Posted on : 05 May, 2007
Subject : What Type of Believer are You?
What Type of Believer Are You?
The Messiah made several statements while teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. They were unsettling to many people. "After hearing it, many of His followers said, This is too hard to accept. Who wants to listen to Him anymore? Yahshua was aware that His followers were criticizing His message. So He asked them, Did what I say make you lose faith? The words I have spoken to you are spiritual. But some of you don not believe. For Yahshua knew from the outset who did not believe, and who was to betray Him. So He added, That is why I told you that people cannot come to Me unless the Father provides the way. The words of Yahshua made many of His followers go back to the lives they had led before they followed Him. So Yahshua asked the twelve Apostles, Do you want to leave Me too? Simon Peter answered, Lord, to what person could we go? Your words give eternal life!" [John 6:60-68]
Among those who had followed the Messiah, some for a short time, and others for a long while - among those who had heard Him preach and teach - including people who had seen Him perform miracles - were different degrees of believers. MANY of them walked away, and did not follow Him any further. SOME stayed on.
If we were to say that those who stayed were TRUE believers, how could we label those who left? What can we say of those who followed Him for a while, but, once he taught a spiritual mystery, they were offended?
Were they DIS-believers?
Were they MAKE-believers?
Or were they NON-believers?
TRUE believers accept the Scriptures - the words of Elohim. They accept them wholly and unreservedly. They conscientiously apply them to each aspect of their life
MAKE-believers accept PART of the Word. They accept it UP TO A POINT. They are pick-and-choose believers. This is most often the most pious ACTING group [as the Pharisees were]. This group often believes the Word AS LONG AS it does not make them personally uncomfortable - or as long as it does not disagree with the doctrines of their church or synagogue.
There are DIS-believers. They are the skeptics who do not really believe the WORDS of the Scripture. They believe in the notion of God speaking to mankind. They follow the church crowd for the fellowship, and the entertainment. The come for the covered-dish dinners, for the singing, for the softball games, and for the sake of feeling as though they belong to SOMETHING. But they don not REALLY believe the Word.
These cannot necessarily be judged accurately by what they SAY. Often those who ACT most righteous are not the true believers, but the make-believers.
In some cases, the degree of belief of an individual is stymied by education - depending upon the type of education. Denominations often stifle belief [though they would NEVER admit it]. Denominations often actually DISCOURAGE belief in the Scriptures, while ENCOURAGING belief in their doctrines.
Would YOU have stayed right at the side of the Messiah through ALL His teachings? Or would you have wandered off? Your attitude toward the Scriptures, right now, today, will provide you with the answer. Where does your belief begin? In Genesis, in Matthew, or in Romans?
In which group are you right now? Really - which one? Be honest with yourself. Are some of the ways of Yahweh too narrow for you? Are some of the teachings of Messiah just too outrageous for you? Are you striving to live the WHOLE Law, or only the convenient parts? Do you REALLY follow rabbinic tradition or denominational doctrine over and above the Scriptures?
WHY do you attend worship and study meetings? Are you hungry to "feast upon the words of Christ"? Or are you hungrier for the covered-dish dinner? Do you go to please your spouse, or parent, or grandparent? Do you go to BELONG? Do you attend so you can hold a special office? Is it an obligation for you to gather with the saints, or an opportunity?
In which group do you WANT to be? It has nothing to do with your intelligence - we ALL have imperfect knowledge. Do you still struggle with sin? Not one person in any of those categories is perfect [though some pretend to be]. We ALL miss the mark, AND we find forgiveness when we truly repent. Being numbered with the true believers has nothing to do with your level of experience - we are ALL inexperienced in some things [and we ought to be WILLING to learn like little children, Christ said]. It has to do with your HEART. Give yours to the Savior - ALL of it. Do it today.
David Bruce Clark
Lion of God Ministries
www.lionofgod.com
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