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 The
early Greeks and Romans believed in heavenly powers — some
even claim they originally believed in one “God.” But in
later years the concept degenerated. Philosophers gave lip
service to the gods, but clearly indicated a lack of faith in
them. Drama and poetry depicted ridiculous “supermen” gods,
with passions, unfaithful marriages and buffoonery. “God
respect became more political than religious, as temples became
symbols of national glory rather than marks of genuine respect
for deity.
In
such a clime a believer was a throw-back to the dark ages. When
Paul declared the true God to be Spirit, Creator, Absolute, with
power over death; “some mocked” (Acts 17:). A true Believer
faces mockery any ridicule today, for much the same reason.
The
Jews believed in God, but had a distorted and materialistic
concept of the awaited Messiah. With Solomon and David as their
ideals of greatness, they had come to expect wealth and military
power of a Savior. Even Nathaniel had asked, “Can there any
good thing come out of Nazareth?” The officers who were
impressed by Jesus’ words (Jn. 7:45-f) were asked, “Have any
of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?” (Implying,
“No Big-Shots would accept him.”) To further intimidate they
added, “But this people who knoweth not the law (are not
learned theologians), are cursed.” A Believer, then and now,
is often classed with the ignorant.
But
perhaps the hardest obstacle to faith in Jesus Christ was, and
is, the denial of
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self — the admission of sin, and need for
salvation. The Jerusalem Jews did not lack evidence (2:22), they
lacked the will to believe. Peter offered no compromise. “God...
hath glorified… Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in
the presence of Pilate,.. and desired a murderer… and killed
the Prince of life.” If they were to accept Jesus as the
Christ they must acknowledge their awful deeds. In a broader
view, since He died for all sins, in accepting Jesus as my
redeemer I also acknowledge that I am lost and undone without
Him. Pride could keep me from believing.
We
must recognize, therefore, that “Believer” is a noble
designation indeed, and should not be carelessly applied. It was
used by inspiration to denote the saints of God. “All that
believed were together,” “them that believed were of one
heart and of one soul,” “Believers were the more added to
the Lord” (Acts 2:44; 4:32; 5:14).
Today’s
believer must live above the ridicule of atheists who regard his
faith as “superstition of the unlearned.” He must not be
taken in by the theists who would make “God” an impersonal
power only, without “word” or authority for final judgment.
He stands out sharply against modernists who make God “identical
with revelation” subjectively determined; who therefore make
man the source of God. He is no kin of the existentialists and
their vague “leap of faith” in blind despair. His is a
confident acceptance of evidence. He is taught, he learns, and
he comes to God (Jn. 6:45). He is the most noble example of God’s
creatures, made in His image.
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