Today's meditation is crucial if you ever want to be close to God in Christ. It will challenge you. It may hurt to read it. However, if you can work through it, this meditation can bring huge spiritual dividends. Pray in the Holy Spirit, then jump on in!
“Then he [Jesus] touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened.” (Matthew 9:29–30, ESV)
“Then he [Jesus] touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened.” (Matthew 9:29–30, ESV)
There has always been an infection of false faith in the church. False faith is a type of faith that is not centered on God. It is a faith whose direction or motivation is focused somewhere else. It is a faith with more worldly origins. You might think that false faith is a modern perversion. It is not. False faith has always been found side-by-side with real faith. Sadly, false faith always contends with true faith. It subverts believers. It seduces people toward a worldliness that is devoid of spiritual power and healing and wholeness. Today, I want you to consider if you have been seduced by false faith. We’re going to do a little self-examination using the scripture for today as our homing beacon, a beacon to keep us firmly planted in true faith.
Let’s start this self-examination with Mathew 9, our scripture for today. Here, Jesus offered healing to two blind men. They had cried out to Jesus, saying, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Matthew 9:27). Right away, you can tell that these men believed Jesus had healing power. They confidently called out to Jesus, begging for mercy. They could have remained silent, quietly praying to God for help. They could have gone to see doctors. They might have tried bathing in pools of healing waters, which were believed to have healing powers (John 5:7 alludes to this!). However, on this day, they sought healing from Jesus. They had faith that Jesus could heal them, that Jesus was sent by God, that He was a holy “Son of David”. In response to their cries and their belief in His healing powers, Jesus stopped. He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith be it done to you.” (Matthew 9:29). The result? “Their eyes were opened….” (Matthew 9:30). They were healed. What had accomplished it? Faith. As Jesus intimated, their healing would happen “according to their faith”. Without a true faith in Jesus, there would have been no healing. With true faith, their blindness was overcome.
In this scripture, Jesus knew healing would come with true faith. He also knew about false faith. The blind men would be healed or not “according to their faith”, depending on the level of faith, depending on the sincerity of that faith, and if they put their faith in Jesus. In the end, their faith was real. It was true. It was wholly focused on Jesus.
In contrast to this true faith of the two blind men, let’s look at what Jesus experienced when He tried to do miracles of healing in Nazareth (Mark 6:1-6). There were people needing to be healed there, too. However, Jesus was limited by false faith. The people did not believe in Jesus’ healing with a whole heart. Their faith was not sincere. It was not true. Scripture tells us that the people had doubts… they “took offense” at Jesus, figuring HE was just a carpenter, just one of the sons of Mary (Mark 6:3). Mark 6:4 claims they did not show Jesus the “honor” He was due. Because of all this negativity, dishonor, and offense, Jesus “could do no mighty work there” (Mark 6:5). Very few were able to be healed. Lacking true faith meant lacking spiritual power, healing, and “mighty works”.
If you contrast Matthew 9:29 with Mark 6, you can see that true faith brings healing and wholeness. False or non-existent faith brings little. Everything goes “according to one's faith” in Jesus.
Today, you can see many signs of true faith. Every day we hear people of true faith who are healed, touched by the hand of God, protected, and blessed. However, there are also many people of false faith who are not healed, cannot feel the hand of God, do not see God’s protection, and do not feel blessed. The main reason some people of faith do not see “mighty works” of God is because they are seduced by a false faith. Their focus is not on God in Christ. They take offense at Jesus. When it comes down to it, they don’t trust wholeheartedly in our Savior. They do not honor Jesus.
In today’s world, I see five types of false faith that are common among Christians. These five types of false faith will keep “mighty works” from happening in and around those who hold such beliefs. Laypeople, pastors, and even life-long worshippers can have a false faith and not even realize it. You can read the Bible every day and still have a heart set on false faith. Being brought up in traditions or beliefs that nourish false faith will nullify the work of the Holy Spirit in those who harbor such notions. As always, God works “according to your faith” (Matthew 9:29).
False faith #1: “The churchy lifestyle”
People who have misplaced their faith in a “churchy lifestyle” seem outwardly very religious. They are often at church whenever the doors are open. They volunteer to help. They worship regularly. They are active members of the church. However, those who exhibit this false faith lack in one area. Christ is not front and center.
“Churchy” Christians like to be seen at church. They like to be noticed for their religiosity. They want people to notice where they spend Sunday mornings. Their faith is part of a social agenda. Worship can be a habit. They like the spiritual high they get when around God or godly people. However, they themselves are lacking in true faith. They bask in being known as Christians when in fact their faith is not totally focused on God in Christ. The strength of their faith is being part of a faith-based social club, not on the Almighty God who redeems lost souls. They go to church without going to God.
