Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6.

Christianity is essentially relational. You don't know all about your spouse when you marry, but the areas of ignorance are overshadowed by a strong, loving faith. The blind man who was healed by Jesus (John 9) couldn't answer all his critics' questions but was able to affirm: 'One thing I know, once I was blind, now I see.'

Faith, in the biblical sense, does not have to begin every day at the beginning and prove everything all over again. We don't require that of science; why should we require it of religion? In both areas there are certain presuppositions we believe in, and build on. A scientist does not begin a day's research by examining again the law of gravity.

The faith of which the Bible speaks proceeds on the assumption that Jesus is divine, that therefore God is, and that he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

And those who live out this faith in God find remarkable corroborative evidences of God's activity in their lives.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.

FEED YOUR FAITH

[God] justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:26.

Herbert Butterfield, professor of modern history at Cambridge University put it well: 'Hold to Christ, and for the rest be totally uncommitted.'The great biblical scholar, Dr. Lightfoot, said 'My faith suffers nothing by leaving a thousand questions open, so long as I am convinced on two or three main lines.'

Those who major on their beliefs rather than their doubts, find God to be very real. 'Feed your faith, and your doubts will starve to death' is good advice. 'Cleave to the sunnier side of doubt' advised Tennyson. Live out your beliefs, and your doubts will cease to plague you.

Today, Lord, I echo the words of Martin Luther's 'doubter's prayer':
Dear Lord,
Although I am sure of my position,
I am unable to sustain it without You.
Help me, or I am lost. Amen.

ETHICS (1)

The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Romans 14:22.

In 1932 Aldous Huxley wrote about a Brave New World in which human embryos underwent a 'series of arrests of development' until 'standard men and women are created in uniform batches'. That was science fiction. Human cloning is now possible. Which raises very serious ethical issues.

Ethics is the study of human values and conduct. Ethics asks what sorts of things have ultimate value, and what is 'right' and 'wrong' for humans living in various cultures. The 17th century philosopher Thomas Hobbes said that without ethics, society becomes a war of each against each.

Once the churches had clear guidelines for moral behaviour: now they are not so sure about many things. The answer is not to be too simplistic or too permissive. Fundamentalists, who inhabit 'simplicity this side of complexity' absolutize relatives; liberals, living in 'complexity the other side of simplicity' relativize absolutes. Rather we should leave behind childish ways of thinking, wrestle with the tough questions, and move to simplicity the other side of complexity.

Lord, life is getting more complicated, and I am sometimes lost in the maze of conflicting opinions. I can't know everything about everything, but I can know a fair bit about something - and help change this world for the better. Help me not to give up simply because the problems seem too big. Amen.

ETHICS (2)

Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. Romans 14:22.

Ethics and morality, we noted yesterday, is all about what is right and wrong. Some very big questions face us these days.

Should we give land - and more - back to aboriginal peoples? Should animals be cooped up in farm factories? Should it be a criminal offence for a building worker to 'wolf-whistle' a pretty woman? Is active euthanasia OK? How are we to frame a new ecological ethic? Should whales be harvested? Should a CEO be paid $1million with so many unemployed? What can we do about the immorality of unemployment? Is 'sexual outercourse' fornication, as well as 'sexual intercourse'? What, specifically, is lust in marriage? What can we do about racism? Why are there sometimes vast reserves of grain in so-called Christian countries with hundreds of millions elsewhere starving?

Think about these things. Be part of a 'passionate' secular and church society concerned that right prevail. Research one ethical issue, write to the papers about it. Change something for the better. Be useful as well as decorative during your short stay on the planet!

Lord, who taught us that we should aim to be perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect, please guide me through the morass of complex issues like these. And when I arrive at the conviction that a wrong can be righted, that an evil can be stopped, give me the courage to do something about it. Amen.