Standing firm
by Maria Rudolph
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You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance (James 1:3).
Read James 1:1–15
Has your faith ever been tested? We may, at times, get into situations where being a Christian is uncomfortable and a bit embarrassing for us. If you have lived in Australia for all of your life, I doubt you would have been threatened with death or bodily harm for possessing or teaching the Bible or attending or leading worship.
My friend from Persia has a different reality to face. If I so much as mentioned their name or even gender here, they would be fearful of their government’s actions. After the glorious day of their baptism in Australia, they were unable to take any of the Christian literature or items they received as gifts back home for fear of what might happen to them or their family if border security discovered these items in the suitcase.
St James’ words bear great similarity to the words of St Paul in Romans 5:1–4:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
My Persian friend’s hope in Jesus is unwavering through the trials that come from following Jesus. My hope in Jesus remains unwavering, too, even though I am not tested in the same way.
Some refer to internal church theological disagreements as a testing of their faith. This is not the context of ‘faith testing’ in Scripture. Disagreements among people who are free to express their faith and follow the same Lord Jesus Christ are different from Christians being persecuted for their faith by non-believers. Faith is salvation by grace through faith.
Instead of focusing inward and endlessly pondering and analysing internal church affairs, St James and St Paul call us to look outward and encourage each other to be witnesses to our hope in Jesus to those who don’t yet know him. Isn’t the current Advent season the perfect opportunity to do just that?
Loving God, strengthen us by your Holy Spirit so we can stand firm when our faith is tested. Shine the Light of Christ through us to be beacons of your hope to the world around us this Advent season. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Maria is overjoyed to be a candidate for ordination as a pastor of the LCANZ while serving the St Johns Perth congregation and supporting the ministry of her pastor husband, Michael, at Concordia Duncraig congregation in Western Australia. They are parents to three children who are busy with primary and secondary schooling. Maria also serves the church as a member of the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.
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