SUBSTANCE AND EVIDENCE

    The King James Version of the Bible speaks about Faith by saying,

• "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

    The New International Version translates that same verse -

• "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

    One can break this topic of faith down by having a question and answer session with this verse.

    What do we "hope for"? God's promises for our lives to be fulfilled.

    How are God's promises connected to our faith? The tangible, track record of God or God's faithfulness is the "substance" of faith. Having these two in tandem - God's track record of faithfulness in our lives and His future promises is the first half of Faith.

    The second half of Faith is very similar to the first - "the evidence of things not seen". What are the "things not seen"? Now-a-days, the occurrence is rare that we see angels, but many times we hear and read of the results of the miraculous intervention by someone who vanishes later or a literal supernatural being. 

    Another thing not seen is the Holy Appointment and arrangement for any one of us to meet who God wants us to meet. For those undecided on Christ, God moves in His mysterious ways, unseen, to finally work a conversation between that person and a believer into their life. Then a possible invitation to church. Then a possible invitation to know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Then a possible acceptance and beginning of their own Christian Journey. 

    The start, the courting of the heart and mind, and the result are best seen when we look back and observe God's dealings. But sometimes if we are aware enough and pay attention to God's leading, not only for an unsaved soul, then we might see as it happens, the proofs, "the evidence of things not seen".

    This is faith, to realize our faithfulness is trash and attempt to do better every day, but know that His faithfulness is tangible as we walk with Him. His track record with us is the core to trusting Him with the future promises He has made to us in His Word. In addition, if we have our spiritual antennae up and attentive, we may gain a glimpse of the behind the scenes workings of God as He gives us proofs or evidences of "things not seen". 

PRACTITIONERS OF CONFIDENTIALITY

 

One of the problems this world has and Christianity has that can be remedied immediately is the lack of Confidentiality. Anybody can observe this issue in relationships of friends, family, the government, but dare I say - The Church.

I would like to strongly recommend to Christians who regularly pray that you NOT mention another person in prayer concerning a Confidential matter. Some churches and Christians use prayer groups and "Prayer Requests" as a Gossip Line within the community. This has potential for emotional and relational damage, especially if someone uses private information as a personal advantage. 

Many times the stigma of just having a "Major Concern" can return to the person with the problem because a believer shared an "unspoken need" of another. Again, I would strongly encourage you NOT to do this because this is just as bad, at least in my book, as violating an agreed upon Keep of Confidentiality. 

Stop the potential damage to relationship and damage to the person with the issue, by not sharing personal, private, confidential or what would probably be deemed confidential information. Keep it to yourself and God. Allow the person with the issue to share if they see fit.

My personal rule that I have lived by since youth and suggest to you today is - unless told otherwise, keep every public or private  conversation and their information - Confidential. This avoids a lot of headaches, stress, strife and trouble.

Scripture has the following to say about it - 

• Proverbs 11:13 - "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret."
• Proverbs 25:9 - "If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another's confidence."
• Proverbs 17:9 - "Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends."

The lesson we should learn is how to be better Trustworthy people. To the persons who have the issue, they need somebody to Confide, hence the word Confidentiality. Their hunt is for that trustworthy person in their life they can entrust with the burden of their issue and no one else. 

The alleged trustworthy individual(s) must then be mature enough to grasp what is being asked of him/her. They have to do an excellent job of not forgetting, slipping-up or purposely violating that trust as Practitioners of Confidentiality.