The objective of this lesson: to affirm that faith exists to consciously permit God to transform a person internally and externally. Faith in God is not an attempt to manipulate God into providing Christians desired physical things/situations/opportunities.
Webster defines an amulet in this way: a charm or ornament often inscribed with a magic incantation or symbol to protect the wearer against evil or to aid him. Perhaps the best understood use of an amulet in America is the "lucky charm." The person who places confidence in a "lucky charm" commonly takes it with him/her everywhere. He/she would not consider competing in a game if he/she did not have the charm. He/she would be quite anxious if forced to do anything significant while not having his/her "lucky charm." The physical absence of the charm affects the outcome of events resulting in bad experiences. The physical presence of the charm affects the outcome of events by creating good opportunities or fortunate circumstances. The power of the charm is regarded to exceed the person's abilities.
A common approach in all ages, including today, to controlling the unknown is by appealing to a force, god, or object that is more powerful than the unknown. It is rooted in a common human desire to utilize superior unknown forces for human protection or human advantage. The more people perceive things in personal life to be out of control the more they seek to gain control. For most Americans, acknowledging "I" have no control is not an acceptable understanding or circumstance.
In the first century most people viewed their personal lives as existing under fate's control. In their concept of fate, "whatever was destined to happen would happen." Whatever "was decreed" by hurtful forces [while those forces varied in people's concepts, they commonly were associated with astrology] concerning a person's life occurred regardless of his or her choices. The person was helpless of himself/herself to change the outcome of personal life. The outcome was determined before the events occurred. Thus if one was to alter his/her decreed outcome, he/she had to appeal to forces/powers/gods greater than human power. Two things were needed: (a) protection and (b) an intervening power greater than fate.
Ironically, people in every age seemed to be comfortable with seeking to control an uncontrollable destiny. Commonly people who believe in fate seem to have little objection to finding a means of controlling or manipulating fate. "My future already is determined, but through the use of the right power I can change it." Only the powerless poor who accept as fact they are powerless to change anything about their circumstances/situation seem to accept whatever happens to them. This is not a statement about the poor who use poverty as a tool for advantage or manipulation. It focuses on the "quiet" poor who long ago surrendered to their situation as an unchangeable condition. The desire to use a power to control what "I" cannot understand is a typical desire in each age.
A common means of seeking protection was found in the wearing of an amulet. Wearing the proper amulet protected a person from forces intent on bringing harm to him/her. Amulets were spiritual protection from forms of power that could easily invade a defenseless physical existence. Commonly, people feared death and the after-life. A common objective was protecting physical life from sickness and death. Much occurred in a typical life that was unexpected, uncertain, and beyond understanding. The person lived in an insecure world. He/she felt defenseless and helpless. The amulet's powers were not understood. However, that was not of concern. The amulet protected a person from forces or powers not understood.
In every age, amulets are a common approach to obtaining the power of protection from a feared unknown or to using powers superior to human strength to achieve material objectives. If an amulet can protect "me" physically from unknown forces (or provide "me" advantages) by "guaranteeing" physical well-being, "I" can protect myself from all "my" fears associated with death.
There are basic similarities between the way the first century pagan looked at physical existence and the American Christian looks at physical existence. The pagan did not understand his/her world, nor does the Christian understand his/her world. The pagan easily became the victim of events he/she did not control, and the Christian easily becomes the victim of events he/she does not control. Life situations experienced by the pagan and the American Christian are often similar. The Christian must exercise conscious, thoughtful care not to see the world, life, and God through pagan eyes and pagan expectations.
Being a Christian in this physical world does not change the unknowns. It changes the way a person approaches and deals with the unknowns. This is the immediate, obvious challenge of placing faith in God: stop looking at the world and life in this world in the same manner as one who does not believe in God. The challenge to the believer is not to behave as does the unbeliever.
There is a fundamental difference between the way a first century pagan looked at an amulet and a Christian looks at God. That fundamental difference is resurrection. When Paul was invited to speak to an elite pagan audience in Athens, Greece (Acts 17:18-33), he (1) acknowledged the prevalent idolatry he had seen, (2) spoke of their UNKNOWN GOD, and (3) contrasted the living God with the pagan concept of deity. He used this basic contrast to lead to (1) the concept of accountability/repentance and (2) the concept of resurrection. When the pagan audience heard Paul's reference to resurrection, they immediately dismissed both Paul and his teachings. Resurrection was not commonly a part of pagan theology. The Christian hope based on Jesus' and our resurrection was not a part of pagan concepts. To the writer, two things are obvious: (1) the typical pagan concern focused on physical protection; (2) resurrection was not the solution for typical pagan fears and concerns regarding the after-life.
