September 10, 2008
A Clear Definition of Faith
Dear Friend,
In the debate between people who believe in God and those who don’t, both sides commonly assume they know what the other side thinks. Often these assumptions prove to be wrong or incomplete. To compound the issue, people of faith and atheists often do not understand their own theologies and philosophies, so we argue about what we assume, and opine rather than discuss ideas and systems of thought. To avoid at least part of this problem, we do well when we define clearly what the word “faith” means.
Faith is not:
• A leap into the darkness: This is the idea that faith is blind trust.
• Irrationality: Faith is not the opposite of reason.
• A certain mystical feeling: Faith may inspire feelings, but it is not a feeling.
What then is faith?
• Faith is a way of thinking and knowing.
• Faith is a way of thinking that provides solid reasons for hope.
• Faith is a way of thinking that offers proof for facts that cannot be seen.
These definitions come from Hebrews 11:1 (NIV): “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
If you are a person of faith, you should be thoughtful. You should be able to think about and discuss what you believe and why. To help you on your journey, Christ Church offers Thursday night classes and small groups. These gatherings provide opportunities to learn, question and discuss your faith. I invite you to sign up for these learning experiences by calling the church office or by visiting our website.
Doc
Dr. Dave Collings
Lead Pastor
Christ Church
