Growing in Faith

"Growing In Faith" is a collection of messages initially presented on the podcast "Trusting God Today." In 2015, my daughter and son-in-law encouraged me to create a podcast focused on topics that would help new Christians understand and grow in their faith. I chose the theme of "Faith" primarily because much of the teaching coming from the church at that time emphasized how faith can compel God to fulfill our desires. This teaching often aligns with the prosperity doctrine that has influenced the American church for over 50 years.

The "Prosperity Gospel" distorts the concept of faith, positioning it as a means to an end within the church. The idea proposed is that to receive anything from God, one must have faith, and if something is not received, it indicates a need for more faith. This pursuit of greater faith often leads individuals to purchase books, tapes, and attend conferences that claim to teach techniques for activating God's response to their requests.

Such faith teachings distort the Gospel of Christ and mislead the body of believers by placing God in a subordinate role to the church. In this perspective, God is likened to a genie in the Bible who grants wishes if one demonstrates sufficient faith.
However, faith should not be viewed as a tool to manipulate God into supporting our personal agendas. Instead, it is a biblical characteristic instilled in the unsaved by the Holy Spirit, allowing us to hear God and accept His offer of salvation, which leads to a lifestyle of trusting Him. The Bible teaches that faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of God. Faith represents God's investment in the chosen, launching them on a pathway of holy and righteous living.