How can we factually discern that our faith must discover its own character? Our faith, we believe, has found itself. Our faith, we believe, is what is. Our faith is, according to our denominational understanding and our interpretation of that understanding, in possession of an acceptable character. But to whom is that character acceptable when it says, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10)?
The psalmist prays a profound prayer. The "me" to be renewed is not the individual themselves, but rather their "heart." This heart to be renewed and cleansed is not the psalmist's physical heart, but the heart of the psalmist's devotional character or conversation. This understanding comes from the verse, "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom" (Psalm 51:6).
According to the scriptures, the heart of our conversation, or the spirit or character of our faith, is to be renewed or cleansed. This call for renewal is not for us personally, but for our devotional conversation. This is why it says, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation" (1 Peter 1:15).
This represents a significant shift in traditional religious thought. We often believe that we, as individuals, are not pleasing to “God” and need some intercessor to become acceptable. However, the Bible plainly states that it is not we, as human beings, who are detestable to “God,” but it is our religious conversation that needs amendment.
It is not we, personally, that must be "holy," but rather our conversation, or how we inwardly and mentally carry our confidence in the living God. According to the Bible, our religious conversation is naturally erroneous because it is a product of the religious world. This theological and theoretical atmosphere is rejected by the one that once said, "I am not of the world" (John 17:16).
Here, "world" does not refer to the literal natural world. This verse from John is not about an individual's supernatural origin. Instead, "world" refers to the religious world, as understood from how it says: "I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing" (John 18:20).
When our religious confidence is born, it is conceived within the religious world according to a particular creed. This creed does not correctly represent the living God's devotional character. We understand this because the scriptures call for the resurrection of our conversation from it, as exemplified in Romans 12:2: "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
The Bible calls for our conversation to personally understand the character of its faith. The character of our devotional confidence cannot be found within the religious world. Finding our faith's character within the religious world would be akin to denying the principle, "Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption" (1 Corinthians 15:50). Since our faith is conceived in an atmosphere of spiritual and religious corruption, a necessary separation from that environment is demanded. This is why it says, "To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God" (Psalm 50:23).
So what does this mean? Does it mean that our conversation should remove its thoughts and feelings from its accustomed experience? Does it mean our faith should experience itself without a pastor, “expert,” or guru? Absolutely, and this has already been foretold: "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16).
We are "blind," not literally, but our conversation is misguided. However, there is a cure. Our conversation, by consenting to experience itself only with the scriptures, may abandon the rebuke: "Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17).
The Bible's primary concern is the condition of our conversation's thoughts and feelings. Its sole intention is the wellbeing of our faith's inward person. Will we allow the Bible's concern to become our own? Will we discover if this concern is true and sincere? Our faith and its conversation need to become aware of their condition. If the Bible expresses displeasure with our natural devotional character, we must exercise humility as we discover our confidence's reason for existing.
Embrace the journey of understanding your faith. Reflect on your devotional character and seek its renewal through the Bible. The true character of your faith lies not in traditional religious constructs but in a sincere, personal relationship with the words reflecting the mind of the living God.