Increasing Faith

The other day I was speaking with my Dad. It would not be an overstatement, nor do I believe would he be offended, to say he is an “unbeliever”. He and my Mom raised me and my brothers in a loving reform Jewish home. And even though he sent us to religious school and had us participate in the traditional Jewish rite of passage, the Bar Mitzvah, he never made any claims of faith himself. 

Recently he has had occasion to read some of the posts we have been sending you over the years. Now remember, as my father, he had watched me go through all the machinations of my years in evangelical religion. And he also is quite aware that I have “come out from amongst them”. 

After reading some of my current thoughts on Christ, redemption, heaven, hell, etc. he made an interesting observation. He said, “It seems like you are every bit as into Jesus as you ever were.” My answer to him was, “more so”.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what the true gospel does to one’s heart regarding the Author of this good news. Knowing that God’s grace, His unconditional acceptance, has been extended to ALL humanity makes my adoration towards Him soar higher each time I think of it.

Perhaps because every other word out of my mouth is not laced with religious zealotry and euphemisms any more, my Dad thought I did not “believe” as much as I used to. I don’t know. But I do know this more confidently now than ever. All people are loved by God, forgiven by God, and have been made righteous by God. I like to keep this, as the Bible says, as frontlets before my eyes. This is what I call meditation, prayer, and worship. If anything, my faith has increased. Back in the day, we thought increasing faith would produce more “souls”, prosperity, miracles, and a lack of, or at least victory over, life’s challenges. Well, as we found out, nothing could be further from the truth. 

Now increasing faith produces a more profound sense of God’s love for all and for our ultimate destination together as one body in Him. 

Loving life 24/7,
Glenn Klein