What does it mean to trust in God? What does it mean take action? Are these two concepts opposed to each other? If one does good works in faith (takes action) does it mean that trust in God is lacking?
Trusting in God
Trusting in God is believing in Him and His promises.[1] When we trust in God we hold fast to His Word, cherish his Word, and preserve a right understanding of the Gospel and the Sacraments.[2] Threats to the pure doctrines of His Word are detected by alert watchmen who sound the trumpets[3] when danger approaches to call for the protection and defense[4] of the sheepfold.
“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
(Titus 1:9)
The dictionary[5] definitions of the words trust and faith[6] indicates similar meanings and their usage as synonyms. Therefore, when we say that we trust in God it means the same as having faith in God and believing in Him.
Acting in Faith
Acting in faith is doing those works that benefit our neighbors.[7] When we act in faith we do His will, not to justify ourselves before God but rather to do what is well pleasing to Him.[8] Doing works outside of faith is sinful,[9] doing works within faith[10] is the necessary[11] fruit of the Spirit.[12] Faith alone by grace alone saves, but faith is never alone.[13] Through the Spirit, believer’s lives are busy and active in works of faith.[14]
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
(Ephesians 2:10)
Believers throughout history acted in faith while trusting in God:
Noah acted in faith to build the Ark while trusting that God that would keep his family and the land animals safe.
The Prophets and the Apostles acted in faith to write the Holy Scriptures while trusting that God (through the Spirit) provided the words.[15]
Apostle Paul acted in faith to correct the erring congregations[16] while trusting that God was the true provider.[17]
Athanasius acted in faith to oppose the entire Church while trusting that God would cleanse it of the Arian heresy.[18]
Martin Luther acted in faith (and used the printing press) to identify and attempt to correct the errors of Rome while trusting in God’s Word as the rule and norm of faith and pure doctrine.
Mikael Agricola acted in faith to study under Luther and translate the New Testament into the Finnish language, trusting that God’s Word (when provided in the current language of the people) would save many.
Lars Levi Laestadius acted in faith to support the temperance movement[19] in Lapland while trusting that God (through His Word of Law and Gospel)[20] would sober-up the Sami and Finnish people and bring them to repentance.
And there are so many more examples enumerated in Hebrews 11.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
(1 Corinthians 10:31)
All believers, as instruments of God, act in faith daily while yet trusting in God’s promises![21]
“[Present] yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.”
(Romans 6:13b)
Acting in Faith while Trusting in God
What is the relationship between trusting in God and acting in faith within that trust? The examples above illustrate that the concepts of acting in faith and trusting in God are not opposing concepts, but indeed are complementary concepts that are inexorably linked! One can not act in faith without trusting God. One can not trust God without acting in faith according to His Word.[11] To assert that pursuing good works (in faith) demonstrates a lack of trust in God is shear folly, if not outright heretical!
Do any of us take credit for ourselves for our acts of faith while trusting in Him? Absolutely not:
“We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”
(Luke 17:10b)
It is the duty of every believer[22]—through faith and trust in God—to reprove, correct, and instruct those in error (2 Timothy 3:16-17) even (or especially!) when they are found to be pervasive within the Church.
If you found widespread errors within the Church,[23] what would you do about them? Would you passively ignore them, or would you take action and inform Church leadership? When you find problems with your furnace[24] do you remain passive and trust that God will fix it? Or do you act with trust that God will fix it through contacting an HVAC technician? Should problems within the Church be handled any differently? One can not act in faith without trusting God! Please reply and let me know the proper course of action in cases like this.
[1] 1 John 2:25, Romans 6:23, 2 Peter 1:4, Philippians 4:19, Deuteronomy 31:8, Isaiah 40:29-31, Romans 8:37-39, Et al.
[2] Himes, Harold W. (1919-1999). A Catechism According to God’s Word. Anonymously published and used by the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Congregations of North America. (Citation detail verification needed.) Augsburg Confession, Article VII. See also the English translation of the original Latin version: Augsburg Confession, Article VII:1.
[3] Isaiah 21:6, Ezekiel 33:6, Jude 17-19, 1 Corinthians 11:19.
[4] 1 Peter 3:15, 2 Corinthians 10:5-6, 2 Timothy 4:2-4, 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
[5] The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.
[6] See also: Hebrews 11:1.
[7] Matthew 22:39, 1 Corinthians 10:24, Philippians 2:3, Romans 15:2, Galatians 6:10, Himes, The Ten Commandments; The Fifth Commandment.
[8] “Thus we have the Ten Commandments, a compend of divine doctrine, as to what we are to do in order that our whole life may be pleasing to God, and the true fountain and channel from and in which everything must arise and flow that is to be a good work, so that outside of the Ten Commandments no work or thing can be good or pleasing to God, however great or precious it be in the eyes of the world.” (Martin Luther, The Large Catechism: The Ten Commandments, Conclusion of the Ten Commandments.) See also: Himes, The Ten Commandments: God’s Word Concerning All These Commandments.
[9] Hebrews 11:6, Romans 14:23b
[10] Himes, Augsburg Confession, Article XX, paragraph 10. See also the English translation of the traditional Latin version: Augsburg Confession, Article XX:27-31.
[11] James 2:17
[12] Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 7:16, Ephesians 5:9.
[13] “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10), “Idle faith is not justifying faith.” (Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians 5:6, 1535.)
[14] Dr. Martin Luther, Preface to St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, 1522.
[15] 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21
[16] Galatians 3:1-3, Galatians 2:11-13, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 1 Corinthians 11:19, 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 2 Corinthians 11:3-5
[17] 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
[18] See article post: Athanasius Contra Mundum
[19] Lohi, Seppo (2019). Christianity of the Heart: Lars Levi Laestadius and the beginning phases of the Laestadian Revival. Loretto, Minnesota: Published by the Laestadian Lutheran Church (279 N. Medina Street, Suite 150, Loretto, MN 55357). ISBN: 978-1-7328008-2-3 p. 80.
[20] Ibid., 129.
[21] A word of caution: Before you act in faith, make sure that you trust your actions are first supported by the pure doctrines of God’s Word! Otherwise, you may be acting for the destroyer!
[22] Ezekiel 33:6, 1 Timothy 4:16
[23] Minneapolis Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church (M.I.A.L.C.) at Dayton, Minnesota.
[24] In the winter of 2019-2020, a furnace at the Church[23] failed. What did the chairman do about it? Did he do nothing and simply trust in God that it would be repaired without any action? Or did he act and arrange for trusted HVAC experts to make the needed repairs? (I was not privy to the furnace repairs, so I am taking a leap in faith that repairs were made by qualified personnel. If indeed repairs were made via divine intervention please let me know!)