Is Stepping out in Faith Biblical?

May 4, 2004

Personal Narrations

Joel Akin

Calgary, Alberta

This past week I've had several people ask me if I have stepped out in faith. To be honest I myself had talked about just this week in a letter to a friend but for some reason I have not felt comfortable with it but haven't known what to do.

Though the phrase stepping out in faith is not in the Bible there is a reason so many Christians use it. That would be Peter in the boat. The only difference is that Christians have built an entire philosophy around stepping out. It is the catch-phrase for "Have you taken your answer yet." In other words are you strong enough to receive your answer or are you still living in fear.

But if this philosophy is based solely on Peter and the boat then we must then ask ourselves this question. What were the elements at that time?

1. Peter and the disciples were in the boat

2. There was a storm taking place

3. Jesus was walking by

4. Peter wanted to join him

5. Jesus bid him come

6. Peter sank when he took his eyes away from Christ

7. Jesus saved him saying "Where is your faith..."

Now each of those basic elements must follow each other but we have ended up bypassing the most essential ones of all. Sure we are all in this boat together and may be in this storm or in a storm. So the supposed strong in faith person steps out of the boat 'in faith' and generally sinks. But we don't celebrate the failures we celebrate the successes.

So what are we leaving out? The most critical part of the entire venture. "Jesus BID Me come."

Frankly I don't hear Christians even mentioning that anymore and have totally ignored that part of the philosophy. They have gone from being in the storm, then stepping out in faith whenever their emotions get enough courage to do so.

Yet as I study the scriptures one things continually stands out above this 'stepping out' teaching. That is the hand of God moves, God speaks and Gods men move. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. A soldier does not change orders when he is in battle or step out by faith to fight when he is not ordered to do so. Yet because so few can actually hear God anymore we have created a new philosophy that bypasses God. Instead we have the Bible. Now listen before you think I'm off base. The Bible is critical to our walk of faith. But you can read it anywhere and anyhow you want, picking and choosing what you like and rejecting the rest. And in addition an atheist can do the same. I know cause I had an atheist friend who loved to read the Bible. He was in his 80's and would use it as ammunition against a woman who would come and argue with him for hours about the scripture. He definitely was not being guided by the Holy Spirit but he was able to pick and chose from the Bible information that helped him in his attacks.

So what makes the difference? The Holy Spirit leading and guiding us. But just because we are lead to a scripture on healing doesn't mean I am being told to name it, claim it and step out now.

After all put that statement to Job or put it to Joseph or Moses or others. Each one stepping out without waiting for God to open doors.

Now this stepping out is not based on someone who already has a ministry, a calling and knows what they have to do. No, this refers to the one who is still locked up tight in the boat, the one who is on a journey, the one who is waiting for Christ to bid them step out of the boat. Not the presumption we show because we are tired of waiting for God to speak. That is more along the lines of Saul who ended up in witchcraft because he refused to wait for the Prophet to show up.