Faith is not a work and never has been. Any time I say this, most Christians agree. ?Of course Faith isn?t a work! Don?t be ridiculous.? And although no one admits it, when I stand on the sideline of yet-another-Calvinist-Arminian debate, both sides are arguing that faith is a work.
Arminians argue that man is capable of enacting saving faith and Calvinists deny the claim saying that salvation is solely the work of God.
Even in the theological definitions we get those wild-eyed accusations.
Monergism: basically means the work of one party?although theologians will debate a lot of other additions to my narrow definition. You can say this is an ?ism attributed to monergy but: “In theol., The doctrine that the Holy Spirit is the only efficient agent in regeneration – that the human will possesses no inclination to holiness until regenerated, and therefore cannot cooperate in regeneration.”
Synergism: broadly : combined action or operation Etymology: synergismus, from Greek synergos: interaction of discrete agencies (as industrial firms), agents (as drugs), or conditions such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects. Making this an ?ism of synergy.
Faith has a dynamic aspect?in that it results in good works or active obedience. Faith is not something you do nor is it something God does. Basically faith is a noun with a root meaning of trust. When someone is faithful it basically means that they are trustworthy.
When we say ?God is faithful? we?re saying that He has proven in the past and repeated consistency that He is trustworthy?in common language, you can bank on Him! When we say that a man has faith in God it?s not that the man did something out of his league it?s that God proved Himself trustworthy and that man can trust Him.
Folks my disagree with me on this but I personally think some of these terms should drop out of theological debates. The terms ?monergism? and ?synergism? are a theological straw-man. ?You?re preaching synergism! That you?re saved by works! That?s another gospel! Anathema! Here?s the proof!? or ?Men can work faith! God enables them with a piece of grace! Blasphemer!? Absurd.
We should keep our definitions at what the Bible says: We are saved by Grace?an active work that is done solely by God and by what His Son did on the cross of Calvary. This grace was an act rooted in the mercy and loving-kindness of God. Access to this is offered to whosoever trusts God who has proved Himself faithful.
-r-
Ref: Any Dictionary This Article?which is part of my problem Deut 12:7; Ps 111:7; 1 John 1:9; Hebrews 11; Romans 4; Eph 2:1-8; 2 Cor 1:18-22; 2The 3:3
Let the angry mail flow. Maybe I’ll get that award for Most Likely to Be Accused of Heresy yet!