change of action through faithful motivation and obedience.
Faith is like Peanut Butter!
Now that you understand a little more about what faith is, where it comes from, and how it's used - or maybe you knew all of that already, in which case you just wasted fifteen or so minutes of your time - we can answer how faith is like peanut butter. Go back to our original question:
Under what circumstances can I expect you to have peanut butter?
I know what you're thinking: "Pshht! You can't expect me to have anything". I would say that this is generally true. However, my ability to expect things from you is based on three things:
1) My role in your life and your subsequent acknowledgement thereof.
2) The provision and appeal of that which I possess.
3) The exclusivity of my offer.
Let's say that the following is true:
I am the grand potentate of peanut butter. I'm the only one that makes it, distributes it, possesses it wholly. In fact, I invented peanut butter. Move over, George Washington Carver!
I have given you peanut butter. As a matter of fact, I provide it in abundance through various means. I am the generous offerer of all peanuts smooth and creamy (or chunky, I guess lol).
You acknowledge me as such (creator, possessor, distributor of the peanut butter... I just said that in a Bill Cosby voice) and wish to please me. I mean, you love me and have attested to love the same things as me, and gosh I love peanut butter! Why wouldn't you want to make the creator happy and toss over some kudos?
Peanut butter is the only way to please me. Weird, I know, right? I mean, I have plenty of it so why do I care? Don't understand? Doesn't matter; it's no less true just because you don't get it.
If all of this is true, then I can absolutely expect you to have it. And not just to have it, but be ready to show it because not only have I given it to you and told you it's the only way to please me, but also because I have provided it amply. It comes from me and goes to me, so it's not like you'll be hurting for the stuff. Besides, it's smooth and creamy and oh so wonderful! It has fantastic effects on your life, particularly with joy and happiness in a moment of trouble. Why wouldn't you want some of that?
Add the divine.
God is the author of our faith. He alone creates it, distributes it, and possesses it in complete perfection to the conformity of His will. He provides it generously and then attests that we really only need a small amount (mustard seed) to do fantastical things!
As a Christian, you acknowledge Him as the Creator of all things. You profess to love Him and the things He loves. You want to please Him, which is your act of worship.
He has told us through His word and by the example of His people through His interaction with them that faith is the only thing that pleases Him. And it is this demonstration of faith given back to Him that is obedient. God favors obedience more than sacrifice.
God alone provides faith. There's nowhere else to get it. You can have faith in other things, but it is not the same. Having faith in the creator of faith only seems appropriate given the scale of the divine. And it occurs to me that God, who is independently whole and wants or needs nothing, doesn't provide faith for His benefit - but for ours.
Consider for a moment the joy and happiness that comes with the heart change brought about through salvation. Extend your perception of salvation to not only include the grace that got you there and justified you, but also to the process of sanctification - a grace that enables and empowers you to obedience.
Faith, grace, love... God is the author of all things holy. For reasons we may never understand in this life, God takes part of His holy and perfect character and shares it with us, creating us in His image. We call these communicable attributes. God blesses us by pouring Himself out to us; this is love.
So is faith really like peanut butter? No, not really anything like it. But if you come to a deeper understanding of what faith is in accordance with who God is and not who you are, then that's a heaping spoonful of peanut butter well used.
