Is It Faith or Presumption?
“It is often said that presumption alone, without any other sin, is enough to destroy the soul” [1]
In this post I would like to address the sin of presumption. In my entire Christian life, I cannot recall having ever heard a teaching on this topic. I am certain I’ve heard several teachings promoting presumption under the auspices of faith. So let me nip that notion in the bud right now – presumption is sin. It has no partnership with faith. St John of Karpathos writes, “God turns away from those who approach Him presumptuously"[2] However, we know that God is attentive to those that approach Him in faith (Ps 34:15, 1 Peter 3:12).
What Is Presumption?
Let’s do a little wordsmithing. Presumption is the noun form of the verb presume; from the Latin praesumere (prae – before + sumere – to take or obtain). Sumere is most often translated "assume" in English. So, here we have two verbs with very similar meanings. To assume is to take (believe) something as true. It differs from presume in that presume implies an event took place before this belief – a boldness, an arrogance or a self-confidence. This event allowed that person to put too much value or confidence in what they heard or observed. Thus, assume means to believe something as true. Presume means to assume with confidence that something is true. True to the extent that you are willing to take action on that belief. Note that both words speak to supposition not fact, but presume is the stronger of the two. Assume is to suppose but presume is to suppose with confidence and then to take action or liberty as the Etymology Dictionary defines it. Liberty not in the sense of freedom but as taking liberty - taking on the duties and the prerogatives of another (usually a superior). If we put all these elements together we can define presumption as: the arrogant attitude of someone who [over] confidently assumes a thing to be true. Then takes action on it as if to have the authority to do what is not assigned to them or is another’s assignment. If you apply this in a religious sense, it is taking action when God did not instruct you to do so. A very serious sin indeed. See Aaron’s sons offering strange fire (Lev 10:1-2), Uzzah reaching out to steady the Ark (1 Chronicles 13:1-14).
It is quite obvious that the authors of the Philokalia regarded presumption as sin. St Makarios of Egypt declares in his commentary on Genesis 3:5, “Presumption is an abomination to the Lord”. Saint Kosmas Aitolos writes, “Presumption and boastfulness are causes of blasphemy.” These are only two of the hundreds of references in the Philokalia to presumption. Each citation reflects the tenets of Scripture concerning this sin.
Deuteronomy Chapters 17-18 are specific to this topic. Here we see presumption addressed to both the members of the community (i.e., Israel) and at its leadership.
Members
Chapter 17 address member presumption. The example is a member of the community that brings a matter (lawsuit) to a Levite or an appointed judge for judgement and then refuses to follow (defies) the terms of the verdict. The penalty for this behavior is death!
The man who acts presumptuously by not listening to the priest who stands there to serve the Lord your God, nor to the judge, that man shall die; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel. (Deut 17:12)
Another member example appears in Chapter 18 concerns listening to the words of the prophets.
It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he [the prophet] shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. (Deut 18:19)
While the penalty seems to be somewhat less for this offence I’m not sure that standing before the Lord while He makes careful inquiry into why you did not listen (this is the meaning of “I Myself will require it of him.”) is any less dreadful. Why is this such a serious offense? Because that person (the Levite, judge or prophet) speaks on behalf of God. It may be through study or revelation, but they understand God's desire and directives for His people. Thus, to defy their words or verdict is to defy God himself; and that is an act worthy of death in Israel!
Side Note: Defiance – this might explain the difference in penalties. In the first case the person is willfully refusing to adhere to (defying) the terms of a verdict which they asked for whereas in the second case the person is not listening to (ignoring) what is being said. Since they did not ask for this word, their actions are not willful defiance. It is simple carelessness, in other words, outright foolish but not in your face defiance.
Leaders
The same passage speaks to presumption at the leadership level:
But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak… that prophet shall die. (Deut 18:20 NASV)
For a Prophet to speak something in the name of the Lord which God has not put “into his mouth” is to act presumptuously and once again the penalty is death! Furthermore, I do not think this pronouncement only applies to prophets. Anyone who speaks in the name of the Lord or takes the word of the Lord and twists it into something God has not spoken is guilty of being presumptuous. Ben Shapiro links this type of presumption to the third commandment, “Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” He doesn't associate this commandment with verbal profanities “God can stand a little potty mouth.” but with the twisting of God's word to suit one’s own agenda. His example is Bernie Sanders quoting from the book of Amos (“a book he [apparently] has never read”) to promote his agenda/campaign against the "massive injustice" of economic inequality and childhood poverty.
