Faith? Do I have one?

By Abba Jimmy (Theoloscience).

Perhaps you are a person of strong faith in God. On the other hand, maybe you are a person who does not have faith in God. Or you are a person who has been considering exploring the faith. This article is for all of you.

Having or not having faith is like having or not having a car. If you have a car, you need to keep it in good shape: regular oil changes, filters, tire rotations, inspection of breaks, etc. If you don’t have a car, perhaps you have been considering buying one. However, the options to choose a vehicle that fits your needs are multiple. Whereas faith in God, as we understand it in the Judeo-Christian tradition, even more specifically in the Catholic Tradition, refers to only one. A tenet of the Creed says: One God, one faith, one Lord, one Church. If you are a person who still does not have faith, the previous statement may put you off. However, a historical and visible institution that can make such a claim calls for a serious consideration. Don’t you agree?

I invite you to open Sacred Scriptures on Acts 6:1–7. Read slowly and notice if something strikes your inner fibers. In this reading, we see the names and the purpose of the first seven deacons. What strikes me, though, is this: “The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).

Since I was so young, I learned by experience that what we read and listen to influences how we think. I heard on public radio early this week that spreading lies and false information is on the rise.

The Christian faith is like breaking news. Unfortunately, many evil-intentioned people have exploited faith (religion) for nefarious purposes. Therefore, where to place our faith becomes a serious matter that deserves serious consideration. As we know from the news, a so-called pastor in Kenia recently led dozens of people to starve to death.

But the many scandals, lies, and deceptions around the world should not deter us from searching for the truth.

We should never forget that no man is God except the Lord Jesus Christ and that there is only one Lord. If somebody else comes and claims that he is God or Jesus, we know that, most likely, he is a lunatic or a mad person.

Faith in the only and true God has a thread and a lineage that goes back to Jesus and the Apostles, which is still present in the Catholic Church as a corporation. Individual members of the Church have failed. However, the core of the Catholic faith and the transmission of the Christian faith remains steadfast and is present in the Church today. And the need for the proclamation of the Good News remains high these days. As the psalmist prays: “Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you” (Psalm 33:20–22).

The first letter of Saint Peter is written the many benefits of having placed faith in the risen Lord. Peter writes: “Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame” (I Pt 2:6).

The risen Lord has promised to help you in your life. He wants us to listen to Him. A psalm says: “taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” And Jesus Christ said: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1).

Finally, I invite you to attend Mass. In the celebration of the Eucharist, we participate the best in the Blessing of the Christian faith.