Faith - Object, Practice, and Help

Is there a common thread in the first three scriptures of the daily office? First, there is the admonition against the seduction of a the false and addictive god of pleasure and lust. Then, there is the call to live a life of humble service in the Spirit. Finally, a boy tormented by a demon is brought to Jesus by frustrated disciples and a man of fragile, simple faith for deliverance. Perhaps they are all about faith and belief in some way. In Isaiah, we have a false and destructive object of faith. In Galatians, we have a faulty practice of faith. In Mark, we have a faith that needs an infusion of strength through prayer to the God who supplies our faith.

In the psalms that follow, we pray and celebrate.

Reflections on the Daily Office for February 4

The object of our faith matters. The character of God! We are still creating and worshiping our useless idols..

The false god, Molech delivered temporary pleasure to people in exchange for their souls. He sucked the life, the integrity, and the decency from all his subjects. They would indulge in his pleasures and then, be left languishing in misery, only to wake up and go for more. No matter how much the experience of Molech worship sapped the strength and vitality from its worshipers, they would must just enough energy to participate again and then, again. As their worlds fell apart around them, the God of truth and reality, Yahweh watched on. He is gracious and patient, but He is no enabler of destructive and addictive behavior. He waits for us to say, “It is useless.” He is not impressed with our religious overtures as long as our hearts are still serving the false gods of our own making, the gods of pleasure, materialism, lust, power, or whatever triggers the hormonal rushes in our brains. We are addicted to our own lies and bound for destruction, but God’s voice continues to whisper, “But whoever takes refuge in me shall possess the land and inherit my holy mountain.”

Isaiah 57:3-13 (NRSV)

“But as for you, come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of an adulterer and a whore. Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit-- you that burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree; you that slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I be appeased for these things? Upon a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice. Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your symbol; for, in deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a bargain for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have gazed on their nakedness. You journeyed to Molech with oil, and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far away, and sent down even to Sheol. You grew weary from your many wanderings, but you did not say, "It is useless." You found your desire rekindled, and so you did not weaken. Whom did you dread and fear so that you lied, and did not remember me or give me a thought? Have I not kept silent and closed my eyes, and so you do not fear me? I will concede your righteousness and your works, but they will not help you. When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them off, a breath will take them away. But whoever takes refuge in me shall possess the land and inherit my holy mountain.”

How we practice our faith matters.

We need people to live fully in the Spirit and we need the Spirit to live fully among people. Competition, envy, pride, harshness, laziness, and weary acquiescence in resignation to the current of negative thinking and living are sown seeds of destruction and loss. The life of the Spirit is that joyfully generous sowing of seeds for eternal benefit as we sow them into the lives of others. We need the world and all of its people and we need community of faith in order to have the soil for seed-sowing. We need people to challenge us, stretch us, and bestow us with opportunities to live a life of service in the Spirit. As we live this life in the Spirit, guided by the Spirit, we are refined and others are built up. It is the genius of God and the genesis of eternal bliss.

Galatians 5:25-6:10 (NRSV

If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another. My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads. Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

We need help with our faith.

"I believe; help my unbelief!"

Here is the key to the lesson Jesus is teaching His disciples when they asked why they could not help the man and his boy. After all, they believed and Jesus had said that all things were possible to those who believed.

But the man did more than just believe. He believed and prayed.

Jesus said that deliverance from the oppressing demon that tormented the boy required prayer. Some manuscripts include, “and fasting.”

Prayer requires belief, but in this case, belief is verified and amplified through prayer. After all, the man declares, in His prayer to Jesus, that he does indeed believe, but he doubts the power of his own, weak, feeble, capacity to believe. He is honest, but he is also desperate. His trust is like the one who believes enough to jump into the darkness even though he is still trembling with shades of uncertainty.

What took his belief beyond its own ability to believe was the declaration, “I believe,” followed by the prayer, “Help my unbelief.”

Mark 9:14-29 (NRSV)

When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so." He answered them, "You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us." Jesus said to him, "If you are able!-- All things can be done for the one who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out, "I believe; help my unbelief!" When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!" After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "This kind can come out only through prayer."

Psalm 75 Confitebimur tibi

¹   We give you thanks, O God, we give you thanks, *
calling upon your Name and declaring all your wonderful deeds.
²   I will appoint a time, says God; *
I will judge with equity.
³   Though the earth and all its inhabitants are quaking, *
I will make its pillars fast.
⁴   I will say to the boasters, 'Boast no more, ' *
and to the wicked, 'Do not toss your horns;
⁵   Do not toss your horns so high, *
nor speak with a proud neck.'"
⁶   For judgment is neither from the east nor from the west, *
nor yet from the wilderness or the mountains.
⁷   It is God who judges; *
he puts down one and lifts up another.
⁸   For in the LORD'S hand there is a cup, full of spiced and foaming wine, which he pours out, *
and all the wicked of the earth shall drink and drain the dregs.
⁹   But I will rejoice for ever; *
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
¹⁰   He shall break off all the horns of the wicked; *
but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Psalm 76 Notus in Judæa

¹   In Judah is God known; *
his Name is great in Israel.
²   At Salem is his tabernacle, *
and his dwelling is in Zion.
³   There he broke the flashing arrows, *
the shield, the sword, and the weapons of battle.
⁴   How glorious you are! *
more splendid than the everlasting mountains!
⁵   The strong of heart have been despoiled; they sink into sleep; *
none of the warriors can lift a hand.
⁶   At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, *
both horse and rider lie stunned.
⁷   What terror you inspire! *
who can stand before you when you are angry?
⁸   From heaven you pronounced judgment; *
the earth was afraid and was still;
⁹   When God rose up to judgment *
and to save all the oppressed of the earth.
¹⁰   Truly, wrathful Edom will give you thanks, *
and the remnant of Hamath will keep your feasts.
¹¹   Make a vow to the LORD your God and keep it; *
let all around him bring gifts to him who is worthy to be feared.
¹²   He breaks the spirit of princes, *
and strikes terror in the kings of the earth.

Psalm 23 Dominus regit me

¹   The LORD is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.
²   He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters.
³   He revives my soul *
and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.
⁴   Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
⁵   You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
⁶   Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 27 Dominus illuminatio

¹   The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? *
the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
²   When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *
it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.
³   Though an army should encamp against me, *
yet my heart shall not be afraid;
⁴   And though war should rise up against me, *
yet will I put my trust in him.
⁵   One thing have I asked of the LORD; one thing I seek; *
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life;
⁶   To behold the fair beauty of the LORD *
and to seek him in his temple.
⁷   For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter; *
he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high upon a rock.
⁸   Even now he lifts up my head *
above my enemies round about me.
⁹   Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with sounds of great gladness; *
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
¹⁰   Hearken to my voice, O LORD, when I call; *
have mercy on me and answer me.
¹¹   You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face." *
Your face, LORD, will I seek.
¹²   Hide not your face from me, *
nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
¹³   You have been my helper; cast me not away; *
do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.
¹⁴   Though my father and my mother forsake me, *
the LORD will sustain me.
¹⁵   Show me your way, O LORD; *
lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.
¹⁶   Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *
for false witnesses have risen up against me, and also those who speak malice.
¹⁷   What if I had not believed that I should see the goodness of the LORD *
in the land of the living!
¹⁸   O tarry and await the LORD'S pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *
wait patiently for the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.