Faith and Faith

 

 

Of what faith are you

Is a question often asked

And depending on who you are

This is an easy task.

 

I am of the Wesleyan faith

Or I am an Anglican,

I am a Moravian or Catholic

Or even Presbyterian.

 

Faith meaning sect

Is one of the expressions

That quickly come to one’s mind

When asked this question.

 

I am of Apollos

And I am of Paul

Of Cephas and Christ

Or none of the above at all.

 

Like the Pharisees,

That were none of the above,

They were sectarian and apart

And full of self-love.

 

So, faith as in doctrine

Is one definition of faith,

I will hurry on to the next one

I’ve reserved for this space.

 

Faith as in believing

For something to happen,

The faith expressed in a prayer

When something threatens.

 

Mustard seed faith

That will result in a miracle,

The faith that moves mountains

Or whatever the trouble.

 

 

 

So, faith as in a doctrine

And faith as in belief

Hence, the faith and faith title

In this poetic brief.

 

Both are important

One more than the other

And if not properly understood

They can be a bother.

 

Faith in God’s Word

Meaning one’s faith in the faith

Is what we should aspire to

And this by God’s grace.

 

The faith as in the doctrine

Purported by the apostles

Who also walked with Christ

As his first disciples.

 

And afterwards, Paul

And Barnabas and Timothy

And all in the New Testament

That we can see.

 

 

The apostle’s doctrine

Founded on Jesus the Christ

With Jesus the chief cornerstone

Does adequately suffice.

 

There is much dispute

In the church today

And many seek the miraculous

And keep doctrine at bay.

 

Sound doctrine I mean

As lived by the apostles

And this they have exchanged

For charismatic people.

 

Modern day apostles

And future telling prophets

Not necessarily based in the Word

They live to regret.

 

Emphasizing the gifts

While disregarding the Giver

And more or less placing faith

In a charismatic leader.

 

But faith is of no avail

If not placed in the faith

First given to the Bible apostles

That saw Jesus’ face.

 

 

A more-sure word of prophecy

Is how Peter put it,

One’s faith in this faith

Ought to be one’s daily habit.

 

To be like Jesus

This is the the faith to be,

Conformed to the image of Christ:

A reflection for all to see.

 

Stewart Russell © May 6, 2024

 

The Old Village Church

 

 

I stopped at the old village church

The signs of old age were in evidence,

I walked in like I always used to

There were only ten in attendance.

 

I recall there used to be more

But then, it was the only church around,

I remember as I reflected

The preaching there was sound.

 

On Sundays they filled the church

It was a date most villagers kept,

But when the new church started up

It was there most regularly met.

 

They love that preacher’s charisma

“O, he is hot,” I heard them say,

“He doesn’t have to use the Bible

It is the modern way.”

 

They learn a lot about prosperity

And how a man can be rich

And with that kind of prospect

 Many villagers made the switch.

 

 

Now the village church is dying

There are only the aging few,

But they come faithfully every Sunday

And still preach the biblical view.

 

They are referred to as being dead

And too old fashion in their ways,

All that old time Bible stuff

Is not good enough for these days.

 

Like the church at Philadelphia

So too, this old village church,

The numbers may be small unlike others

But they were surely not in the lurch.

 

They were founded on the Rock

Though they appeared of little strength,

Satan in trying to destroy them

Had gone to great lengths.

 

The other church is like Laodicea:

That grew by leaps and bounds,

Yet they are poor, blind and naked

And no sound doctrine can be found.

 

 

As I sat in that old village church

And enjoyed the ministry of the word,

I could not help but contemplate

On those that were so absurd.

 

They left the genuine substance

And went chasing after the shadow,

Right there at that new church

There is nothing else but show.

 

I am not putting down big churches

Just what this one is offering,

And while some appear well off

Most of them are suffering.

 

Here is an open invitation

To return to the old village church

Where there is sound doctrine and ministry

That leaves no one in the lurch.

 

Stewart Russell © September 2019