I'm a Believer

I like to believe that I am a believer in Christ, but there are some signs believers are supposed to be able to perform that I know I can do.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.' - Mark 16:17-18

When the disciples were told that Jesus was alive after the crucifixion, they didn't believe what they heard.  It was only when they saw him with their own eyes that they became true believers.  It was then that they were able to perform the signs he described.

When we hear of church services where people are casting out demons and handling snakes, we shy away.  Holy Rollers and Fanatics, we call them.  And yet people claim to be cured, merely through acts of faith.

Believe and it shall come to pass, we are told, and yet we doubt.

Sometimes I think we find ourselves caught on the edge.  We want to trust in God but we don't want to throw away all hope of a cure by human actions.

In the end, though, there is a limit to what our knowledge can achieve.  We can extend this physical life just so far and then we have no choice but to put ourselves in God's hands.

Jesus was telling his disciples to go and let people know they could trust in God now.  They don't have to wait until all other options have been tried and failed.

Maybe that's why we have several accounts of Jesus appearing and no one believing.  Mark wants us to know that we will try and fail before coming to reason and truth.

So, whether I trust enough to handle literally snakes or drink poison, or I just deal with the snakes I encounter and drink from the cup I am given, I can rest assured that my faith will uphold me.  In believing, I am saved.

Yet, I do wish sometimes that we would have a good healing session one Sunday.  Perhaps I will have to go check out one of those other churches to see what that's all about.

More to come...