As we begin the process of answering the critical question “Is your faith false or bona fide?” it is necessary to determine whether you are a woman who states that you are a Christian or a woman who is a Christian. On the surface, both parts of the statement appear to be identical. However, a closer look reveals that the first part of the statement describes a woman who desires all of the benefits of eternal life but daily chooses to embrace the philosophy of the world. Her choices, dress, and speech reveal her allegiance to it just as Peter’s speech betrayed him in the courtyard during Jesus’ trial (Matt.26:69-73). This woman embraces a false faith.
Conversely, the woman who is a Christian chooses to believe in the immutability (changelessness) of God by embracing His special instructions to women. She has confidence that they are relevant to her twenty-first century lifestyle since all of the Scriptures provide instruction for manifesting a bona fide faith. Implementing the Scriptures into her life allows her to be a “doer of the word” (James 1:22), thus validating her faith. May I encourage you to consider the questions that follow to discern if you are a woman who states that you are a Christian or a woman who is a Christian?
Am I both a hearer and doer of biblical teaching? (James 1:22)
Do I choose to model my life after the positive role models found in Scripture? (1 Cor. 10:11)
Am I seeking to develop the gentle and quiet spirit that is precious to my heavenly Father? (1 Pet. 3:4)
Am I a gracious woman even when others are not? (Prov. 11:16)
Am I seeking to gain insight from the knowledge of God’s Word so that I will be known as a Wise Woman? (Prov. 2:17-21, 31:10-31)
Both the woman who states that she is a Christian and the woman who is a Christian abide in the Christian community. However, only the woman who is a Christian will spend eternity with her heavenly Father. If you are a woman that states you are a Christian but your lifestyle reveals an allegiance to the world may I suggest that you study and respond to Romans 3:10, 3:23, 5:8, 5:12, 6:23, 10:9, 10:10, 13? A positive reaction to the verses will allow you to exchange your status to a woman who is a Christian!
Kelsey’s Korner paints a vivid picture of the Israelites who based their faith on their preconceived notions of who they thought God was, what they assumed He wanted for them, and the results of embracing a false faith.
KELSEY’S KORNER
My husband and I, praise the Lord, tend to agree on most things. When we discovered we were pregnant with our first child, however, we uncovered an area of great disagreement—baby names! We went back and forth for months before finally making a decision. Caleb—named after the great leader from Scripture—would be the name of our son.
About a week before Caleb was born, I decided to reread the sections of the Old Testament that mention Caleb. As I read Numbers 13-14, I stumbled on a story that gripped my heart and left me reeling. In this story, God prepares for His people to enter the Promised Land by commanding chiefs from each of the 12 tribes, including Caleb, to scout out Canaan. When the chiefs return from their search, terrified, they describe what they had witnessed: great and fruitful lands, but occupied by chilling warrior giants in vast fortified cities. Unfazed, Caleb encourages the congregation of Israel that with the Lord on their side they would successfully take the Land God had promised. The Israelites, however, chose to listen to the bad report from the 10 other chiefs. They chose to believe that God was not faithful, that He was unable to do as He had promised, and they cursed God, distrusting all the many miracles He had performed in bringing them out of slavery to Egypt. Their lack of faith incited the wrath of God, and in His fury, God punished His people—all the adults in the congregation, aside from Caleb and Joshua, would perish in the wilderness and never see the Promised Land.
With this news, the Israelites grieved! Desperate, they decided to “trust God” and go take the Promised Land anyway, despite the Lord’s decree. Moses pleaded the people, saying, “’Because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.’ But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them…” (14:43b-45).
This story chills me to my bones. I can picture the Israelites, painting themselves with war paint, polishing their battle horns, readying themselves to face the giants despite the warning that God would not be with them. They based their faith not on the trustworthy Words of God but on their preconceived notions of who they thought God was and what they assumed He wanted for them. They were wrong. Their false faith cost them their lives.
We see this “false faith” in everyday life all the time. Perhaps you have friends living in sexual immorality, convinced by false faith that they are doing the right thing, because “why would God withhold true happiness from me?” Or maybe you’ve witnessed a female assuming ministry roles designated in Scripture to men (1 Tim. 2:11-15; 1 Cor. 14:33-36); . Their false faith tells them that because they are doing the Lord’s work, since people are becoming saved, they are doing the right thing. Surely God would be pleased with them!
False faith can feel so real. Like genuine faith, it can require bravery, it can incite happiness and joy, and it can even produce the desired results. But sisters, if our faith is opposed to the commands set forth in Scripture, we can rest assured that our “faith” is false. It is intrinsically opposed to the will of God and a source of exceeding sorrow to our heavenly Father. Christ’ words in Matthew 7:21-23 summarize this well:
Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” And I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
As we continue to navigate the rough terrain of 2021, analyze your faith. Is it bona fide? Can you support your actions with the Word of God, or do you defy God’s will through your decisions? We serve an exceedingly merciful and kind Father, but His kindness is meant to lead us to genuine repentance (cf. Rom. 2:4-5). Strive with me, then, to expose and eliminate any areas of false faith in our lives, seeking instead to trust the Lord, placing our faith in Him and in His Words alone.
THE EVERYDAY HOMEMAKER’S MONTHLY MEDITATION THOUGHT
God’s Word states, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord you labor is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58)
Therefore, I may boldly say, “I will choose to base my faith on the trustworthy Word of God rather than on my preconceived notions of who I think God is and what I assume He wants for me.”
You might enjoy other of our faith-related Posts:
“Is Faith Your Focus for 2021?”
“Is There Enough Evidence to Convict You?”
“Do You Have a Biblical Femininity World View?”
“Do You Embrace a Purpose Driven Life?”
“Are You Marching for Biblical Femininity?”
“Exploring God’s Special Instructions for Women”
Blessings on your day as you focus on making your house a home!