Active vs. Passive Faith

It troubles me that many have what I would like to call "passive faith". I'm troubled by the fact that many Christians think that God is just going to take care of everything and they can just sit back. That isn't always the case, though. Yes, there will be situation where there is nothing we can humanly do to change it, but many lack the wisdom to discern when those situations arise. For example, someone may have inoperable cancer where doctors can no nothing, where it's out of human hands. Praying for healing, believing for that healing, and walking as if you have been healed will bring the healing. That is the spiritual active part of having faith for something to happen. We all can have that spiritually-active faith but when it comes to situations like finding a job in a slow economy or a married couple trying to have a child, one needs to have that active faith but spiritually and naturally. One cannot pray for a job and NOT look for one online, in the classified in the newspaper or even applying in-person, resume in hand. One cannot pray that s/he passes his/her final for their Master's WITHOUT studying. A married couple cannot pray for a child WITHOUT being physically intimate (i.e., Abraham & Sarah) and/or looking into adoption.

While praying and believing for a miracle is great, there's an underlining factor -- believing in the One who gives the miracle. Many believe on the name of Jesus of Nazareth as Savior but don't always walk in His ways in their daily lives, just on Sundays. One cannot save the souls of the household, workplace, etc., if one does not live in Christ (meaning following His teachings). One cannot say to another: "hey, can I tell you about Jesus?" when they aren't even rooted in Jesus themselves. Passive faith in Jesus is praising Him in church on Sundays (if you have the desire to go) but being angry and miserable, neither praying nor reading the Bible Monday through Saturday. Active faith in Jesus is praising Him in church on Sundays, including while you're getting ready to go, on the way there, and when you leave, AS WELL AS living in His joy & love while praying and reading His word (and doing what it says) Monday through Saturday. Think about that phrase "actions speak louder than words". If you want someone to come to faith in Jesus, let that person see your actions and joy as a true worshiper of Christ and tell them what He had saved you from. If you wish to have others in your household to know the Savior, be sure your actions DO speak louder than your words.

Now I just want to leave you with this: Romans 12:2 says "do not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that ye may prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Psalms says "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." The Bible also says to "put on the mind of Christ.:" Therefore, if we are to think and ponder on His ways constantly, we are transformed in Him. Let us also "walk by faith and not by sight," meaning, in a way, to walk with our faith in Jesus and not by what we see in this world. You will not only discover the truth about yourself but also of Christ Jesus. Call upon Him and He will show you (Jer. 33:3).

God Bless!

PS, for more biblical teaching on active faith, read James 2:14-26