At a recent Restoration Seminar in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, I spoke on repentance among other issues. I found a particular definition of repentance intriguing. It is not just remorse for wrongdoing, it is also a return to the starting point. I believe this is apt for the entire Body of Christ. There is a hymn by Fredrick W. Faber that can help us appreciate the type of faith exhibited by first century Christians. He titled it FAITH OF OUR FATHERS. Here is the first stanza – “Faith of our fathers, living still/In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword/Oh, how our hearts beat for joy/Whene’er we hear that glorious word!”

The fathers of faith were able to maintain steady walk with God in spite of jail, fire, and sword…The only thing that can return Christianity back to its glory days is the faith of the fathers.

The fathers of faith were able to maintain steady walk with God in spite of jail, fire, and sword. They kept the spiritual discipline of prayer and other duties even at the risk of their lives. That is why their brand of faith could overcome the most heinous program that hell could invent.  That was the kind of faith Paul operated in. By it, he could give thanks and pray despite his bonds. Of additional interest was his focus in prayer, seeking for the welfare of the church he had helped found. Most people in his condition will not pray at all; they would probably be bitter against God and man. The few who would pray will be too pre-occupied with their own deliverance from the gulag than to think of what is happening to other people. Here we see Paul exemplified the Master who even on the cross was praying for the salvation of mankind. The only thing that can return Christianity back to its glory days is the faith of the fathers.