Free Falling

Confidence and trust in people, places and things is in a free-fall. These are the facts, and they are indisputable. The ramifications are as well.

Trust and confidence in the U.S. dollar is falling at 10 times the speed of the past two decades as evidenced by global dollar reserves held by all nations. Confidence in the future is declining as evidenced by a drastically increasing suicide rate the past decade. Someone took their own life every 11 minutes in 2021. Trust in politicians, scientists, church leaders and government is at historic lows. Faith is under attack and in a free fall.

Faith is complete confidence and trust in someONE or someTHING. Faith is not an ephemeral feeling, thought or religious word. Faith is a muscle that if not built up and confirmed by successful use, will deteriorate and decline. The brother of Jesus put it bluntly, ‘…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.’ In simple terms, your actions speak louder than your words.

Whatever metric you choose, the erosion of faith is evident across the planet. Democrats have lost faith in the President. Everyone has lost faith in the DOJ to represent justice and not a political agenda. Some beer drinkers have lost faith in Budweiser products to culturally represent them. Catholics and Protestants lose faith in Church leaders because their actions and words betray beliefs held for thousands of years. When the loss of faith is apparent in the obvious, look for faith to wane in the not so obvious as well.

Faith is not alone in it’s free fall. Hope is the kissing cousin of faith and represents your desires, expectations and wishes. When faith declines, hope plays follow the leader and takes a hit as well. WHY is this important? What are the implications for YOU when faith and hope becomes flabby, obese and out of shape?

When faith is attacked and weakened your love for others grows cold. You become apathetic and indifferent. You lose empathy for others. Your witness to those with a weaker faith becomes less. The fabric of our society declines and unity decays because we lose faith in the most basic truths. When a learned person can’t or won’t define the basic biology of men and women because of their politics, it’s impossible to put faith in their ability to tell the truth. After this, faith in public safety and freedom of speech join the free fall.

If you think the decline in faith and hope is a problem for others but not yourself, go deeper. Read 6 little verses in Luke 18:9-14. This short story is about people who use others as their standard of righteousness. In one man’s view, his words and actions surpassed others so he celebrated his own virtue. Thinking he was better than everyone, he assumed God was pleased with him. He had become apathetic and indifferent, arrogant and prideful towards others. Jesus said this man exalted himself above others therefore condemning himself. ‘ “… For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” ‘ Before you virtue signal others or flat out judge your faith to be intact, look in the mirror and acknowledge the decline in faith and hope is an epidemic effecting us all.

Faith, confidence and trust in ANYTHING is only as strong as the object in which you place and exercise that faith. Faith in a political party or person has ALWAYS failed us. Faith in money will soon fail you as digital currencies replace cash. Your bank accounts will no longer be your own. This will cause anger and a loss of faith. There is ONLY one place to go all-in with confidence and trust.

Jesus proved faith in Him was worth it. The Bible tells us faith in Christ healed the sick ( “your faith has healed you” ), restored sight to the blind (“According to your faith will it be done to you.”) and even secures eternal life ( ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith’ ). The mic drops in Hebrews 11:6…’ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him MUST BELIEVE that he exists AND that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’ Do we want to please God?

Christians use the word ‘faith’ like a badge of honor. But, the number of ‘believers’ congregating to praise and worship is a canary in the coal mine of America. Read up on the ‘Nones’ to quantify what is happening. Church attendance is the first thing to go and HAS been in a free fall. Next, the sense of belonging declines. Finally, belief and faith dwindle. Look at your own Sunday morning schedule. Watch the cars in your neighbors driveway. If actions show your faith, where is it?

When Christ-followers lose faith and the PRACTICE of faith, the culture is quick to follow… OR it shows Christians have been led by the culture and not their faith. Christ followers are the last line of defense to protect society by exercising faith in the only One who CAN save our nation. Jesus’ life spoke directly to this dilemma of little faith and the current climate. ‘And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.’ Matthew 13:58.

We need to get back to the basics of where we place our trust and confidence. The Bible reminds us what we see in real time has been expected. ‘…in later times some will abandon the faith…’ by being deceived and placing their faith elsewhere. Many reading this blog have faith in God but…is it the kind of faith that confirms confidence when Christ said… ‘Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.’ Seen any miracles lately? Yes or no, it’s a faith issue.

The story in Mark 9:14-29 is a must read for everyone who has any kind of faith left in 2023. This man had enough trust and belief to take his deaf, mute, possessed epileptic son to Jesus for healing. This guy is a poster child for too many of us. His prayer, his words to Jesus revealed the depth of his faith when he said… ‘…”But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. ” ‘

I love it when Jesus speaks so adamantly and pointedly about faith. Christ addressed his disciples faith by calling them an ‘unbelieving generation’ and asking ‘How long should I put up with you?’ When he spoke to the dad he drilled the point, ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’ Let that sink in a minute…EVERYTHING for one who believes.

The dad’s response is similar to what you and I might be thinking. “I do believe: help me with my unbelief”. Read the rest of the story. Jesus rewarded this man’s faith and honesty by healing the son. If you ask God for more faith, He’s ready and willing to provide it. Are you willing to ask?

‘When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.’ Good men and women have lost faith in people AND God because their faith has been shaken across the board. A weakened and immature faith has led to childish and perverted ways becoming the modern day mindset. Is this decline in faith really an issue? Absolutely yes.

Jesus warned about the decline in faith we are living through. When He spoke about returning to His creation, Christ asked a piercing rhetorical question. ‘” However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?'” ….How will He find yours?

No matter how little, weak or waning your faith is, be encouraged.
2 Timothy 2:11-13…

‘Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
if we are faithless he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.’

Exercise more faith in God and watch what happens. HE remains faithful to us no matter what. Will we have faith in Him?