This week’s big news has been about the continued shakeup at the CDC and how RFK Jr. has continued to put his faith in himself and his limited knowledge instead of trusting science and the medical experts.
After he fired the new head of the CDC, whom he had nominated less than a month ago, many top scientists and staff resigned because of his lack of scientific and medical knowledge and experience.
RFK Jr. has always criticized vaccines and ignored the science by claiming they cause autism. To make matters worse, now the CDC is limiting who will have access to the vaccines and who will pay for them. The situation is a visible lesson about faith and what it really means:
- Truth
- Action
- God’s Word
The CDC is a science-based organization that has protected the health of Americans for nearly 70 years. The doctors and staff are some of the top medical professionals in the entire world.
Unfortunately, the current administration has caused public trust in the CDC and science to decrease or be questioned altogether due to deceptive conspiracy theories that also believe their own understanding and desires more than the science (Proverbs 3:5-6).
For the doubters about vaccines and COVID, I experienced my first bout with COVID-19 this month since I haven’t had any COVID shots this year. I know there are many “Religious” people who claim to “trust God, not science.”
They have forgotten that the Bible is pro-science and medicine (Psalm 19:1; 41:3; 103:3, Ecclesiastes 1:13-17). Lest they forget that one of the original 12 disciples was a doctor and used science and medicine to explain the faith (Luke 4:14-23; 5:31; 8:43, Colossians 4:10-14).
What Is Faith
Regardless of what you believe, we all have faith; we just put it in different places, people, and things. Faith is defined as “Allegiance to duty or a person; complete trust.” Our faith determines our actions and how we live. That is why I have spent the month of August unboxing the connection between our works and our words.
The world puts its faith and hope into temporary happiness and earthly greatness. God’s people are called to be different from this world (Deuteronomy 7:6, Romans 12:2-4, 1 Peter 2:9). We can also trust in the science and medicine He arranged to make things work (Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 11:3).
Faith and science work hand-in-hand; they are not opposites (Psalm 111:2, Romans 1:20). That is why the Bible has a lot to say about faith (Genesis 15:6, Proverbs 3:5-6, Hebrews 11:1-6; 13:25).
Faith and science have a lot in common; both take beliefs and put them to work or action. When I talk to men about biblical faith, I point out that Abram believed God in his head, but that is not how Sarah became pregnant. Abram had to take action on his belief before Sarah could become pregnant. That is how biology and science work together with our faith.
It is true that what we believe affects and determines how we live and what we do (1 Corinthians 13:2, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Ephesians 2:8-10, Philippians 2:12-13, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, 1 Timothy 5:8, Hebrews 11:1-10, James 2:14-26). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about how works and why God’s people do them for the faith.
Ěmûnâ
The ancient world was notorious for its evil ways and works. Working for favor with idols or leaders was a common practice. This was a political and spiritual way to achieve wealth and health in the ancient world.
Ancient science was occult and dangerous; it often deceived and led people away from God instead of towards Him. God called His people out of the darkness to put their faith and hope in Himself (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:7; 17:5).
The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for faith is ĕmûnâ, and it can also mean “Truth, faithfully, steady, or verily,” depending on the context it is used in. God gave His people work to do to help lead the world back to Himself (Leviticus 19:2; 20:26, Exodus 20:13). That is why Judaism emphasizes certain works for God’s people to do as part of their faith:
- Conversion
- Torah study
- Mitzvot
- Observing holidays
- Actions over beliefs
Jesus had a lot to say about faith and works to His followers (Matthew 5:16; 7:21-23). Our Lord declared that our faith will help us do the impossible that science cannot explain (Matthew 17:20, Luke 1:37).
Our Lord reminded His followers that God is glorified by our works (Matthew 5:16, John 15:8). He taught His disciples that their faith in God will allow them to do great things (Luke 17:19; 8:42, John 14:12).
Unfortunately, too many believers place too much emphasis on being great and not enough on following the faith and doing Kingdom work (Isaiah 3:7, Ephesians 2:8-10, 2 Timothy 2:21, Titus 2:14).
Labor Day
This weekend, most Americans are celebrating the Labor Day weekend. Most people spend the holiday relaxing with friends and family and avoiding as much work as possible. Labor Day began in the late 19th century as a way to celebrate the work and contributions of laborers to the great success of America.
God’s people don’t work to be comfortable or to boast like this world. We work for the glory of God and to further His Heavenly Kingdom (1 Corinthians 10:31, Ephesians 4:1-32, James 2:18-23). Our works have a different purpose than this corrupt kingdom because we are supposed to be different from it:
- Humble
- Loving
- Forgiving
- Holy
The American church today is not the church I became part of when I returned to the faith 28 years ago. Instead of us being different from this fallen kingdom, many believers are obsessed with ruling it and are settling for earthly greatness instead of their heavenly calling.
Instead of focusing on serving others, many want God and the church to serve them and their selfish worldly wants. There is a demonic political cult that has a chokehold on the American church. They do the works of their father and this corrupt world, instead of God and the Christian ĕmûnâ!
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