Thoroughly Vetted Faith

Blind Faith (No. 35, 2008)

Everyone these days, from candidates for President and Vice-

President to judicial appointees to school teachers are subjected to

vetting, although almost no one had heard of the process a couple of

years ago. Now, everyone and everything must be thoroughly vetted

before any decision or action can proceed. Similar processes have been

occurring all along, but the term, vetting, seems to have

emerged as a word of the decade in recent years.

I was curious about where the term, vetting, came from.

Merriam-Webster reports that the first appearance of the word in print

occurred in 1891, so it is not just a recent invention of political

pundits or security operatives. Wikipedia explains that “‘to vet’ was

originally a horse-racing term, referring to the requirement that a

horse be checked for health and soundness by a

vet</strong>erinarian before being allowed to race.

Thus, it has taken the general meaning ‘to check.’” Vetting in

journalism is done by fact-checkers to assure that assertions made in

print are correct. Software is vetted during development to verify

that the code is error-free, and that the program performs according to

specifications. Stocks, bonds, and other financial securities are

vetted prior to committing capital to an investment. Intelligence

assets are vetted to determine their reliability and usefulness. An

employee may be vetted before a firm job offer is extended. And, of

course, candidates at all levels of political life should be thoroughly

vetted before they are selected for office. In each case, the subject

is evaluated for possible approval or acceptance.

Another plausible etymology for vetting proposes its

root as the Latin verb, vetare, “to forbid.” The contemporary

usage of vetting in this sense refers to thoroughly

investigating a subject and having an opportunity to veto a decision

before it is finalized. Although the notion corresponds well with many

applications of vetting , evidence is scant to support this derivation.

This etymology simply cannot be positively vetted!

Deciding to live as a follower of Jesus is a matter of utmost

importance. The New Testament says again and again that it is a life-

or-death (or eternal-life-or-death) matter. It is a decision that

should be thoroughly vetted. Part of the process is on our side,

deciding that the claims and promises of Christ are worthy of our total

commitment. The other side of the process belongs entirely to God,

who, alone, is in any position to measure our response to his

grace.

Vetting the claim of Christ on our lives draws on an abundant

supply of credible witnesses. Jesus, himself, offered complete

transparency for his disciples to vet him for faith. He told them

during a time of severe criticism from religious leaders opposing him,

” Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his

work through me. {11} Just believe that I am in the Father and the

Father is in me. Or at least believe because of what you have seen me

do.” (John 14:10-11 NLT) Jesus appealed to the disciples’ first-hand

experiences of his words and deeds to authenticate who he was and why

he was worthy of their faith. Peter also cites Jesus’ public ministry

to vet him for the crowd at Pentecost: “People of Israel, listen! God

publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing wonderful miracles,

wonders, and signs through him, as you well know…. This prophecy was

speaking of Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, and we all are

witnesses of this…. So let it be clearly known by everyone in Israel

that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified to be both Lord and

Messiah!” (Acts 2:22, 32, 36 NLT) Other witnesses provide documentary

support and eyewitness accounts to verify Jesus’ qualification as Lord

and Savior. Paul submitted this report: ” I passed on to you what I

received, of which this was most important: that Christ died for our

sins, as the Scriptures say; {4} that he was buried and was raised to

life on the third day as the Scriptures say; {5} and that he was seen

by Peter and then by the twelve apostles. {6} After that, Jesus was

seen by more than five hundred of the believers at the same time. Most

of them are still living today, but some have died. {7} Then he was

seen by James and later by all the apostles. {8} Last of all he was

seen by me….” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8a NCV) The strongest vetting

sources are the people who know the subject best. John, the “Beloved

Disciple,” certainly was one of Jesus’ closest associates, and he

openly presents the facts of who Jesus was and the significance of who

he is: ” The one who existed from the beginning is the one we have

heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our

own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life. {2} This one who is

life from God was shown to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify

and announce to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with

the Father, and then he was shown to us. {3} We are telling you about

what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have

fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his

Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:1-3 NLT) John’s more complete report is

available in the gospel that bears his name. Book after New Testament

book vets Jesus as the only one deserving our total commitment, as well

as detailing the cost-benefit analysis of surrendering our lives to

him.

We may remain tentative – some might say fickle – about our

commitment to Christ as we continue to vet him. Doubts and questions

may cloud our side of the vetting process. God’s side of the process,

however, is always crystal clear. His vetting of us is supremely

important, and only God does it with perfect justice, combined with

grace and love. God’s vetting of us is always for the purpose of

leading us to eternal, right, loving relationship with himself. David

welcomed God’s vetting, and faithfully sought its intended result: ”

Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; cross-examine

and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself

whether I’ve done anything wrong — then guide me on the road to eternal

life.” (Psalm 139:23-24, The Message) Our most pervasive

departure from God’s way is to assume that we can manage to save

ourselves on our own terms. God’s examination lays such designs bare,

guiding us away from our own hubris to the only authentic saving faith

in Jesus Christ. True faith seeks God’s vetting and his veto before we

fall prey to our own misplaced confidence in ourselves. Paul sought

God’s vetting in this sense: ” God forbid that I should boast except in

the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been

crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14 NKJV) Those

words inspired one of Isaac Watts’ most cherished hymns, When I

Survey the Wondrous Cross. Written in 1709, almost two centuries

before anyone wrote about vetting, verses 2 and 4 of the hymn

magnificently express a desire for God’s careful examination of our

faith, and the faithful relationship to which we should aspire:

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the

death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his

blood.
Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too

small;
Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
(Isaac Watts, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, 1709)

How well will your faith stand thorough vetting? If you have

questions or doubts about God’s love demonstrated in Jesus Christ,

consult the documentary reports in the Bible, or talk with someone who

has both done the research and has personal experience as a faithful

follower of Jesus. What will vetting by God’s Spirit reveal about your

faith, your actions, your attitudes, your life? Allow God to guide you

in the only way to authentic life, faith in Jesus Christ.

- J. Edward Culpepper, Ph.D.