Judges 12: Faith is the True Shibboleth

"they told him, 'Please say Shibboleth.'  If he said, 'Sibboleth,' because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him...

Judges 12:6a

I had never actually read this chapter before, but only heard of it from an episode of The West Wing, in which President Bartlet was testing the faith of some Chinese men seeking asylum in the US.  He wasn't going to turn them away even if they failed the test-of-faith, but he kept telling his staff that he was going to ask the Chinese group's chosen spokesman to say the word, "Shibboleth."

He meant this metaphorically, but after answering the President's questions the Chinese Christian boldly told him:

Mr. President, Christianity is not demonstrated through a recitation of facts.  You are seeking evidence of faith - a wholehearted acceptance of God's promise of a better world.  "For we hold that man is justified by faith alone," is what Saint Paul said... Justified by faith alone.  Faith is the true... uh... I'm trying to, Shibboleth.  Faith is the true Shibboleth.

After reading this chapter, I couldn't agree more with this assessment.  "Shibboleth" was a password used to ensure that only Jephthah's followers could cross the Jordan.  Anybody who couldn't pronounce it correctly was killed on the spot.  Faith is the password which allows us to enter the gates of Heaven.  It is the one and only, the true, the ultimate Shibboleth.

Question of the Day:
When you reach the Pearly Gates, will you have the correct password to get through to the other side, or will you be eternally locked out?

Prayer of the Day:
Lord, grow my faith and do not let it falter.  Keep me on the straight and narrow path, as only true faith in You can do.  Amen.