False Faith

by Pastor Dan Dodds

Is there such a thing as a ‘false faith?’ We could answer this in at least one of two ways.

First, we can understand the question to ask: “Is the faith that we have false?” i.e. is it possible that what I believe to be faith is not faith at all? Of course, the answer to that is ‘yes,’ we can delude ourselves into believing we have faith in something when we do not.

Generally, it would not be too difficult to identify this condition by some reflection on how we live and act in relation to our alleged faith. We see this situation described by James in James 2:14 “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” Here is a case of someone who deludes himself into thinking he has faith when in fact he does not; his is a false faith.

But we can also think of false faith in another manner. It may be that we truly do have faith and our lifestyle and choices reflect the reality of that faith. The problem is that the faith is placed in something or someone that cannot deliver on that which the faith requires.

My children may look at me now and think that daddy can do anything. But they will find with time that daddy cannot do everything and in fact, daddy has many faults and sins over which he must repent regularly.

In this case, the kids had real faith, but the object of the faith fell short of that which the faith had hoped – once again it was a false faith.

This condition is not just found in children, adults are guilty of this kind of false faith as well. We have to look no further than the Psalms to see the multitude of warnings about putting our faith in something or someone that cannot provide for that which the faith is calling.

In Psalm 20:7, for example, David writes “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” In other passages, David or other Psalmists warn of trusting in Egypt, man, princes, or riches. There is no want of options to trusting in God but the old saying is true, the value of your faith is only as good as the object of your faith (see related article in this issue).

How do you know if you have false faith? The Westminster Confession of Faith is quite helpful in this regard in two locations noted below. May I encourage you to read the following and to reflect on your own faith as you do so?

WCF 11.2  Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love. 

WLC 72  What is justifying faith? A. Justifying faith is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and word of God, whereby he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition, not only assenteth to the truth of the promise of the gospel, but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin, and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation.

May the Lord work true, saving, justifying faith in us so that we would be true to Him and faithful in our calling.