To teach something from the word of God that twists the words of Scripture to say something they do not, is for all practical purposes the same as prophesying something the Lord has not commanded! It is a misrepresentation of God's heart and mind regarding the matter. It is presumption and the Lord will require it of that person. That’s scary! No wonder Scripture warns leaders to be careful of what they teach (Acts 20:28, Matthew 18:6, Hebrews 13:17-19)! If you think that the penalty is less than that of the false prophets consider Matt 18:6. It pictures the penalty for leading in a way that causes others to sin as death. What else could you conclude from the picture - being cast into the sea with a 3,300 lb. stone tied around your neck? Bottom-line, God has a great distain for presumption. Especially when it is outright defiance or when it misrepresents His heart and mind for His people.[3]
Precursors (sources of presumption)
The authors in the Philokalia most often associate presumption with knowledge (scholarship), pride and self-esteem.
Knowledge
He [God] restrains the presumption that we tend to feel because of our advance in the knowledge of God.
Our presumption often leads us astray, especially when we rely on the wisdom of this world which we think we possess.
[Presumption is] imagining that we know as we should, although we still know nothing.
Pride
The signs of … pride are presumption and jealousy.
After this, he became very conceited [prideful] and full of presumption and fell deeply into sin…
If we add [to] or omit [from God’s instructions] …, it is presumption, and presumption springs from pride. It is as if we are telling God He does not know what He is doing. We have elevated ourselves to His level. Nothing more, nothing less… - John W. Ritenbaugh
Self-esteem
Self-esteem is a three-pronged barb heated and forged by the demons out of vanity, presumption and arrogance.
[Avoid] self-esteem, look to God, and beware lest you become presumptuous…
The devil tries to soil and defile every good thing a man would do by intermingling with it his own seeds in the form of self-esteem, presumption, complaint, and other things of this kind.
But the authors also see presumption as common to man’s way of life:
For the man who lives as most men, prompted by the spirit of presumption, this present life becomes a sea embroiled by the powers of evil; St Symeon the New Theologian
We see some of these traits in Paul’s dealings with the Judaizers and “super-apostles” in the New Testament. The first account of this is in Acts 15. Paul goes to the apostles in Jerusalem to settle the issue of Gentiles needing to become Jews before they can be Christians. The resolution to the problem is quite revealing.
“Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. (Acts 15:24-27)
The people Paul and Barnabas were confronting were from Jerusalem. But, they were not send or authorized by the church in Jerusalem - “some of our number to whom we gave no instruction”. In other words, these people were presumptuous and went off teaching in the name (authority) of the Jerusalem church when they had no authority to do so. It is likely, given the contents of their teaching, that they were of the sect of the Pharisees (Acts 15:5) who had believed. These men were knowledgeable Torah compliant Jews whom Josephus describes as “the most expert and accurate expositors of Jewish law.” They were well-respected among the Jewish people and sought through study and teaching to increase the spiritual devotion of the Israelites to God. If indeed they continued this desire after they believed, it would not surprise me that they went out to the Gentile churches with the same intent. It was nonetheless, presumptuous for them to do so. Furthermore, their teaching wasn’t according to knowledge. They didn’t understand justification by faith. Thus, they sought to "place upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we [the Israelites] have been able to bear" (Acts 15:10).
Side Note: The council also set a precedence for determining valid workers from the Jerusalem church. James not only sent a signed letter but also two witnesses so, no letter, no witnesses, no dice.
This was only the beginning of a problem that plagued Paul throughout his ministry. In Galatia he had to deal with false brethren — who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery (Gal 2:4). In Corinth there were false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ (2 Cor 11:13). And in Colossae there was one who lead the faithful into the worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind (Col 2:18). It got to the point where he started including a warning against false teachers, prophets and apostles in most of what he wrote (1 Timothy 4:1-5; Romans 16:17). This Peter (2 Peter 3:14-18) and John (1 John 4:1-6, Rev 2:2) did as well. Peter says that these will receive the worst torment in Hades (i.e., Tartarus) (2 Peter 2:4). Like I said earlier, God has a great distain for people who misrepresents His heart and mind for His people.
