By Namani J Nharrel
Let us be clear, faith here talks of Christian principles and practices taught by Jesus and His apostles, while trial is the opposition of these teachings by pain and suffering inflicted on Christians. Another form of trial is by questioning the teachings of the Bible in the face of trouble.
Whether by adversity from foes or by doubtful questions from Christians, the Christian Faith is put on trial. The trial of faith in this piece dwells on questioning clear biblical answers to vexing situations Christian face today. That is, questioning the validity or relevance of these answers in view of trial by adversity.
Tasking Issues
It is becoming difficult to be a Christian because of the painful trial of faith by adversities. This is making some ask if the New Testament’s recommended responses in the face of adversities like persecution, maltreatment, and killing of Christians are enough for today’s Christians, shouldn’t Christians go extrabiblical to respond appropriately? They ask.
New definitions
The trial of faith by questioning its teachings, wants us to redefine Christianity in Nigeria. This is not as a result of new theological discovery, but immediate circumstances. Circumstances are making some Christians look at Christianity differently from Scriptural presentation. This is not because the Bible has changed or its teachings abrogated, but because people are changing their theology, and as a result of changing their God. Popular redefinitions want Christianity to be more physically militant, retaliatory, reactionary, and hostile to match those of its unbelieving environment. It wants Christianity to match fire for fire and vile for vile.
Why?
The attempt at redefining Christianity is due to several considerations linked to self-preservation.
1. The need to balance the Christian’s dual citizenship. Being Nigerians, for example, with every right enshrined in the constitution; and at the same time being a citizen of heaven living on earth, the two cultures sometimes contradict themselves. Christians have to continually make deliberate choices, regarding which of the cultural principles to guide their lives.
2. The need to balance between the reality of survival and obedience to absolute commands of the Bible Some think and preach the ideals of the Bible are unrealistic, unreasonable, and untenable in the face of life-threatening persecutions.
3. The need to balance being politically correct and identifying with a faith that gives no room for compromise as it touches Biblical absolutes.
4. The need to balance between trust, accepting God’s way of doing things, and using carnal means and man’s reasoning and efforts to protect or defend himself. Many think employing both is necessary whether their specifics are in harmony or not.
In view of these considerations and the natural inclination to self-preservation, many Christians have inadvertently put their faith on trial.
The Charges
The charges in this trial of faith are the questions:
▪ If the Bible really meant that Christians should not retaliate when pushed to the wall;
▪ If the Bible’s recommended ways of responding to adversity are applicable and relevant for today’s realities;
▪ If as citizens of their country, Christians are not entitled to fair treatment;
▪ If there shouldn’t be a time Christians should say enough is enough to their persecutors and fight back with physical weapons.
▪ If it is right to strictly adhere to the teachings of the Bible in the face of contrary realities.
From the foregoing, therefore, Christianity and its teachings stand on trial; to be or not to be, the faith, that was once delivered to the saint (Jude 3).
The accusers here are Christians and the judges are the Christians. Only they can free Christianity from false charges.
Current Reality
That the Christian faith is under threat is no news. The increasing intense opposition, from the enemies of Christ, are current realities. Then there are other troubles that come to every man. In all these, the Bible urges Christians to rejoice (James1:2). These realities are unavoidable. Christians are by nature wired to suffer adversities (2 Timothy 3:12).
The Concern
The concern here is the Christian’s response to these current realities. Many rather than appeal to God’s faithful promises, to keep from danger, want to use physical weapons and human reasoning. Consequently, they ask questions they should not. They make wrong choices, deny outrightly, plain biblical truths, and insist their ideas, opinions, and judgements should define what constitutes the true practice of the faith.Thus they accuse and charge the faith guilty by their actions and utterances.
Great Danger
There is danger in re-examining and re-defining Christianity to fit the Christian’s chosen course of action or reaction to adversity.
They bring doubts that make the Christian unsteady. He doubts the Bible and goes astray. Doubts begin by asking: How can? How come? How long? Why not?
From doubting, the Christian goes to denying clear biblical stand on certain issues. He denies it couldn’t be. He denies biblical ways of confronting hardship. He denies his faith while holding to its form. He denies doubting and denying biblical truths. Finally, he denies Christ in words and deeds. Then comes disobedience to God and his word.
A doubting, denying, and disobeying Christian is a great threat to himself and Christianity.
The Verdict
In re-examining his faith, in re-defining his faith, in doubting, denying, and disobeying the teaching of his faith, he passes a verdict that Christianity is not what it claims to be. This is not a true and fair verdict. It is unacceptable to the Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ, and all his faithful followers.
Conclusion
The basic reason Christianity is put on trial by Christians is the desire to fit God and His ways into their own thinking, instead of adjusting their own thinking into God’s ways and plans.
It is nobody’s fault that God’s ways of doing things sometimes appear unreasonable and foolish to man. However, we have to accept that all men and their ways are not trustworthy: and that only God and His ways can be trusted. If we need to remain true followers of Christ, we need to accept that, “This so-called “foolish” plan of God is far wiser than the wisest plan of the wisest man, and God in his weakness—Christ dying on the cross—is far stronger than any man” (1 Corinthians 1:25 The Living Bible).
Nharrel, a Christian worker, is based in southern Kaduna, and reactions to this material should be sent by WhatsApp or Telegram to 08022198060; or by e-mail to [email protected].
