A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Dare to Drop the Pose (p. 127). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
OK, what is the difference? I want to know!
Craig says, “James (in the NT of the Bible) reflected this truth when he wrote, ‘You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder’ (James 2:19). Demons know God is real, but they obviously don’t serve Him. For years I tried to believe in God without fully believing Him.”
Craig goes on, “There are at least three types of faith on the spectrum between ‘believing in’ and ‘believing,’ and I’ve experienced them all. The first kind of faith is held by the person I call, the casual believer. Such a person believes in God but hasn’t fully surrendered to Him. He may be a church attender, and possibly a very moral person. Even though this person believes in God, he lives his life as if God doesn’t really exist—a confessing theist, but a practicing atheist.
“Many people I know are casual believers. They’ll pray a polite prayer at Thanksgiving meals, attend church on Christmas and Easter, and tell you they’re ‘thinking about you’ during difficult times. But these same people don’t let God affect their spending habits or the movies they watch. He doesn’t slow their selfish sexual appetites, keep them from cursing on the golf course, or stop them from fudging on an expense report, gossiping, stretching the truth, or telling a white lie to get ahead. They believe in God, but they still do pretty much whatever they want.
“The second type of faith is that of the convenient believer. This is one who waves the Christian flag whenever it involves a potential benefit. The convenient believer is quick to talk God-talk if it might help seal a business deal, or score a date, or land a promotion. This person uses God to leverage a situation for personal benefit.
“The third type of faith belongs to the committed believer. And this is what Jesus calls us toward. The road to committed faith is paved with personal abandonment and self-denial. Life ceases to be about us, and it begins to be all about God. The committed believer doesn’t waver because of the crowd. He isn’t moved by others’ opinions. He’s a Christ follower all the time. Complete obedience and faithfulness are his goals. A 99 percent commitment to Christ is not enough.”
He then asks a good question, “So what kind of faith is yours? Casual belief— you’re a good person who believes in God, but doesn’t let your faith dominate your life? Convenient belief— living right when someone’s watching, or when it might benefit you, but doing your own thing when you want?
“Or are you committed—wholly devoted to the One who’s wholly devoted to you?”
That is a good question, isn’t it? So, which one describes your faith? Will you be thoroughly honest with yourself and with God? Will you?
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