Association of Presumption with faith
The worldly view of faith is like that of presumption. Faith is a strong belief based on a spiritual ability to perceive or comprehend something without proof. Thus, in a secular context presumption and faith are in the same realm because they are both unproven. However, faith in a Christian context is not without proof. Hebrews tells us faith is the substance (the underlying essence, the foundation) of what is hoped for. Faith comes from our understanding of who God is. The substance or underlying essence of anyone is that internal quality or character that defines whom they are. "God is love" (1 John 4:8). Therefore, our faith results from our knowing that God will always act in our best interests (seek our highest good). “God is good” (Psalm 100:4-5). Therefore, our faith is a result of knowing that all God’s actions toward us are good. “God is faithful” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Therefore, our faith comes from our knowing that God will keep all His promises to us. These are our convictions (proofs) of spiritual realities.
When faith becomes presumption
In my thinking faith becomes presumption when it obligates or puts God to the test. I have often heard people talk about royalty and sonship in terms of what we deserve as sons and daughters of God. And I am not disputing the Bible’s pronouncements concerning our adoption into the family of God. I am, however, questioning the presumptions made around those pronouncements. Presumptions expressed as entitlement. “Because I am royalty, a prince (or princess) in the royal family, I deserve the best of everything - prosperity, success, honor, etc. and I can expect that my Father who owns the cattle on a thousand hills will give me the things I want.” Satan’s third temptation of Jesus mirrors this type of presumption. He places Jesus at the pinnacle of the temple and says, “Take the step, the angel will bear you up that’s God’s promise.”, but Jesus responds, “You shall not put God to the test”[4] Isn’t that what sermons on “stepping out in faith”, on “speak the word of faith” (confession/declaration), on “living by faith” and on “giving by faith” are all about – seizing on one of God’s promises and expecting (put to the test) God to fulfill it according to our desires? How unlike this are the heroes of faith in Hebrews Chapter 11? Of course, in all these sermons there is an allusion to trusting God, but not to the hearing and obeying that our heroes of faith exhibited. Faith isn't opening the Bible to a promise I want or need and claiming it by faith. Faith is hearing like Abraham did; like Moses, Gideon, Samson, David and Samuel and the prophets did. Without a living word from the Lord and a true knowledge of His character there isn't anything to base faith upon – it’s all presumption.
I once wrote a paper on prayer entitled Twisting God’s Arm because that’s what a lot of prayer sounds like. “God you said in Your Word that you heal all our diseases. Sister Mary is sick and needs a touch from you so heal her Lord!” How presumptuous is that? Do you suppose that you have the authority to tell the King of the Universe how to conduct His business?
Side Note: What’s funny is that there was a time in my life when people were praying like this and the Lord was answering! I believe He answered because we weren’t asking presumptuously. We were baby Christians and we believed what we read in the Bible and trusted God would do it. In other words, it was childlike faith not presumption.
I worked in a Christian healing room for several years. You know what give you faith to pray for healings? Healings! When you see God heal, you have greater faith that He will do it again. Often when I prayed for people, God would give me a picture of what was wrong. That gave me something to pray into and it often resulted in someone's healing. That’s the importance of hearing and obeying to our faith. Bible promises are great for lifting people’s hope and faith. But you can’t presume that the existence of a promise somehow obligates God to fulfill it on your behalf. John Ritenbaugh in his commentary on presumption makes this same point:
“… presumption springs from pride. It is as if we are telling God He does not know what He is doing. We have elevated ourselves to His level. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else than His will must be our attitude.”[5]
Final Words
Presumption is sin; it has no partnership with faith. Faith requires a knowledge of God’s character that can only come out of an intimate relationship with Him. Faith comes by hearing His living word spoken into our hearts and acting upon that word. Without these elements our version of faith is in reality presumption.
[1] St. Isaac of Nineveh, Mystic Treatises, c. 700
[2] St John of Karpathos, For the Encouragement of the Monks in India who had Written to Him, text #49, Philokalia Vol I
[3] Consider what happened to Moses when he misrepresented God’s heart by wrathfully striking the rock at Meribah.
[4] See Brad Young, Jesus the Jewish Theologian
[5] Forerunner Commentary, “What the Bible says about Presumption”, available at Bibletools.org