Distinguishing True Faith from Self-Delusion
Feb 07 2008
Somehow people have confused the divine virtue of Faith with self-delusion. The power of Faith had been replaced with silly superstitions. I don’t know how this happened, (though I suspect it came from televangelists), but it has to stop. While True Faith is a blessing that allows someone to walk in the presence of God, false faith or self-delusion completely inhibits spiritual growth and makes people look down-right crazy.
The three pillars of Christian mysticism are Faith, Hope, and Love. In time, I will write similar articles for Hope and Love, but for now let’s talk about Faith (stop thinking about George Michael). Faith, put as simply as possible, is trust. To have Faith in someone is to trust them, and put your trust in them. To have Faith in God means that you trust God. Faith IS NOT belief, and especially not a belief in the existence of something.
There is no virtue in believing in something… at all. Yet, somehow people have gotten the idea that being “religious” or “spiritual” means they “believe in God” or “believe there is a God”. Even Scriptures say, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe” – James 2:19. I love the author’s sarcasm there with “You do Well”. Seriously, who cares what you believe? What matters is what you do with those beliefs.
I always roll my eyes when people say they believe in God because “they have faith”. Even God doesn’t want you to just “believe” in Him, that just makes you an ignorant monkey. All the great Saints of history believed in God, not because of “faith”, but because they were CONVINCED that God was real. They believed in God because it made sense, and they had reason to back-up their believes. St. Augustine’s Confessions is all about the REASONS he converted. C.S. Lewis wrote Case for Christianity, one of the most powerful apologetics books ever, because he had reasons for believing in God.
After the Saints came to believe in God, through reason, they lived lives of Faith by putting their trust in God. Faith is a virtue grown by prayer, meditation, and courage that allows us to walk with God, trusting Him to direct our paths. Faith is a powerful virtue which allows us to endure hardship and suffering without panic or doubt. Faith in God is just like faith in another person, it is grown through a relationship.
Self-delusional faith causes major problems as people simply choose to believe in whatever they want to and call it “faith”. People will abandon personal responsibility, neglect their own lives, and produce silly superstitions all in the name of “faith”. True Faith allows one to face hardships like death with peace and tranquility, while self-delusional faith causes people to deny the inevitable and prolong misery. True Faith inspires many, while self-delusional faith produces “religious wackos” who shame everyone.
Mysticism, spirituality, and true religion can bring great sanity and clarity, while perverted faith and religion can produce the nuttiest of humanity. Don’t believe in things out of “faith”, use reason and discernment to find truth. Truth isn’t fragile and doesn’t need “faith”, it always shines through when given the chance. We find God through reason, and once we find Him, we put our Faith in Him because of who He is… Our Father.
well we agree on what the problem is. but how to get to the solution? and how are we sure weather or not we are on the right path?
every time i read this article i like it a little better.
Just discovered your site. How did I miss you before? I don’t I would add to your observations on this post–I don’t think it’s quite accurate to assume that televangelists invented delusional faith. It’s been around for a very long time–probably since the beginning. There have always been those who used the crucifix like a lucky rabbit’s foot instead of contacting the Person it represents. Perhaps this started with Simon the Sorcerer who saw the power of God and wanted to buy it–like it was a “thing”. When we turn objects of desire and symbols into “things” to be grasped at, we leave our Lord behind.
Faith without works is dead according to scripture. The only way we know we are saved is if we keep all the commandments of God without fail. This is impossible to do without the power of the holy Spirit. Therefore, if one can do this, they are saved for the power of god indwells them giving them power to remain sin free.
Hi,
Good thoughts. Might I add a few things? Faith is a gift. It is given by Someone who loves us. It is the One who loves us that comes looking for us to give us the gift. Reason cannot see it coming. Faith isn’t something that we can reason out, rather it is a gift from God that touches our reasoning. The disciples asked Jesus, “Increase our faith.” We can’t increase faith; only God can do that. Faith as a gift is not for us to connect with God. It is His gift to us to connect with Him. He does the connecting. We are the servant of His gift of faith to do His good will and pleasure. The question true faith asks is, “Lord, what will You have me to do?” Faith is all about God working in and through us and not us asking Him to take care of all our needs.