Little Faith
Why Are the Mountains Standing Still?
By T. M. Moore
February 10, 2006

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith.” (Matthew 17:19, 20)

For me, this account of Jesus and His disciples and the demon-possessed child captures as well as anything in Scripture the state of Christian faith in America today. Here are the disciples—highly visible, well-meaning, and feverishly busy in the work of the Lord—yet totally unable to affect the status quo, and not certain why.

Sound familiar?

We have been hearing a good deal in recent years about the resurgence of fundamentalist and evangelical Christianity in America and its impact in the social and political arenas. While there are some encouraging signs, it seems way too early to confirm the onset of a new reformation. One need only scan the popular culture—television, pop music, and film, in particular—to recognize that the vast majority of Americans are still in the grip of spiritual forces that want to burn them alive with lust or drown them in a sea of relativism and self-seeking. Churches are growing, ministries are glowing, and leaders are crowing about the new evangelical influence; yet for all our visibility, earnestness, and frantic activity, the child we’re struggling to redeem and restore just keeps getting sicker.

Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ query concerning their manifest inability to heal this child must have caused them no small amount of chagrin. What did He mean, “little faith”? What more could they have done to show good faith in the Lord?

the rest-Excellent!