Question 11 – Why take faith so seriously?
Or what about fanaticism and fanatical belief?
"You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe —and shudder!" James 2:19
We could quite simply answer the entire question with this verse and move on. I believe that this biblical message speaks volumes. Spiritual beings who have rebelled against God not only believe in Him but also know Him well. In some sense, they possess a much greater understanding of God than we can imagine. And do you think it benefits them in any way?
What is then is the relationship between my faith and my life—how I live, how I approach my life, health, relationships, wife, children, and finances? Perhaps the majority of Czechs who consider themselves believers belong to the group that regards faith only as a mental acknowledgment of God's existence. Yet this acknowledgment has practically no impact on their lives. They separate faith from the life they live. And if someone wants to be truly integrated with their faith and live by it in their daily life, they are often labeled a fanatic and are told that they take faith too far. I sincerely believe that this attitude stems from ignorance of the true essence of faith—who God is, what He has done for us, and His plan for our lives. If people knew God personally, it surely would not leave them indifferent.
The Bible clearly and explicitly demonstrates that faith is not merely a Sunday affair, where we occasionally attend a service, pray, and then return to our own world, keeping God outside. This modern trend, which is miles apart from true biblical faith, can also be illustrated by this well-known parable:
"A daring tightrope walker stretches a rope over Niagara Falls and crosses back and forth before amazed spectators, receiving great applause. He then crosses again with a barrel before him, earning more applause. When he asks if they believe he can do it again, they all confidently respond, 'Yes, we believe.' Then he asks, 'Do you believe I can cross to the other side with someone in this barrel?' Again, they echo, 'Yes, you can, we believe.' The tightrope walker then responds, 'Alright, who will volunteer?' Thenall fall silent..."
This parable illustrates a faith that does not manifest in our lives. If we merely acknowledge God's existence mentally without it affecting our lives, of what use is such faith? If I believe a car can take me to the airport on time but never get in, I will miss the plane. If I stand in front of an elevator and say, "I believe this elevator will take me up," but do not step inside, my faith is in vain—I remain on the ground floor. The Bible expresses this as follows (James 2:17, 20):
"Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." and a little further on, "Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?"
Why is it so?
As we have discussed regarding the car or elevator, we could continue with countless other examples. If I believe a university near my home can secure me a degree, then I must enter, enroll, study, and take exams. If I merely stand at its gates, I will not achieve the degree. These simple examples illustrate the reality that the statement, "Believing in God is fine, but there's no need to overdo it," is a logical contradiction. It's like saying, "Water? Yes, it's essential for life, but there's no need to drink it." Such a statement might be valid if God were unconcerned with humanity and had no plans for us.
However, if He desires a relationship with us, it makes as much sense as a loving mother longing for her child but being granted only one day a week with her and told: "You don't need to overdo it with the child; a photo on the wall and an occasional meeting will suffice."
Biblical faith has a much greater and deeper dimension than just believing that God exists. It goes far beyond that and is nothing less than a child's trust in who God is, in what He has done for us, and the reality that we can entrust every aspect of our lives to Him—figuratively speaking, handing over the reins of our lives to Him. I am not suggesting we engage in countless absurd deeds, rituals, or activities that would be insincere. Some may fear they will never have the strength to live a good life. Let me reassure you—no one has that strength! Do not engage in empty deeds! However, I am convinced that if God allows you to know Him personally, and you experience even a fraction of His love, power, and holiness, it will naturally begin to transform you, and these actions will merely be the natural outcome of your knowledge. Your faith will be alive.
God desires that we invite Him into our daily lives. To live our entire lives under the influence of His word, His will, His principles. So many people today play a hypocritical game, donning a pious and loving mask among believers, only to remove it as they step outside the church, and then cheat, steal, lie, hate, exploit...
Dear reader, with all due respect, if you wish to believe in God, then you must get into the car, you must get on the elevator, you must begin your studies at the university, and you must step into our metaphorical barrel. If you do not, your faith is futile, dead, and it would be better not to believe at all, for you may disgrace those who are earnest with God.
Summation
If God exists, the statement is as meaningful as saying, "Breathing? Yes, but there's no need to overdo it." If we are created for a relationship with God, a "halfhearted" approach to faith is absurd. Sadly, many people do not realize this at all.