False faith #2: “Being religious”
A person can act religious without having a true faith in God. That person may show all the signs of “having religion” without having any spiritual power whatsoever. This person may wear a cross necklace, attend worship, even sing religious hymns. However, this person does not have a strong personal relationship with Jesus. This person lacks the Holy Spirit in heart and soul. The Holy Spirit is not present because the person does not care to deepen his or her faith. Instead, the faith remains shallow, weak, though outward and visible. Their prayers are for show or only words. The faith of this person will usually fade or crumble away when life gets tough.
False faith #3: “Christian in name only”
Like the “religious” person with a shallow faith, Christians in name only do not have a strong personal relationship with God. Often, they were baptized as infants. They grew up in church. Worship might be a “family thing”. The person might have relatives who have attended that church for decades or more! But this person also lacks a personal commitment to God. This Christian in name only likes to be known as a Christian, ticks off boxes which say they believe in God, and may or may not have a membership in a church. However, this person is a Christian in name only. His or her connection with Christ is only a passing one.
False faith #4: “Denominational faith”
Anyone who has a denominational faith has a false faith. This doesn’t mean that if you are a member of a protestant denomination or are Catholic or Orthodox that you have a false faith. Far from it! The false faith of a denominational Christian comes into play when the person puts their faith in the denomination. They place their faith in the denominational dogma more than in Jesus Christ. If the denomination believes x or y, this person will usually believe the same. They interpret the Bible according to denominational guidelines or beliefs. They refuse to accept any opinion or thought or theology outside what is officially endorsed by the denomination. People who have a denominational faith often believe those outside the denomination are sinful, going to hell, unsaved, or unholy. If you follow their thinking to its ultimate conclusion, only people with their denominational beliefs will ever be found in Heaven. All the rest are going to hell or need to be converted to the denomination to be saved. Ultimately, they have made the denomination their god, their Bible, their salvation. It is a false faith that compels them.
False faith #5: “Ideological Christianity”
Ideological Christianity has exploded in the modern world, driven by political notions and heavy propaganda. Ideological Christianity has replaced God with an ideological bent. If you believe in their ideological agenda, these people believe you are godly. If you disagree with their ideological agenda, you deserve pain or suffering or hell or are not welcome.
I have been in churches where you had to believe in an LGBTQ ideology in order to be a member or have standing. If a person wants to be a pastor in this false faith, they must espouse the agenda. These pastors preach openly about those who will not accept LGBTQ ideology, often calling them haters or fascists or misogynists right from the pulpit as well as in person.
I’ve seen other church people who were ultra-conservative. They believed the faithful had to be “patriots”. If you are a liberal, you are a sissy. You must denounce sin openly, even by calling out people by name. You need to follow the Bible with a conservative bent or else you are shunned. These folks might say the pledge of allegiance in worship. They too shame people into following their ideology.
People with an ideological Christianity will often shun those who don’t tow the ideological line. They separate the world into those who believe and don’t believe according to their ideological bent. They focus their scripture readings and Bible studies on things that support the ideological agenda. They are quick to march, protest, or sway public opinion as a sign of faith, even if it is a false faith.
In conclusion, hear these words from the meditational book, Trusting God with Today:
“Do your life and relationship with Jesus feel lackluster—as if something crucial is missing? This is the condition of far too many believers today; they’re simply not living up to the potential the Lord created within them. Trapped by church traditions, smothered by concerns over status, and unwilling to test the resources of the all-powerful God they claim to serve, they wrestle with accepting and meeting the challenge of faith. Due to poor self-esteem and a lack of trust that the Lord is who Scripture proclaims Him to be, many have merely accepted a comfortable, “churchy” lifestyle, choosing to remain ignorant of God’s higher plane of Spirit-filled, resurrection-empowered life. However, that does not have to be you. Today, consider and be brutally honest with yourself: Are you living up to your God-given potential? Are you availing yourself of the Lord’s boundless resources? Do you have the courage to live completely, wholeheartedly in surrendered obedience to the will of God? If not, then you must learn the great lesson of walking by faith, not by sight. Open your heart to His fullness and trust His promises to be all-sufficient. Because that is what your soul is yearning to experience.” (p. 218)
It all comes down to this... do you have a true faith or a false faith? Every “mighty work” in your life will be determined by the answer to this question. A true faith puts God front and center. A true faith requires repentance, obedience, and holiness TO GOD IN CHRIST! False faiths are merely shallow copies of true faith. Jesus will do “mighty works” in your life “in accordance with your faith”. How committed are you to Jesus? Have you been swayed or influenced by a false faith? Were you raised among false faith believers? How strong is your faith? In whom or what have you placed your faith?
