Luke 18:1-8

There are countless instances where a word’s meaning becomes ‘lost in translation,’ or when a certain word means something different depending on who you are talking to, or what historical or social context you are using it in. Words like ‘love’ or ‘justice’ hold different meanings for, lets say, followers of Jesus, than those not-yet following Jesus, whose perceptions might be more worldly or secular. While at times it may feel like overly nuanced and hair-splitting work, trying to be clear and get to the bottom of what we mean when we use certain words is important work for followers of Jesus to engage in, if for no other reason, because we are to have “the mind of Christ.”[1]

With these things in mind I would like to use this space to explore the word faith, as used by Jesus in verse eight of this week’s Gospel reading in a question that has me shook to my core: “And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

By my observation, the word faith is used by all kinds of Christians in all kinds of circumstances, but I am not convinced we are all on the same page with what the word means or how it should be used - let alone on the same page as Jesus (cue the Inigo Montoya memes). I think it is important to at least try and figure out if Jesus’ concept of faith is synonymous with what is being communicated when all-to-popular phrases like ‘Gotta have faith,’ or, ‘Faith, family, and freedom,’ or, ‘Faith over fear,’ are used.

So, for those committed to the way of Jesus, what is faith? Where does faith come from? What is faith supposed to do? How is faith being displayed in ‘the Parable of the Persistent Widow’ that Jesus seems to be alluding to? To make sense of this element of our given Gospel passage I will work through these questions [relatively quickly], in hopes that something might jump out at you, inspire you, and give you space to ‘take the ball and run further with it’ in your sermon preparation and/or study. Along the way, we will glean from just a few wisdom-soaked words from the incomparable theologian Mildred Bangs Wynkoop in her seminal work from 1972, A Theology of Love (of which I have a first edition copy - not to brag or anything!).

For those committed to the way of Jesus, what is faith?

Wynkoop says: “Faith is not a thing which stands alone in human experience. It hides behind, or inside of, spiritual values.”[2] According to Wynkoop, faith is always “entangled” with other values like love, holiness, and obedience, and does not (or, cannot) exist outside of or away from those Christlike qualities, and others like them. In this sense, faith is not something that someone ‘has,’ in that they chose to go out and find it and take it for themselves, adding to a list of other social, political, or economic self-identifiers.

Where does faith come from?

Building off the above points, since faith is not something we pick for ourselves, perhaps we can view faith as something built up and developed within us, by a force outside of us. Surely then, faith is something planted, watered, grown, and pruned in us by the Holy Spirit when - and only when - we fully consecrate ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives and in the world. So yes, followers of Jesus can, in a way, ‘have faith,’ but not outside of the work of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps this is what the Apostle Paul is getting at when he says, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”[3]

What is a faith supposed to do?

Wynkoop identifies faith as some kind of internal catalyst which influences and produces certain behaviors, when she says, “Love is a by-product of faith.”[4] Again we see that faith is not a thing in and of itself which can be worn as some kind of badge of honor, but rather it is some kind of internal condition that produces fruit in line with Christlikeness. The Apostle Paul encourages that “through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.”[5] Faith allows us to wait patiently. Faith works itself out through love. Faith produces behaviors that keep us in step with the will of God.

How is faith being displayed in ‘the Parable of the Persistent Widow’ that Jesus seems to be alluding to?

The faith built up over time in the life of the widow poured out into the acts of devoted prayer (v. 1) and the patient pursuit of justice in the face of opposition (v. 3). She was sure of what she was hoping for and driven by what she has not yet received,[6] all along the way drawing from the well of steadfast faithfulness deposited to her by God. Although we do not know her name, her example should be included in the list of names found in Hebrews chapter eleven - featured there because of their faith-full actions before the Lord.

All too often in our world the concept of faith is used as some kind of tool to produce some kind of narrative about a person’s values or convictions. Many people [literally] say they are a “person of faith” and let those listening fill in the gaps - and they do! To Wynkoop’s point, when faith is treated as a ‘thing,’ it is no longer faith (at least, for those who follow Jesus).

Can faith be made evident and worked out through words? Of course, but not when we say the word ‘faith.’ Rather, when we say things like, “Grant me justice against my accuser.” “Do not speak to them like that.” or “What you are doing is wrong.”

And of course, perhaps in its most reliable form, faith is to be made evident and worked out through our tangible lives. Steadfast devotion. Patient obedience. The graceful following-through of Spirit-led conviction. These are the marks of faith.

May the people of God increasingly submit themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, so that even more faith may be assigned to us, so that the people of God may pursue the things and do the things God wants to see done in the world as they are in heaven.

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[1] I Corinthians 2:16

[2] Mildred Bangs Wynkoop, A Theology of Love: The Dynamic of Wesleyanism (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1972), 224.

[3] Romans 12:3 (emphasis mine)

[4] Wynkoop, Theology of Love, 223.

[5] Galatians 5:5-6

[6] Hebrews 11:1