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Faith: A Covenantal WordThe following Article written in 2008 by Dr. Delmer Robinson asks us to re-think our understanding of the word “faith”. For thousands of years, humankind has struggled to go beyond the surface value of life to one of deeper spirituality that is of dynamic and active participation. Based on ones self-revelation, ones Faith should give solace and insight in ones relationship with God and life; especially in these stressful times, it is our Faith or Knowing that should bring us the peace that transcends all boundaries into Unity.We hope you enjoy the following Article! – Dr. D. Rousseau FAITH: A Covenantal Word (For Believers Only?) by Archbishop Delmer T. Robinson Prologue: We are most fortunate that our Creator saw fit to supply us with two ears, two eyes and a brain of complexities that would permit us to hear, see, and to mull over that which concerns us most – namely; clarity of thought, word, and actions. I found myself very much engrossed mentally in my wanting to offer you a plan whereby academic study and research might offer novitiate pastors, religious educators, chaplains and counselors alike an opportunity to receive the foundations of their respective avocations via the classroom and experiences. So engrossed mind you, that I was jolted out of my dream when asked to define faith and interfaith as intended to utilize the noun faith, and the adjective interfaith. Finally; spirituality is the most trusted element in all conditions of faith albeit historical or contemporary. This is my attempt to satisfy the question. Noah Webster in the unabridged dictionary bearing his name has numerous renderings of the noun. In interpretation 3 of 9 is offered: “belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion; i.e., old pilgrims strong in their faith”. In terms of Christian Theology offered in subparagraph 8 we find; “the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which man is justified or saved.” These are the initial concepts by which I would choose to work. Like most New Testament conceptions, the idea of faith goes to the Old Testament for the key to its meaning. It was born when the political fortunes of Israel entered on their decline. Most of this lies within the Pentateuch and the prophecy of Isaiah. As secular conditions of the chosen nation grew worse Isaiah’s prophecies grew much more meaningful staying itself in faith on the living God, the base of the nation’s existence. Thus the idea of faith became inseparable from that of the development of prophetic monotheism (One God for all). Faith is man’s part in the self-revelation of God. God reveals Himself through the experience and history of the chosen nation, and faith is man’s assent to God’s self-revelation in and through the nation’s experiences. By means of faith, the divine control over nature and history in the interest of a distant but authoritative moral end is vitally apprehended so as to constitute the infrastructure of man’s moral nature. This faith, does not structure denomination or cult, it describes man’s better knowledge in what would constitute his faith in sharing eternity in the celestial temple. I submit that interfaith would be the adjective best describing our personal concept of “saved” and “salvation” but in the religiosity provided by God the words would best describe our personal comfort zone in monotheism. There are countless other requisites placed on “saved” and “salvation”. The notion of being with God eternally comes from our own knowledge of sin and misery. No where in this myriad of thought and knowledge do I find the term – Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Buddhist, Hindu, Hebrew, or Muslim, Christian, Protestant, etc, Instead, in the term monotheistic, one God for all, I would venture to say that this faith becomes interfaith. One God, One Faith – Interfaith for all. And the catalyst here is the term “Believer” as best described within the act of self-revelation. The belief to which I refer advances itself to faith and interfaith – and my personal, systematic approach to peace: – Interfaith Peace Institute. ABR Dr. Delmer Robinson, THD, PhD Interfaith Peace Institute  Dr. Delmer Robinson and Dr. Diane M. Rousseau attending the Jaipur, India Feb. 2006 International Conference on Science and Spirituality Dr. Delmer Robinson and Dr. Diane M. Rousseau attending the Jaipur, India Feb. 2006 International Conference on Science and Spirituality |
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