We often see two extremes with regards to faith, that instead of being different to each other, are actually two sides of the same coin.

One collapses into tragedy, fear and loss. The confession of this kind of faith is loss with no hope. Then the other kind, often construed as faith, is all about sunshine and rose, and denial. The kind of faith that says if I don’t think about, or hear anything negative, bad things won’t happen to me. Kind of like putting on Christian la la ears. Both of these construals of faith are not the faith the Bible speaks of.

The faith of the bible is one that laments. A dual confession of loss and complaint whilst at the same time declaring that God is sovereign and our hope. The faith of the bible is doing the right thing, being ‘faithful’ no matter how we feel or what is happening to us. The faith of the bible is confidence in God to act, that is not obsessed about my own circumstances, but the welfare of others, where I am God’s agent of faith for others.

Not convinced, or want to know more? Listen to this short talk I made for my church on real faith. It draws on the story of the crossing of the Red Sea.