Simple Faith

Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil despite God’s prohibition. Did we learn from their misdeed?

Christians continue to want to know “everything”. We expect God to treat us as equals and explain everything to us. When we are called to trust, we question. When we are called to accept His will, we stray in another direction.

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
– Matthew 18:3

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
– Mark 10:15

We are called to be “like children” in our trust of God.

Instead of spending our time debating the nuances of theology, let us adopt a childlike mindset and accept simple instruction found in the Holy Bible.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.
– Isaiah 55:8-9 (NASB95)

An Example
Let’s consider Jesus’ 1,000 year reign on earth as described in Revelations 20.

Concepts for His 1,000 year reign include:

• historic premillennialism
• dispensational premillennialism
• amillennialism
• postmillennialism
• preterism

Which is the correct theory? Does it matter?

As Christians, should we determine how we act based on the theory we support? Should something we cannot know occupy our time when those things we can know are ignored?

As another example, let us consider the second coming of Jesus. More than a few Christians spend a great deal of time trying to predict the second coming, yet Scripture makes it very clear we cannot know.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”- Matthew 24;36-37 (NASB95)

No matter the timing, we are called to “keep watch” and to “be ready”.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
– Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV)

The message? Be prepared for Jesus’ return at every moment of every day.

Why do so many waste time trying to understand the unknowable, when we have so much Scripture that is “knowable”?

Our Position
At Exchanged Church, we focus on the known and reserve discussions about what is unknowable for our spare time.

Let us be clear, healthy discussions about the unknowables can lead us to a better understanding of Scripture and the nature of God. But once discussion and seeking of knowledge leads to disagreement, division, and anger, it is no longer productive.

At Exchanged Church, we choose to trust what God has shown us. We focus on the things that are clear in Scripture.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.

– Proverbs 3:5 (NASB95)

A singular focus on “knowables” led us to create the notion of “Simple Faith”.

• Faith focused on doing what the Bible tells us to do
• Faith that requires no debate
• Faith that is simple to understand, if challenging to live

Below is a list of instruction for followers of Jesus Christ.