Faith Is Spoken
“But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believe, therefore did I speak, we also believe, and therefore also we speak.” – 2 Corinthians 4:13
“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and the evil out of the evil brings forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.”- Luke 6:45 Our words reveal our hearts. Yet churches have become gatherings where we are expected to keep quiet. It is with the mouth that confession is made unto salvation -- more than once. “But if all prophecy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is convicted by all, he is judged by all; the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.”-1 Cor. 14:24-25 The format of our coming together has been so changed from the first century that we are now expected not to speak. It is in dialogue that truth is discerned from something less. Paul dialogued with the disciples at Troas. (Acts 20:7) Faith is exercised by being spoken. If we are expected not to speak, we miss that which helps develop us for speaking with others. Those who have shared in Bible studies with significant dialogue have witnessed the power and life of thoughts out of many hearts being revealed. To say such sharing cannot occur in “the worship hour” is simply not true. Will we return to this practice of first century churches?
Note: What is advocated here was advocated in The Open Church, by James Rutz, 1992.
4/24/05