Skip to main content

Faith Misused

Galatians 6:10
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

The word "Christian" is in the New Testament only three times. Some called Christianity "The Way." Or sometimes "The believing ones." Or, as we read in today's verse "the HOUSEHOLD of FAITH." The New Testament was written in Greek. The Greek word for FAITH is "pistis." The Greeks used "pistis" to refer to trust and reliability. The Greeks had no religious connotation for "pistis." 

Culture hides things from the people living in it. The early Christians believed in Jesus Christ and it made them different from their pagan neighbors. Their trust and reliance on Jesus is what became know was FAITH. It is not explicitly declared in the Holy Scriptures that "pistis" is exclusive to Christians. So, people have MISSED it. We should not use FAITH to describe other religions or non religious things. Yet, we do it all the time.

This week we will study this subject through a review of the book; Faith Misused, by Dr. Alvin J. Schmidt. His book took twenty years of research. It is information not offered previously. So, the doctor was very careful in his research to confirm it's accuracy. He first encountered this idea in the writing of Dieter Lierhman in 2002. He kept thinking about it. And looking into it. Then he read William Pain Hatch. What we think of as FAITH was unknown to Greeks and Romans. Christians did not realize that they were INNOVATIVE in their use of the word "pistis."  Teresa Morgan, Oxford scholar, says it was only used for Christians. 

Christians were also the first to use the word "faith" for other religions. Saint Augustin was the first to use the word "faith" to describe Muslim beliefs. And, others began using the phrase "Christian Faith" and it was not long before they began using faith with other religions. As in the "Turkish faith." And, the use spreads to the point it is used for almost anything and everything. Which is why he titled his book "Faith Misused." 

To learn more about this subject, the book and it's author listen to this podcast. There is more information here and it's very interesting...
https://issuesetc.org/2022/02/04/0352-faith-and-christianitys-uniqueness-part-1-dr-alvin-schmidt-2-3-22/
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

to be taller

Matthew 6:27 "27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" Jesus has questions... Beginning our study this week with "Why Do You Worry?" Questions have always been a cornerstone of education, used to assess students’ knowledge, promote comprehension, and stimulate critical thinking. Well-crafted questions lead to new insights, generate discussion, and promote the comprehensive exploration of the subject. It makes sense that GOD would use questions VERY effectively. In yesterday's verses, Jesus asked "Are you not MUCH BETTER than birds?" His questions do not end there. In today's verse we read another one, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" This is a sentence our culture needs to learn. No anxiety, no thinking, no wanting will alter our bodily height, or any other condition of our life that is fixed by God’s laws. We often wish things were different than they are, but our "wo...
Post a Comment
Read more

we also...

Romans 6:3&4 "3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." In our studies we are striving to understand God’s love and care. God's unconditional love for His followers, appreciating that we are part of GOD’S family! God is with us from cradle to grave. His divine presence is always giving us purpose and guidance. One of the most important milestones in the life of a Christian is baptism. When we are baptized, an indelible mark is made on our soul. This mark signifies a permanent transformation and dedication of the individual to God. The act of Baptism involves water and the invocation of the Holy Trinity. This ritual is seen as a symbolic washing away of original sin and a new birth into the life of Christ. Baptism is a foundational s...
Post a Comment
Read more

in roads

Acts 2:7&8 "7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" The Holy Ghost is the only way this happens. They were very surprised to be hundreds and, some cases, thousands of miles from "home" and hearing their language spoken! It was astonishing! Appreciate that these devout Jewish people whose families had been carried away from Israel generations before. Taken in captivity by armies that invaded and conquered Israel. (A little like Joseph was taken captive to Egypt. All by God's plan to save the Israelites during a time of famine.) Over the years, these Jewish "captives" would adopt the language and some of the customs of their captors. However, they remained Jewish. By the time of the events recorded in the book of Acts, they made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover and the Feast of Weeks. They just happe...
Post a Comment
Read more