Missing Link? Faith and Biblical Truth

With my engineering and marketing background, I'm intrigued by cause/effect relationships we see in every day life.
Sometimes you'll see an interesting article about the statistics or analysis of how one thing seems directly related to another.

For example, people living in sunny geographies tend to suffer less depression than those in consistently cloudy/overcast areas.

Other direct cause and effect relationships are more difficult to prove outright, so they are called "hypotheses" from the Greek origin for "proposition."

In that context, although some professionals hypothesize that eating dark chocolate might be healthy (deliver healthy antioxidants), the health benefit could be offset if you eat too much of it to the detriment of the sugar and calories.
A more complex hypothesis is that people with optimistic, positive attitudes tend to live healthier lives. You could debate/study whether they are optimistic because they are healthy, or healthy because they are optimistic, etc.

My hypothesis:
"The strength of a Christian's spiritual faith is in direct proportion to their belief in biblical truth."

Without statisical proof, I've based my proposition on many conversations with friends, family and strangers.
The trend I've seen is that stated faith can be shaken in anyone's life. Lose your job, get cancer, have financial trouble.
Some people steep their faith in prayer and worship, others in community support. There's no single best mix to strengthening and cultivating our faith.
My premise is that the strength of the faith we do have is at its strongest when rooted back in the scripture that God provides.
Biblical truth explains that God will not abandon us, will not tease or toy with us, and will always forgive a repentant, humble heart.
Faith that cannot follow its unraveled (or unraveling) thread back to scripture will struggle and perhaps founder. Not so when we can read, study and meditate on tangible solutions that God has literally placed in our hands.

"But not all accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our message?' Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:16

The strength of a Christian's spiritual faith is in direct proportion to their belief in biblical truth.

What do you believe?

Sin Tents

I just attended a large trade show at Chicago's McCormick Place.
I saw this large, retangular white tent assembled outside the West Hall. Like they have at outdoor wedding receptions.
I wondered what special topic would draw people out into the chilly November weather?
Then later that day I saw a similar white tent assembled at the opposite end of the convention center.
What, in heaven's name...?
Trying in vain not to be too obvious, I stole a long look at the people jogging from the convention exit to the tent and back again. They didn't look too happy about braving the cold. Their determined expressions carried a hint of defeated resignation.
Then I got it, of course! Smokers!
Even at a convention with a heavy contingent of healthcare professionals, some percentage were still willing to make the walk of shame to an outside smoking tent. And back again.

(wait a second while someone helps me pluck this plank from my eye...)

I thought, wouldn't it be awkward if God had special tents placed outside where we all had to go and conduct our personal sins?
What if I had to make the walk of shame out to the "selfish tent" and then over to the "wasted talents" tent. Even worse if the "covet what others have" tent was all the way on the other side of my neighborhood.
Sheesh, I would be mortified for people to see how much time I was spending in tents!

True, I'll bet some people have finally quit rather than walk out to the designated smoking areas where they work or shop. Others probably just work around it and smoke when they can, maybe not as often.

Its like that with sins that displease God. Sometimes I know that no one is looking, so its easier to slip up.
I'm definitely on better behaviour when I think people might be paying attention to which of the tents I frequent most.
Ideally, I'd rather there be only one tent for convenience sake. Then I could more readily admit the truth about my sins and short comings right out in the open. Maybe commiserate with the other sinners and together we could help each other be more accountable to God's plan. And seek God's forgiveness.

We could call that shared tent a church.

That's what is meant to go on at church. Not to sin - but the acknowledgement that we're there because we sin. It's our sin addiction. It's the habit(s) that are so hard to break. Even with rules and consequences.
Jesus died for me because I inevitably end up wandering into tents where I have no business being.
I'm sure I have that in common with my friends and family in the big tent we call church.

Thank you Jesus for your mercy and Grace. That I am not made to stand in the cold November wind by myself as you shepherd me back from my shortcomings.

"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." 2Corinthians 5:1

What do you believe?