You need to get this right… a false faith will deceive you. A true faith may at times be the most difficult to uphold. A false faith lacks spiritual power, saving grace, and a closeness with God. True faith will bring healing, wholeness, and a deep relationship with the living and eternal God in Christ. Are you blind to a false gospel? Have your eyes been opened, too?
Let’s start this self-examination with Mathew 9, our scripture for today. Here, Jesus offered healing to two blind men. They had cried out to Jesus, saying, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Matthew 9:27). Right away, you can tell that these men believed Jesus had healing power. They confidently called out to Jesus, begging for mercy. They could have remained silent, quietly praying to God for help. They could have gone to see doctors. They might have tried bathing in pools of healing waters, which were believed to have healing powers (John 5:7 alludes to this!). However, on this day, they sought healing from Jesus. They had faith that Jesus could heal them, that Jesus was sent by God, that He was a holy “Son of David”. In response to their cries and their belief in His healing powers, Jesus stopped. He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith be it done to you.” (Matthew 9:29). The result? “Their eyes were opened….” (Matthew 9:30). They were healed. What had accomplished it? Faith. As Jesus intimated, their healing would happen “according to their faith”. Without a true faith in Jesus, there would have been no healing. With true faith, their blindness was overcome.
In this scripture, Jesus knew healing would come with true faith. He also knew about false faith. The blind men would be healed or not “according to their faith”, depending on the level of faith, depending on the sincerity of that faith, and if they put their faith in Jesus. In the end, their faith was real. It was true. It was wholly focused on Jesus.
In contrast to this true faith of the two blind men, let’s look at what Jesus experienced when He tried to do miracles of healing in Nazareth (Mark 6:1-6). There were people needing to be healed there, too. However, Jesus was limited by false faith. The people did not believe in Jesus’ healing with a whole heart. Their faith was not sincere. It was not true. Scripture tells us that the people had doubts… they “took offense” at Jesus, figuring HE was just a carpenter, just one of the sons of Mary (Mark 6:3). Mark 6:4 claims they did not show Jesus the “honor” He was due. Because of all this negativity, dishonor, and offense, Jesus “could do no mighty work there” (Mark 6:5). Very few were able to be healed. Lacking true faith meant lacking spiritual power, healing, and “mighty works”.
If you contrast Matthew 9:29 with Mark 6, you can see that true faith brings healing and wholeness. False or non-existent faith brings little. Everything goes “according to one's faith” in Jesus.
Today, you can see many signs of true faith. Every day we hear people of true faith who are healed, touched by the hand of God, protected, and blessed. However, there are also many people of false faith who are not healed, cannot feel the hand of God, do not see God’s protection, and do not feel blessed. The main reason some people of faith do not see “mighty works” of God is because they are seduced by a false faith. Their focus is not on God in Christ. They take offense at Jesus. When it comes down to it, they don’t trust wholeheartedly in our Savior. They do not honor Jesus.
In today’s world, I see five types of false faith that are common among Christians. These five types of false faith will keep “mighty works” from happening in and around those who hold such beliefs. Laypeople, pastors, and even life-long worshippers can have a false faith and not even realize it. You can read the Bible every day and still have a heart set on false faith. Being brought up in traditions or beliefs that nourish false faith will nullify the work of the Holy Spirit in those who harbor such notions. As always, God works “according to your faith” (Matthew 9:29).
False faith #1: “The churchy lifestyle”
People who have misplaced their faith in a “churchy lifestyle” seem outwardly very religious. They are often at church whenever the doors are open. They volunteer to help. They worship regularly. They are active members of the church. However, those who exhibit this false faith lack in one area. Christ is not front and center.
“Churchy” Christians like to be seen at church. They like to be noticed for their religiosity. They want people to notice where they spend Sunday mornings. Their faith is part of a social agenda. Worship can be a habit. They like the spiritual high they get when around God or godly people. However, they themselves are lacking in true faith. They bask in being known as Christians when in fact their faith is not totally focused on God in Christ. The strength of their faith is being part of a faith-based social club, not on the Almighty God who redeems lost souls. They go to church without going to God.
False faith #2: “Being religious”
A person can act religious without having a true faith in God. That person may show all the signs of “having religion” without having any spiritual power whatsoever. This person may wear a cross necklace, attend worship, even sing religious hymns. However, this person does not have a strong personal relationship with Jesus. This person lacks the Holy Spirit in heart and soul. The Holy Spirit is not present because the person does not care to deepen his or her faith. Instead, the faith remains shallow, weak, though outward and visible. Their prayers are for show or only words. The faith of this person will usually fade or crumble away when life gets tough.
