If I understand your question correctly, you are asking what the world’s view of faith is as opposed to the Christian’s view of faith, and how each view then translates into “a force that stimulates change or progress” (which is what the word “dynamics” means). Before we consider these two, it is vital to see that FAITH must have an OBJECT, for one common definition of faith is “a complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” As we shall see, the object of faith for the world is diametrically opposed to the Christian’s object of faith.

1) The WORLD’S object of faith is: THEMSELVES or OTHER MEN. After the fall of man in the Garden of Eden we see the firstborn son of Adam and Eve (Cain) trusting in his own good works to make himself righteous before God. He offered the “fruit of his farming labors to God” and God rejected his offering. “And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD….but He (God) did not respect Cain and his offering” (Genesis 4:3 & 5…NKJV). From that moment on the unbeliever has “gone in the way of Cain” (see Jude 11) by trusting in themselves and other men, not only to establish their own righteousness before God, but to build a world with arts, sciences, successful businesses, fancy inventions, and other things that bring them pleasure and satisfaction. Here are some verses which teach us to never trust in men (which includes ourselves):

*Jeremiah 17:5 says, “Cursed is the man who TRUSTS IN MAN and make flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.”

*Psalm 118:8 declares, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”

*Isaiah 2:22 reads, “Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; for why should he be esteemed?” (NASB)

*Proverbs 3:5 states, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”

We could multiply verses which teach the same thing. If one is trusting in puny man “whose breath is in his nostrils,” he will be sorely disappointed. This includes trusting men in times of war, for Israel was guilty of turning to the nations around them for help from their enemies instead of trusting in the Lord, and each time they did were defeated by their foes. God told Israel in Isaiah 31:1, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!”

2) The CHRISTIAN’S object of faith is: CHRIST! We spoke of Cain trusting in himself; now let’s look at his brother Abel. “Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering” (Genesis 4:4). Why did God accept Abel’s offering? Because he was coming to God by faith and trusting in a sacrificial lamb to make him righteous in God’s sight. We read in Hebrews 11:4, “BY FAITH Abel offered to God a more EXCELLENT SACRIFICE than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous.” The lamb he offered pictured Jesus Christ, the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) Jesus Christ is truly the object of every believer’s faith and He is the One who gives us victory in every area of our life. In 1st John 5:4-5 we read, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

We will end this meditation by considering the “dynamics of faith” when Christ is the object of faith. Shortly after Christ ascended back to heaven a great persecution arose against believers. How did they respond to this? We have our answer in Acts 8:4-5, “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and PREACHED CHRIST to them.” Instead of cowering and hiding for their enemies, they “went everywhere and preached Christ”, the object of their faith, to others. Their faith in Christ led to action! We saw that the word dynamics means, “a force that stimulates change or progress.” Christ was such a motivating force they were willing to suffer and even die in order to see others saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. As we read on it says, “And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip…and there was great joy in that city” (verses 6 & 8). The testimony of these early Christians was so great that their enemies were forced to say, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too” (Acts 17:6).

I would encourage you to read Acts chapter 9 where we see the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. The moment he beheld Christ in the glory he was a changed man and perhaps no one had the “dynamics of faith” as he did. Like Philip we read that “he preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus” (verse 27). What was the result? Verse 31 declares, “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had PEACE and were EDIFIED. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were MULTIPLIED.” Great changes (for the good) occurred through Saul’s faithful preaching of Christ! What was his secret? Christ was the object of his faith! He tells us this in the following passages of Scripture: “For the LOVE OF CHRIST COMPELS US, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again…I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (2nd Corinthians 5;14-15 and Galatians 2:20). If Christ is the Object of our faith, we too will be compelled by His love to serve Him and the “dynamics of our faith” will produce mighty results!  (413.5)  (DO)