2 Corinthians 5:7 … Waling by Faith (03/04/17)
“We walk by Faith, not by sight.” ~ Paul (2 Corinthians 5:7)
I am frequently called to disagree with Paul, if for no other reason than the vast majority of his theology bears the horrible fruit of division, selfishness, sadness, &/or anger when put into practice …
That having been said, there are a number of verses from Paul’s letters that do indeed bear the Good fruit of Peace &/or Joy – if they are read alone on their own, &/or if they are read through the “lenses” of the all-Loving Way of Christ. And this verse is one of them (with others being Romans 2:1, Romans 2:13-15, Romans 8:5-6, Romans 8:14-16, Romans 12:10, Romans 12:14-21, Romans 13:8-10, Romans 14:4, Romans 14:13-14, Romans 14:19, Romans 14:22, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:17, 1 Corinthians 10:24, 1 Corinthians 13:2, 1 Corinthians 13:8, 1 Corinthians 16:14, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 5:6b, Galatians 5:14, Philippians 2:4-5, Philippians 4:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18, Colossians 2:20 & Colossians 3:12-14).
For it is true indeed (and True in-Deed) that we can only potently walk The Way of Christ when we caringly walk that way in Faith – not at all certain of the rightness of our beliefs, not at all being certain of our fate in the hereafter, not at all certain in the nature of our God, not even at all certain that our God even exists. For real Faith in action has no idea what might come as a result of our Love, and yet Loves anyway – has no idea how our Love might be received by the other, and yet Loves anyway – has no idea how witnesses to our Love will respond thereto, and yet Loves anyway – has no idea whether or not the Love given is even “good” or “right” or “true”, and yet Loves anyway as well.
Admittedly, Paul probably didn’t intend any of this when he spoke of “faith” (see Romans 4:1-5, Romans 5:1-2, Galatians 3:22 et al), just as it is almost certain that Jesus most certainly did (see Matthew 13:1-30& John 13:15-17 & Matthew 7:21-24 & Matthew 24:12-14 & Thomas 12 + James 2:14-26 et al). And yet the basic Truth of this verse shines past Paul’s delusions regardless, for when it is put into practice purely, it always bears Good Fruit (see Matthew 7:15-20) – when it doesn’t, it doesn’t.
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