False faith #3: “Christian in name only”
Like the “religious” person with a shallow faith, Christians in name only do not have a strong personal relationship with God. Often, they were baptized as infants. They grew up in church. Worship might be a “family thing”. The person might have relatives who have attended that church for decades or more! But this person also lacks a personal commitment to God. This Christian in name only likes to be known as a Christian, ticks off boxes which say they believe in God, and may or may not have a membership in a church. However, this person is a Christian in name only. His or her connection with Christ is only a passing one.
False faith #4: “Denominational faith”
Anyone who has a denominational faith has a false faith. This doesn’t mean that if you are a member of a protestant denomination or are Catholic or Orthodox that you have a false faith. Far from it! The false faith of a denominational Christian comes into play when the person puts their faith in the denomination. They place their faith in the denominational dogma more than in Jesus Christ. If the denomination believes x or y, this person will usually believe the same. They interpret the Bible according to denominational guidelines or beliefs. They refuse to accept any opinion or thought or theology outside what is officially endorsed by the denomination. People who have a denominational faith often believe those outside the denomination are sinful, going to hell, unsaved, or unholy. If you follow their thinking to its ultimate conclusion, only people with their denominational beliefs will ever be found in Heaven. All the rest are going to hell or need to be converted to the denomination to be saved. Ultimately, they have made the denomination their god, their Bible, their salvation. It is a false faith that compels them.
False faith #5: “Ideological Christianity”
Ideological Christianity has exploded in the modern world, driven by political notions and heavy propaganda. Ideological Christianity has replaced God with an ideological bent. If you believe in their ideological agenda, these people believe you are godly. If you disagree with their ideological agenda, you deserve pain or suffering or hell or are not welcome.
I have been in churches where you had to believe in an LGBTQ ideology in order to be a member or have standing. If a person wants to be a pastor in this false faith, they must espouse the agenda. These pastors preach openly about those who will not accept LGBTQ ideology, often calling them haters or fascists or misogynists right from the pulpit as well as in person.
I’ve seen other church people who were ultra-conservative. They believed the faithful had to be “patriots”. If you are a liberal, you are a sissy. You must denounce sin openly, even by calling out people by name. You need to follow the Bible with a conservative bent or else you are shunned. These folks might say the pledge of allegiance in worship. They too shame people into following their ideology.
People with an ideological Christianity will often shun those who don’t tow the ideological line. They separate the world into those who believe and don’t believe according to their ideological bent. They focus their scripture readings and Bible studies on things that support the ideological agenda. They are quick to march, protest, or sway public opinion as a sign of faith, even if it is a false faith.
In conclusion, hear these words from the meditational book, Trusting God with Today:
“Do your life and relationship with Jesus feel lackluster—as if something crucial is missing? This is the condition of far too many believers today; they’re simply not living up to the potential the Lord created within them. Trapped by church traditions, smothered by concerns over status, and unwilling to test the resources of the all-powerful God they claim to serve, they wrestle with accepting and meeting the challenge of faith. Due to poor self-esteem and a lack of trust that the Lord is who Scripture proclaims Him to be, many have merely accepted a comfortable, “churchy” lifestyle, choosing to remain ignorant of God’s higher plane of Spirit-filled, resurrection-empowered life. However, that does not have to be you. Today, consider and be brutally honest with yourself: Are you living up to your God-given potential? Are you availing yourself of the Lord’s boundless resources? Do you have the courage to live completely, wholeheartedly in surrendered obedience to the will of God? If not, then you must learn the great lesson of walking by faith, not by sight. Open your heart to His fullness and trust His promises to be all-sufficient. Because that is what your soul is yearning to experience.” (p. 218)
It all comes down to this... do you have a true faith or a false faith? Every “mighty work” in your life will be determined by the answer to this question. A true faith puts God front and center. A true faith requires repentance, obedience, and holiness TO GOD IN CHRIST! False faiths are merely shallow copies of true faith. Jesus will do “mighty works” in your life “in accordance with your faith”. How committed are you to Jesus? Have you been swayed or influenced by a false faith? Were you raised among false faith believers? How strong is your faith? In whom or what have you placed your faith?
You need to get this right… a false faith will deceive you. A true faith may at times be the most difficult to uphold. A false faith lacks spiritual power, saving grace, and a closeness with God. True faith will bring healing, wholeness, and a deep relationship with the living and eternal God in Christ. Are you blind to a false gospel? Have your eyes been opened, too?