<> Ask the Pastor The Rev'd Fr. Walter Snyder Q: I read "An Introduction to St. Paul's Letter to the Romans" about faith. Here, Martin Luther quotes John 1:13. Faith is God's work in us, which changes us and give new birth from God. Luther says, "Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do." I am wondering if I have to ask God for my faith, is it probable that God will also supply Faith for another for whom I am asking? Since Martin Luther said we renewed our baptism daily, (roughly speaking) do we renew our Faith daily as well? How much Faith is enough? There is scripture referring to "a measure of faith" (I can't place it) so do we ask for this measure of Faith. Is the amount of Faith dependent upon God's generosity or His perception of our need? A: One cannot be a Christian without Faith. Faith is human response to divine activity: One believes what God says and does. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is being sure of the things we hope for, being convinced of the things we cannot see." Since we "cannot see," some speak of "a leap of faith," or of "blind faith." These aren't the best ways of looking at Christian belief. Faith isn't blind. It's seeing more clearly than the world sees. It's not trusting in spite of the evidence. It's believing God's Word beyond any worldly evidence. Faith clings to God's promise of forgiveness and new life. It trusts that Scripture is true when it tells us who God is, who we are, and what God has done to bring sinful humanity back to himself. Faith is centered in Christ on the cross, paying for our sins, in his leaving the tomb, freeing us from the curse of death, and in his calling us to be his children through Word and Baptism. No one is a Christian without faith. The "measure of faith" is from Romans 12:3. Here, Paul reminds the Roman Christians not to "overvalue" themselves, thinking they are more important than others, since, "God has given a measure of faith to each...." This measure in each believer is evidenced by the gifts God gives, such as preaching, serving, teaching, and the like. Although Jesus mentions a mustard seed-sized faith, Scripture doesn't really quantify it. Either one believes or one doesn't. However, some seem to cling tenuously to God's promises and thus act only sporadically according to his Word and will. As God's gift, faith first cries out for more faith ("Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"). It then also desires all other gifts of God, and leads us to serve others. Faith is renewed each time a Christian trustingly receives God's forgiveness. This includes confidence in all the promises of salvation throughout the Scriptures, whether the Word, Baptism, or the Lord's Supper. And since God will never allow you to be tested beyond your capacity (although some might doubt their capacity and thus despair), you will always have "enough" faith to survive and even thrive. Still, returning to the Word and to the forgiveness of sins daily (or more often) is vital, often essential, in maintaining a sufficiency of faith. As for asking God for faith, he initially gives it without being asked, since he calls those dead in their sins to new life in Christ. However, as I said above, faith then seeks more and stronger faith. Seek it earnestly, even if you do not desire to move mountains. After all, this is not what faith is truly for. "Even if I have all faith to move mountains, but have no love, I am nothing. (1 Cor. 13:2)" Faith is for moving me from this life to the life to come. Thus, I also pray for others, that they, too, might have faith. For without faith in the merits of Christ, the Scriptures tell us that they remain dead in their trespasses. So we pray for our families and friends-- and for our enemies. Yet even as faith trustingly prays, it also acts. It is no true faith that has an object other than Jesus Christ. So while I pray for their faith, I also speak to them of its object. I tell of Jesus and his love for them. The Holy Spirit works through God's Word to convert sinful hearts. He takes the Jesus met in the pages of the Bible and sets him in the hearts of new believers. For some, all I can do is ask God to somehow lead them to a place where they will be exposed to the life-giving Word. But for those I know, I am faithless if I do not seek to bring my faith--and my Savior--to them. I don't pray that God would operate in a "vacuum," rather that he would act as he has promised. And as the quote you cite from Martin Luther reminds us, "Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do." Here, the voice of the Holy Spirit is heard above our own voices, asking God for what is best for us, not for what our sinful flesh desires. "'Help my unbelief,' O God. And help the faith of my brothers and sisters in the faith, as well as that of my enemies and the enemies of your church. In Jesus Name. Amen." That's it for now. You can submit questions by mail to "Ask the Pastor," PO Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or just stop me on the street. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches in Jasper and Woodville and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1998 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.