If you have spent any time around Charismatics, or tuned into Christian TV, you have likely encountered some form of encouragement to “stir up your faith and call those things which are not as though they are”. This is a very popular sentiment these days, and this verse (Romans 4:17) is a favorite among “faith” oriented believers. There is one tiny problem, however. The Bible never once tells believers that they have the power to call those things which are not as though they are. In fact, the only person that Scripture ever claims has this ability is God. The second problem is that, it not only attributes to man that which is only attributable to God, it completely ignores the entire context and meaning of the passage being quoted.
If you ask most of the people quoting “call those things
which are not as though they are” what the rest of that verse says, you are
likely to be answered by a vacant stare and dumbfounded silence. At least that
is the response I usually get. I don’t want to just walk into your computer,
kick over a sacred cow, and waltz back out again, so let’s take a look at Romans 4 and see whether the verse gives believers
the power to create what they want through their faith and spoken words, or if
perhaps the passage says something totally different. A simple look at the rest
of verse 17, and verse 16 preceding it, should be sufficient.
16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed
to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but
also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. (Romans 4:16-17 NIV).
The overarching context of Romans 4 is justification by
faith, just in case that isn’t clear from the opening statement "the promise comes by faith". The specific promise
discussed here is not a Cadillac, financial prosperity, or even divine healing.
It is the promise of salvation and a covenant relationship with God. In light of
this context there are really only two plausible meanings for our controversial passage.
One might argue that the text refers to God calling all
those who would be heirs of Abraham, either by descent or by faith. This
interpretation would lean heavily on the fact that it is God’s promise to
Abraham to make him a father of many nations. At the time of the promise those
nations did not exist, yet God called them as though they were, and indeed He
brought them into being in faithfulness to His promise to Abraham. In other
words, God calling into being things that were not refers to His calling into
being all those who would be Abraham’s heirs, nationally or spiritually. This
argument has merit and is defensible based upon the text. I would argue however
that there is a better interpretation which takes into account, not only the
literal details of these two verses, but coincides with the rhetorical argument
which Paul has been building up to this point.
Paul did not need to convince Jews that they were heirs
of Abraham’s covenant, or that God had called their nation into being in
faithfulness to that covenant. The Jews had known that for millennia. Paul’s
purpose in this portion of Romans is to address the new reality that the
gentiles have been grafted into the covenant on account of their faith. See
again Paul’s assertion, “not only to those who are of the law but
also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.” (v. 16).
The argument Paul is making is that, in grafting the gentiles into the covenant,
God called into the covenant those who were not formerly a part of the
covenant. He gave life to the dead (spiritually) and called those who were not
as though they were.
So while it might be nice to call the new car I want into
existence, by speaking it thus with my creative faith, this text at least, does
not give me the scriptural standing to be able to claim such power. This passage testifies to a much greater
miracle. That the holy and omnipotent God, who has the power to call those
things which are not as though they are, chose to extend His grace and call us
into His covenant and justify us through faith. Or as Paul reiterates later, quoting
Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was
not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” (Romans 9:25). Unless you are a member of
the triune Godhead bringing lost people into covenant relationship with you, you
do not get to call those things which are not as though they are based upon your
faith in reading Romans 4.
This is an important distinction for a couple of reasons.
First, it is important because it is the Word of God, and we should always
attempt to read and interpret it faithfully. Second, it is important because
some people are having their faith wrecked when they are told, by preachers, that
if they have faith they can do this and then it doesn’t work. Instead of
realizing the preacher they trusted had simply mislead them, they think
something must be wrong with them, or else they figure that faith just doesn’t work and
they walk away from the whole Christian thing altogether. Finally, it is
important because this false teaching skirts the edge of blasphemy, and as it is
preached on some occasions, dives completely in. Though we are made in God’s image,
we are not God. We need to be careful when we start to claim for ourselves
those things which rightfully belong to God alone. There are at least two
things which scripture tells us God is incredibly jealous over. His covenant people, and
His glory. If you don’t believe me, ask Herod. “And immediately an angel of the
Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by
worms and died.” (Acts 12:23). That’s even in the New Testament, folks. Let’s
not steal glory from God and attempt to claim for ourselves what belongs to Him
alone. We are called to be like Him in His character and holiness, not in his
power and majesty. He may move powerfully and miraculously through us,
according to His sovereign will, but let us never abandon the humility of
knowing we are merely vessels through which God may move if He so chooses.
