Faith

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There seems to be a perception in the Christian life that only those in the church pulpit, those upfront on the platform, get any thoughts or revelation from God.

This is wonderful for those leaders without a servant heart, those who would control and manipulate. Then we have a sheriff-and-cowboys situation. “Put your hands on your head. Stretch out your hands. Stand on your chair.” That happens in some churches.

Unless we think for ourselves we become like the Army private who—without the officer—doesn’t know what to do. We become like the puppet that moves only when someone pulls the strings.

Thinking for ourselves means having our own faith. To some, nothing but the pastor laying hands on them will have effect on their sick body. What does the Word say? “Believers shall lay hands upon the sick and they shall recover.” Mark 16:15. You and I are believers.

It’s interesting in James 5:14 to read: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him . . .” It doesn’t say call for the pastor.

Sometimes the situation is urgent; desperate. If we have faith, there are times we should be calling on God before the ambulance. A lone Christian waking at three am with a terrible pain and vomiting needs to know the Word and pray him/herself, because it takes time to muster anyone else, even an ambulance crew. Anyway, the elders may be at a conference a hundred miles away.

That’s when we need our own faith. Even when alone, our prayer is heard just the same as the prayer of a leader. Two is always better than one: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) However it isn’t always immediately possible.

In many churches the pastor’s time is taken up advising, laying hands on, and praying for people when the problem can be self-solved—the answers found in the Word for those taking time to read and digest it.

The old adage “Education is power,” though non-biblical, also applies to us. A Christian’s education comes from the Bible. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 1 Timothy 2:15.

Then we can have our own faith, and don’t have to depend on someone else’s.

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