Who do you put your faith in?

Who do you put your faith in?

Some of you will sit back and say, “What is that supposed to mean?” Others will analyse it, logically play out the possibilities in their heads and come up with an answer.  Others still will without a thought reply “God!”

I will ask you again, who do you put your faith in?

Honestly, as a Christian I would like to say that I put my faith in God, but the reality of the heart doesn’t always match the outward appearance. 

I think, too often, the majority of Christians will put their faith in people, specifically their senior pastor.  It makes sense, we look up to them, we trust that God is working through them to touch our lives, we trust that they are speaking out of revelation and are being honest with us.  We forget that they are human, that they, like the rest of us, make mistakes.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t trust our senior pastors; after all they have been put in a position of authority over us for a reason.  What I am trying (none too eloquently) to say is that, if we put our faith in people instead of God, we are setting ourselves up for hurt and disappointment.

How many times have you seen amazing men and women of God fall down quite spectacularly, and in the public eye?  The media has a field day with it; people everywhere are hurting because of the sense of betrayal. 

One in particular I think of as I write is Mike Guglielmucci.  He wrote one of the most beautiful worship songs I have ever heard while lying to the world about an illness he didn’t have.  He had everyone fooled, even those closest to him.  People everywhere were touched by his struggle and his seemingly unending faith that God would heal him.

When the news broke that it had all been a massive lie thousands of people were so disappointed and hurt.  I know of some who walked away from God stating that “if that is Christianity, I want no part in it.” 

Who did they have their faith in?  And does this situation make the power of God in those meetings any less real?  I have been in one of those meetings, and God’s power was there.  I came to realize that God can work through anyone and any situation to bless those he loves.

I can think of times when I have been hurt by those in authority over me, disappointed in their actions or something they have said.  I had a choice at this point in time, throw it all in because of a person, or hold on tight because my God is greater.

So many people get confused between “church” and “God”.  They forget that the church is the people, and people are not perfect.  They take on hurt and disappointment caused by people and blame God.  God however, is one perfect being, the creator of all life and He is love.

I will ask one more time, who do you put your faith in?

Set aside the offences from the past, forgive.  Put your trust in God, he will deal with those who hurt and offend; he will deal with those who twist his word for their own gain.  It isn’t our problem.  By becoming offended and walking away from God we are only hurting ourselves, keep your eyes on God, and make him your goal.  And remember you aren’t perfect either; you need a savior just like everyone else.  Because let's face it, if you really put your faith in God, 100% of the time, no one would be able to hurt or offend you, because you would hand it all over to God to fix.

Who do you put your faith in?