No two individuals are the same. Even with similar names and what appears to be similar religious beliefs, individuals may go in separate directions in trying to prove their faith.
In Diverging Waters: Two Disparate Lives Having a Common Profession of Faith, author Doug Weber chronicles the lives of two friends: Paul B. Waters and Paul S. Waters. While their professions of Christ begin the same—Christ is the Son of God, who has saved us by faith through grace—they are divided by different understandings of God’s word and the intent of their heart. Paul B. Waters professes to be part of the Kingdom of God, but his goals and desires are all focused on the kingdom of this world. Paul S. Waters lived his early life in sin and debauchery, believing a simple profession of Christ has given him license to sin; even so, he eventually trusts in Christ as his Savior, and he lives as a disciple and witness.
Two conflicting professions of faith cause tension in the relationship between the men, even threatening their longtime friendship. Through this conflict, Diverging Waters seeks to offer guidance to believers facing similar situations.
Mary sat up collecting her thoughts. “Paul, I think our Christian profession is a ruse. We profess to be Christians but really don’t live by faith. We don’t worship, we don’t pray, we don’t know God’s will, we don’t serve, we don’t show love for people we don’t know, and we don’t go out of our way to help those who have needs. I remember talking about this after hearing the other Paul at your reunion years ago. Paul, our faith is at best idle – doing nothing and going nowhere. I am not certain if idle people are Christians at all. I read today that Jesus wished they were either hot or cold. I would imagine He was confronting those who espoused Christianity, but only as far as it did not impose upon their own will and desires. What benefit is our salvation if we neglect it?”
Mary’s response surprised Blue because she had now moved from simply accepting the idea of being a Christian, to actually making a commitment to live according to it. Blue answered, “Mary, be reasonable. Christianity does not require us to all have the same measure or degree of faith. I have one measure of faith, others have more, and still others have less. I don’t need to leave my work and join the church to show my zeal for Christ. I live out my faith in my work, family, and the way I order my life.”
Mary countered, “That’s a convenient argument. You regulate the intensity of your faith, so you can justify limiting your commitment. Your description of living out your faith is no different than any other man in the neighborhood would like to believe of his. I am trying to identify the things in our life that differentiate us from unbelievers, or in common with the Christian life. I have found neither. And that’s my point – we are hopelessly lost in the middle.”
Doug Weber is a management consultant with a master’s degree in business administration. Grounded in reformed theology, he began writing devotions and Christian fiction stories for his children as a teaching tool. He and his wife live in Atlanta, Georgia, and have three children and five grandchildren.