The Christian must not perceive God as some "super amulet." The pagan said, "I must protect myself from the unknown to gain a physical advantage." The Christian says, "Of all forces and powers that exist, God is superior. If unknown forces or powers cause my death, God provides for me in resurrection. To cling to God is to cling to He Who is superior to amulets. God will resurrect. Powerless amulets are incapable of penetrating the barrier of death.
Christians realize that people who belong to the living God do not belong to this physical world. Physical existence is indefinite and insecure. Christians do not belong to an unredeemed world (Romans 8:19-22). (Also see 1 Peter 2:11, 12; Hebrews 11:13-16; Ephesians 2:19-22.) Christians belong to God. Right and wrong (both ethical concepts and moral responsibilities) are defined by God in His world, not by this physical world.
A fundamental understanding of faith in God: "I do not belong to nor am I controlled by things in rebellion to God." A Christian lives in this physical world, but a Christian does not belong to this physical world.
For this reason, Christians commit their physical existence to the world to come. Jesus' resurrection from his tomb and their promised resurrection is the foundation of their hope. Being a witness of Jesus' resurrection was an essential qualification to replace Judas (Acts 1:22). A key concern of the Sadducees was this: an essential element in the message about Jesus was emphasis on resurrection (Acts 4:1,2). The apostles' teaching stressed the reality of Jesus' resurrection (Acts 4:33; 17:18). Paul affirmed the essentiality of faith in resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. One of Paul's professed goals was to know the power that made Jesus' resurrection reality, and personally to participate in the same form of resurrection that raised Jesus from the dead (Philippians 3:10,11). The power that provides salvation through baptism is Jesus' resurrection (1 Peter 3:21). God's mercy and the living hope that sustains Christians in stressful circumstances are available because of Jesus' resurrection (1 Peter 1:3).
The distinct difference in the hope of an unbeliever and the hope of a Christian is resurrection. Jesus' resurrection assures the Christian's resurrection. The message of hope in Christ is inseparable from the message of resurrection in Christ. The assurance of resurrection provided through Jesus' resurrection is fundamental to Christian attitude and Christian motivation.
The objective of faith in the living God is NOT a manipulation of God so people can enjoy good circumstances in this physical world. Does that eliminate prayer? Certainly not! We are encouraged to pray! To depend on God! To know that He hears! Consider Luke 18:1-8; 1 Timothy 2:1,2; and James 5:13-15. The caution certainly is not in using prayer to depend on God. The caution is in using prayer (1) to attempt to manipulate God or (2) to measure prayer's effectiveness through material results. Paul earnestly prayed three times for God to remove a serious discouragement, but the discouragement remained (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Jesus with tears and sweat prayed three times for God to remove the necessity of his death and was heard, but still was crucified (Hebrews 5:7,8). As a Christian do I understand that God can use suffering and death to accomplish His purposes? Or, must I receive physically what I want if I am to maintain faith in the living God?
Christian faith must never be perceived by the Christian as a higher form of manipulation of deity. The typical pagan view was that the gods were disinterested in or distracted from human affairs. The God of the Bible is infinitely interested in humanity. To see the contrast, read 1 Kings 18:27 and compare that concept of deity with Matthew 6:19-34. God is concerned about the physical, but God's concern reaches far beyond the physical.
Hardships and suffering are not evidences that God is not concerned about me and does not listen to my prayers. There is a real world beyond physical existence. As a Christian, I want God to utilize every experience in my physical existence to lead me to live in His world. He or she who uses faith in a feeble attempt to manipulate God to his or her physical advantage needs an accurate understanding of (1) the reality of resurrection and (2) the reality of God's world.
The fact that many, many Christians never acquire in this life what other people commonly crave is not evidence of God failing to care. God seeks to provide Christians with that which is superior to anything in this physical world.
THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
The discussion should include this: an amulet protects or provides opportunity to the wearer by exercising a superior power over spirits or powers that otherwise are beyond human control. See paragraphs one through three of the lesson.
When faith in God is perceived as a means of controlling God to enable a person to achieve material benefits, faith in God is becomes an amulet. See paragraphs four through six of the lesson. Also see Daniel 3:16-18.
The Christian realizes he/she does not belong to existence in the physical world. He/she lives here, but does not belong here. Thus he/she is making a pilgrimage to an existence in God's world where he/she does belong. As a result of this understanding, he/she realizes what happens to him/her in this physical realm is neither evidence nor commentary on God's caring presence. Through faith in God, death becomes a transition for the Christian instead of a terrifying enemy.
He/she need an accurate understanding of the reality of resurrection and the reality of God's world (in contrast to this physical world).
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 4