How do we live our faith?

The other day, I found myself browsing through my myspace "friends" list and came across the profile called "The Adventists Space". Basically it's a discussion forum for Seventh-day Adventists (my denomination) so I decided to check out the blog page to see how it was going. I was scanning through the discussion all the way back to May 2007 when I suddenly became intrigued by the umber of responses to each topic (the full list is at the bottom of this post for those who are curious). Two most popular were "Ten Commandments – obsolete" and "Sunday, mark of the beast" with 34 and 30 responses respectively. I'm sure these discussion were very captivating and I have no problem with discussions on these topics. But I looked down the page a little and came to a post called "How do you live your faith?" (posted Jun 2, 2007). It is very succinct and asks two specific and relevant questions.

1. What are some things that you or your church community do to live out the life of the kingdom of heaven?"

2. What are some things that the Adventist Church could do to further extend our influence on behalf of the causes Jesus advocated?

As of today – over 3 months later – there are only 8 comments to this post. The two most popular posts were listed within just a few days of this one. Is it because we automatically assume that everyone already knows how to live their faith or because we don't feel it is that important or because it's too hard.

I find it so easy to talk about what I believe – theology – points of doctrine. It's safe. But to actually put into action the life of Christ, this is hard. Jesus was asked what the most important commandment. We all know the answer. Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40)". We know in our heads but do we believe in our hearts. Jesus certainly spent time teaching doctrine but His "doctrine" mostly encompassed the practical application of holiness and love. God says to Israel in Hosea 6:

"What can I do with you, Ephraim?
     What can I do with you, Judah?
     Your love is like the morning mist,
     like the early dew that disappears.
Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
     I killed you with the words of my mouth;
     my judgments flashed like lightning upon you.
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
     and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."

And in Jeremiah 22

This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.

I could go on and on with Bible verses from all corners of the Bible showing God's desire for love in action. Jesus spent his entire ministry spending time with the despised, and showing mercy to the unloved.

Yes it is hard. Living our faith requires us to go to uncomfortable places, give of our time, and do the unpopular. So my challenge is this: pray – I mean really sit down with God and pray and see what he has for you. Then, take action. Don't let fear hold you down because "if God is for us, who can be against us?"

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (I John 4:16-21).


As promised, here is the complete list in chronological order. Intriguing isn't it?

• 20 posts - "What 27 Adventists are doing" – basically what it says. General discussion of people talking about what they're doing
  
• 15 posts - "How do we approach former Adventists"
  
• 18 posts - "When it's time to move on" – a question about a pastor at a church
  
• 9 posts - "The Bible – Roadmap or…?" – discussion about the purpose of the Bible
  
• 23 posts - "Which version do you use?"
  
• 18 posts - "What to do with MADventists"
  
• 34 posts - "Ten Commandments – obsolete?"
  
• 8 posts - "How do you live your faith?"
  
• 30 posts - "Sunday, mark of the beast right?"
  
• 20 posts - "To move in or not to move in…that's the question"