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  A FAITH THAT CAN BE KEPT
  by Phillips Brooks
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Summary: Phillips Brooks discusses the nature of true faith, emphasizing
its stability and grounding in divine truth rather than human opinions.

Topics: "Genuine Faith", "Steadfast Belief"
Scripture References: Proverbs 3:5, Mark 7:7, John 14:6, Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:1

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DESCRIPTION
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Phillips Brooks emphasizes the importance of genuine faith rooted in
God's truth, contrasting it with superficial beliefs based on human
opinions and doctrines. He highlights the need for a steadfast faith
that is not swayed by changing circumstances or personal whims, but
firmly anchored in the teachings of the Lord. Brooks warns against
mistaking mere speculation or fleeting thoughts for true faith, urging
believers to align their beliefs with what God has revealed.

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CONTENT
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"Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men"

(Mark 7:7).

And the second characteristic of the faith that can be kept will be its
evidence, its proved truth. It will not be a mere aggregation of chance
opinions. The reason why a great many people seem to be always changing
their faith is that they never really have any faith. They have indeed
what they call a faith, and are often very positive about it. They have
gathered together a number of opinions and fancies, often very ill-
considered, which they say that they believe, using the deep and sacred
word for a very superficial and frivolous action of their wills. They no
more have a faith than the city vagrant has a home who sleeps upon a
different doorstep every night. And yet he does sleep somewhere every
night; and so these wanderers among the creeds at each given moment are
believing something, although that something is for ever altering. We do
not properly believe what we only think. A thousand speculations come
into our heads, and our minds dwell upon them, which are not to be
therefore put into our creed, however plausible they seem. Our creed,
our credo, anything which we call by such a sacred name, is not what we
have thought, but what our Lord has told us.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/phillips-brooks/a-faith-that-can-be-kept/
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