EDITORS NOTE: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday a topic is printed inviting a response. Due to space limitations, submissions are edited.
EDITORS NOTE: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday a topic is printed inviting a response. Due to space limitations, submissions are edited. Thoughts or suggestions for future topics are always welcome. Next week’s subject is on honor. The topic at the end of the column is for the following week.
The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Koloa
Faith is not passive or blind belief. Faith must include action and deeds. The Baha’i writings state: “There are three kinds of Faith. First that which is from tradition and birth. For example a child born of Muhammadan parents, he is a Muhammadan. This faith is weak traditional faith. Second, that which comes from knowledge, and is the faith of understanding. This is good, but there is a better, the faith of practice. This is real faith.” The Baha’i define faith as the “fewness of words and an abundance of deeds.”
Faith is also not blind acceptance. It first involves an ardent desire and untiring effort to search for God. Faith, when acquired, involves deep devotion and brings confidence and assurance to the believer. A quote from the Baha’i writings states: “Only when the lamp of search, of earnest striving, of longing desire, of passionate devotion, of fervid love, of rapture, and ecstasy, is kindled within the seeker’s heart, and the breeze of His loving-kindness is wafted upon his soul, will the darkness of error be dispelled, the mists of doubts and misgivings be dissipated, and the lights of knowledge and certitude envelop his being.”
A sign of man’s faith in God is to surrender his free will to the will of God. Obedience then becomes the foundation of all actions. This is expounded upon: “Blessed is the man that hath acknowledged his belief in God and in His signs, and recognized that “He shall not be asked of His doings.” Such a recognition hath been made by God the ornament of every belief, and its very foundation.”
And finally, faith is not reserved for a few. God’s mercy has endowed each with the capacity and privilege to live under the umbrella of faith and certitude. “He hath endowed every soul with the capacity to recognize the signs of God. How could He, otherwise, have fulfilled His testimony unto men, if ye be of them that ponder His Cause in their hearts. He will never deal unjustly with any one, neither will He task a soul beyond its power. He, verily, is the compassionate, the all-merciful.”
Rebecca DeRoos
Science of Mind Practitioner
Faith goes beyond belief — a belief without need of proof. Spirituality is a confidence in a higher power. Faith is a knowing that all I ever wanted and believed I deserve would happen because God loves me so much. Any touch of doubt would, of course, negate any of my desires, because God would know I simply haven’t made up my mind or that my faith is not strong enough to believe I deserve this thing to happen.
Having faith in ourselves and what we can accomplish can override many dilemmas. Sometimes without stopping to look at the roadblocks and continuing with incredible faith, one can accomplish so much. Many times I’ve made moves from one state to another. Observers would say I did it blindly. I would say I’ve done it with my eyes wide open, leaving that which I don’t need behind me. It’s a freeing feeling to have this kind of faith that all will be all right and I will be taken care of.
Sometimes thinking too much can get in our way. Having faith can be a tremendous release. It all begins with faith in a higher power who loves to smile and loves to love.
Wendy Winegar
North Shore Christian Science
Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science, opens her denominational textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” with this statement regarding prayer and faith: “The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God, — a spiritual understanding of Him, an un-selfed love.”
Eddy defines the spiritual understanding of God in the “Glossary of Science and Health,” which also includes the spiritual signification of many Biblical terms:
“God. The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; principle; mind; soul; spirit; life; truth; love; all substance; intelligence.”
This understanding of God, which Jesus both embodied and demonstrated, includes no evil; would never send sickness; creates no accidents, nor inherited or contagious diseases. Acknowledging through prayer this true spiritual nature of the only cause and creator of the universe, and identifying oneself as God’s wholly spiritual offspring, not as material, but rather made up of the qualities of God as His image and likeness, lets in the Christ spirit and brings peace and healing.
When my husband was first introduced to Christian Science he had been struggling with a painful ganglion on his hand. When his medical appointment to have it surgically removed fell through, he decided to rely on Christian Science for healing. As he read the Bible and “Science and Health” he learned that Christian Science healing does not involve blind faith or positive thinking. Instead it involves a way of life lived through the lens of spirituality. As he grew in his understanding of God and his relationship to Him, un-selfing his will in favor of God’s perfect will for him, he acknowledged the healing Christ in the entirety of his life. The growth disappeared, thus increasing his faith in God’s all-loving healing power.
“Science and Health” can be read online at spirituality.com.
Topic for two weeks
from today:
• Will you speak to us on
government?
• Spiritual leaders are invited to e-mail responses of three to five paragraphs to pwoolway@kauaipubco.com
• Deadline each week is
Tuesday, by 5 p.m.
