What If My Faith Is Just My Parents’ Faith?

Then it's time to make it your own. You can be around God your whole life and never actually know Him.

There's a strange (and honestly hilarious) story in Acts 19. God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul in Ephesus. So seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva decided they wanted in on the miracle business. They found a man with an evil spirit and said, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims" (Acts 19:13 ESV).

Don't miss who these guys were. They were preachers' kids. They grew up around the temple and knew all the right words. But listen to their formula again. Not "by Jesus my Lord." Not "by the Jesus I know." By the Jesus Paul preaches. They had the right name and the right words, but it wasn't theirs. It was borrowed.

The spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" (Acts 19:15 ESV). Then one guy beat up all seven of them so badly they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. If you ever leave a fight naked and bleeding, you lost. No need to check the judges' scorecards. And if you ever say the Bible is boring, you're reading the wrong parts.

Some of us are living on borrowed faith. Maybe you've got your parents' Jesus. You grew up in church, you know the songs and the stories, and that's carried you this far. Maybe you've got your spouse's Jesus. They're the spiritual one and you're along for the ride. Maybe you've got your pastor's Jesus. You show up Sunday, let me do the God part, and go home. Here's the thing about borrowed faith: you don't know it's broken until it gets tested. It works fine until the marriage cracks, the job is gone or a kid walks away. Then you find out whether you know Jesus or just know about Him.

A borrowed faith can carry you for a while, but it won't hold up when life gets hard. Here's how to make it yours:

1. Own your questions. Doubts aren't the enemy of faith; hiding them is. Bring them to God and to someone you trust. "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24 NLT) is a prayer God answers.

2. Make your own decision. At some point, it can't be your parents' yes. It has to be yours. Baptism is how you say that out loud: "This is my decision. I'm following Jesus."

3. Build your own habits. Read the Bible because you want to hear from God, not because someone checks. Pray when no one's watching. Find a church and people you choose, not just the ones you grew up with.

If you've never actually made that decision, start here: Can I Actually Know God Personally?

Your parents' faith may be the reason you know who Jesus is. Thank God for that. But you'll stand before Him on your own. So stop settling for a God you only know secondhand. Get quiet and pray what Ananias prayed: "Here I am, Lord" (Acts 9:10 ESV). And mean it.