Hindrances To Faith: The Low State Of Faith In Those Around Us

3. Another hindrance to faith is the low state of faith in those around us, and especially the unbelief of those occupying high places in the visible Church.

In the days of Jesus it was asked, " Have any of the rulers believed on Him?"

The great mass of nominal Christians are in such an infantile state of grace, as to lack the independence to launch out boldly and alone, and trust God radically and bravely, in spite of the coldness and half-heartedness of those in religious authority over them.

How often it occurs in every age, that those who are set to guide the affairs of the Church, and its education and economy, have no warm, living faith in God, beyond a gross rationalistic faith in their ecclesiastical system, who, like Bonaparte, put their faith on the side of the heaviest battalions.

It is a historical fact that faith kindles faith, fervent holiness inspires others to pursue it.

Saints multiply in great revivals of religion. In the world of letters, great authors rise in clusters, the same thing is true of inventors, and there have been epochs in Church history where saints rose in constellations.

We need to be incited by those of faith, but let us beware of toning down our trust to the level of the half believers and doubters that swarm around us.

~G. D. Watson~