The testing of our faith

Consider it all joy my brothers whenever you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect that you may be mature and complete lacking in nothing. James 1:2–4, translated from the NA28 Greek text

Πᾶσαν χαρὰν ἡγήσασθε, ἀδελφοί μου, ὅταν πειρασμοῖς περιπέσητε ποικίλοις, γινώσκοντες ὅτι τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως κατεργάζεται ὑπομονήν. ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ ἔργον τέλειον ἐχέτω, ἵνα ἦτε τέλειοι καὶ ὁλόκληροι ἐν μηδενὶ λειπόμενοι. James 1:2–4, NA28

The man-centered religions that claim to be “Christian” in our time could never take James 1:2–4 literally. No, instead, they must demand from their own man-made Jesus that they have their best life now and that the sun stand still so that they can fulfill the vision that they claim to have received from him.

This whole idea of a faith that is self-renouncing, while submitting to Christ as Lord in all things, taking up our crosses, bearing his reproach outside the gates because he bore our reproach to pay the price to atone for our sins, is totally alien to those so-called Christians in those religions. Add to that the fiery trials of sanctification and their claim that we are taking the Bible too literally and that, since God is love, He would never do that to anyone.

View article →