A Test of Faith

Scripture Verse that Caught My Attention Today: 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test!

Observation: How does one examine/test oneself in regard to whether one is living in the faith?

Application: A colleague of mine once said that, within reason, self-criticism is often the most helpful and effective form of criticism. I think what he meant by that is that when we apply self-criticism, we are emotionally ready to take an honest look at ourselves and motivated to make changes if necessary. By contrast, if another person offers criticism, even if valid, we may not be ready, emotionally or physically, to make the necessary changes. So it’s interesting that Paul says to examine/test oneself.

But how does one do such a thing? What standard(s) could we or should we use? How do we know if we are “living in the faith” as opposed to living in our own delusion of faith? There are, after all, so many different answers that are offered (and sometimes demanded) from various ‘Christian’ leaders.

One criterion the Lutheran church offers is this question: “Is Christ Necessary?” This is not a flippant question. Am I living in grateful thanksgiving for Christ doing what I could never do or am I living under the delusion that I can adequately demonstrate what a person who wants to be saved should act like? The latter is merely a set-up for an eventual moral failing whereas the former offers possibilities for living through—and even embracing—all the good and bad that is part and parcel of our human existence.

Put another way, do I see myself as a key and deserving player on a team that Jesus ‘coaches’ where I need to continually deliver, or do I see myself as blessed with the opportunity to play for the One who has already delivered?

It seems to me that one way that we can ‘fail’ the test of whether Jesus Christ is in us is if we are so full of ourselves that we do not take the crucified and risen one into account. In other words, do we recognize Jesus as fully present and accounted? Do we recognize him as completely necessary? That’s perhaps the real test.

Prayer: Lord, there’s an old hymn the includes a line pleading that we would not “bring to naught all he [Jesus] has done.” I pray that we don’t. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(readings today included: Psalm 124 and 2 Corinthians 11-13)