When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5)
Relationships are built on trust. When I say I will do something and do not do it, it erodes trust. When I tell the truth, even if embarrassing, it builds trust. In the days of COVID-19, the need for trust has become even more clear.
Christianity is all about trust, trust in God’s promises and trust in each other. The word “faith” in the Bible is usually best understood as “trust,” not a “system of beliefs.” For example, in the passage above, some friends have carried a paralyzed man to Jesus, making a hole in the roof to lower the man into the crowded house. This is trusting that Jesus will heal their friend. We could translate this passage, “When Jesus saw their trust…”
God is trustworthy. God keeps promises. When God said a Messiah would come to save, God kept his word and Jesus came. God tells us the truth, even when we don’t want to hear it. Prophets such as Isaiah and Amos told kings that they were selfish and corrupt, and the ordinary people who were suffering trusted God more because the prophets spoke the truth, even when uncomfortable. Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matt 18:20). When we gather online Jesus is present because he promised, and we trust him.
There seems to be an epidemic of mistrust going around the world that should concern every Christ-follower. We are suspicious of leaders and their motivations. We doubt experts and scientists because we wonder if they have a hidden agenda. This mistrust is based on some unfortunately good evidence: people in power have tried to manipulate the public towards their own self-interest before. We could blame Nixon and Watergate, but I suspect it only brought into the light misuse of power that does happen. Journalists are questioned because a few have distorted the facts, for example, Jayson Blair infamously fabricated dozens of articles in 2003. Scientists are doubted when it is shown they ignored data that questioned their findings. Elizabeth Holmes founded Theranos promising blood tests with only a finger prick, only to be shown in 2018 to have lying to raise money. If people mistrust leaders and experts, it is not without cause.
But to claim that all leaders and all experts are suspect is to exaggerate the evidence and to encourage a lie that undermines the social trust that makes a healthy society. People profit from mistrust by amplifying the few misdeeds on social media. When someone clicks on or watches a scandalous story, many times that means money for the person who posted it (it’s called “click-bait” because it’s trying to fish for people to click). The subtle result is that people trust less and less. As Christ-followers who understand that love of God and love of neighbor means trust of God and trust of neighbor, we are called to live differently. First, we are called to be people of trust: we speak the truth, even if we don’t like it. We do what we say we will do. When Christians are leaders and experts, we build trust in government, business, and science by telling the truth, keeping our word, and apologizing when we fail.
Second, we extend trust to a person unless we have specific evidence not to. The Eighth Commandment (“You Shall Not Bear False Witness”) means we explain each other’s actions in the most charitable way. This means dealing with each person as an individual and not mistrusting them because of other people’s failures. This is not blind trust, but loving neighbor as a default.
Third, we help others put the misdeeds of a few in perspective. Nixon does not represent every government leader. Most are trying to serve all people and not just their narrow interests. We need to encourage integrity and trust by focusing on the honorable service of many leaders. Likewise, Jayson Blair and Elizabeth Holmes do not reflect journalism and scientists, the vast majority of whom are trustworthy.
Fourth, we minimize the payoff for those who want to gain money or power by mistrust. When you see something scandalous, ask God’s help in resisting clicking on it or looking at it. Turn off the TV if it is making you skeptical of a whole group of people rather than an individual. Look at a website that puts issues in broad perspective rather than one that only wants to get people upset. If we stop giving incentive for spreading mistrust, it will wither away.
Fifth, we forgive and encourage repentance. Jesus died and was risen so we would die to sin and live a new life. That goes for everyone—you and I included. God does not define us by our weakest moment, but by our trust in his forgiveness and the power to be different in Christ.
Trusting God and you,
Pastor Peter
