How do we come to faith?

I'm on a mission. It's a mission to try and do theology grounded in and defined by Scripture, utilizing the various tools and insights that we have at our finger tips, that empowers the people of God to be the called-out ones, the Church. So I've been reading and listening. Reading books, and listening to sermons. One of the things that has been on my mind is the whole thing of how we came to faith in Christ.

Paul McGlasson contends that it comes by hearing the gospel. Plain and simple. Quoting the apostle Paul in Romans 1, he reminds us that we should not be "ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power for salvation, first for the Jew, and then for the Gentile." Again quoting Paul in 1 Corinthians, McGlasson points to the seed bed for faith by what it isn't: "for the wisdom of God is a stumbling block to the Jew, and foolishness to the Greek." Rob Bell, in a sermon to his Mars Hill congregation quoted from Paul in 1 Corinthians 2, that it was not through wise words or eloquent arguments that the Corinthians came to faith in Jesus Christ, but it was through Paul demonstrating the power of God.

I'm a big fan of being a Christian intellectual. I'm all about studying and learning about the strange world of the Bible. But I also know learning's limitations. How does one come to faith in Christ Jesus? The apostle Paul tells us it's simply through hearing the good news. He also tells us that it also comes through seeing the power of God demonstrated. Interestingly, Paul doesn't go into any detail as to what that demonstration held. Was it entirely super-natural stuff like raising the dead? Was it super-natural by way of forgiveness, kindness, or showing love in a manner that could only befit the divine? We don't know, and we don't need to.

Ultimately, I think it's about understanding that it's not about trying to out-argue someone, or try to convince someone just how logical or reasonable the Gospel might be (to that point, I think we can see such merits because we've already received the grace to believe; God has given us eyes to see and ears to hear). That's why our bringing the good news needs to be a lifestyle that is all-encompassing, or holistic, if you will, in that (as my youth pastor used to say) our walk matches our talk. Are we demonstrating God's love? Are we loving our neighbors as ourselves? Or are we confusing our politics with our faith, and trying to baptize every plank and policy of our favorite candidate or incumbant, regardless of their political affiliation? Such discussion is for a future blog entry, but suffice it to say for now that as Christians, we need to read Scripture more, learn it more deeply, and seek to let the Holy Spirit guide us through its pages so that our lives, lived among the unsaved may be lights in the darkness, and our lives among our fellow saved may be encouragements in keeping the faith.

How are you demonstrating the power of God in and through your life? What one thing (or is it plural?) do you need to change in order to do so? What extra-biblical (that is, unbiblical) influences pull on the way you interpret Scripture and think theologically - i.e., influence the way you live out your faith?

What do you think? Let me know...