In present day society, when there are two positions on a subject, there is rarely the putting forth of a case for one of the positions. Rather, more often than not, each side denigrates the other or seeks to distort and exaggerate the opposing position. We see this most often and most blatantly in politics, but not politics exclusively. Neither side appears to be interested in an honest exchange of ideas nor do most seem to have the slightest interest in actually understanding the opposing position. Once key words enter the conversation, each side begins broad brushing and caricaturing the other and this turns off the intellectual process of seeing clearly what is being said. Each side writes the other off as being one of “those” people. Even rarer is the clarifying question; “What do you mean by that?” or “How did you come to that conclusion?” and similar. If questions are not asked to clarify positions, we all end up talking past each other. It ends up being a “make a statement” session rather than a discussion.
One of the victims of this lack of dialog is definition. It is important to define terms. Definitions have changed over the years.
In the 1950’s Webster’s dictionary, faith is defined thusly; “a firm and earnest belief, based on probable evidence of any kind.” The modern Webster’s dictionary says faith is “a belief in something for which there is no proof.” That’s quite a difference. When I talk about having faith in this or that, I certainly don’t think in terms of the latter definition of faith. That definition is more akin to what we have termed “blind faith”. To believe in something using the modern definition of faith is indeed foolish and not Biblical.
The Scriptures say that faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1). It doesn’t say faith is “a belief in something for which there is no proof”. It talks of “substance” and “evidence”. The Bible also says that faith comes “by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10). It doesn’t suggest that faith is a belief in something we just conjured up out of thin air to make us feel better. That is not to say that people don’t do that, but it is not the way of God. Many false beliefs come from wishful thinking or selfish intentions both in the world of “religion” and in the secular world. The notion that “faith based” thinking is not really thinking, while the secular/scientific community is “pure” rationale is simply foolish. The suggestion that only humans devoid of religious thought can think clearly is nothing more than an attempt at intimidation and to make the case that only the secular is true knowledge because it’s based on the tangible. In our essence, we are selfish. We want things to be the way we want things to be. The current state of the world we live in is proof of that. Up is down, down is up, male is female, female is male. We see on a daily basis the re-defining of reality.
Ours (Biblical Christianity) is not a faith based on “something for which there is no proof”. Further, there is a difference between “no proof” and the position that the proof offered is not adequate or not acceptable. I run into this all the time. “Where is your proof that God exists?” Of course the simplest answer is the explanation found in Romans 1, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made”. (Note the term “clearly”) The response is usually, “I don’t accept the Bible as a credible source” or something along those lines. I usually follow that with a response, “The Bible is not the proof of God’s existence. It is simply telling us where to look for the most obvious proof of His existence.” To which the most common response is, “That’s no proof”. Of course, that response is proof itself in the accuracy of the rest of Romans 1, but that is a different topic.
I am a convinced believer in Biblical Christianity. I have no doubt as to the legitimacy of its truth claim that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to be reconciled to the one true God. Yet, though I’m convinced of this, both from personal experience and the many evidences I see of its authenticity, I am compelled by consideration of the person I’m talking with, that is based in God’s love for them, and a desire to be as accurate and truthful about all things as I can be, to consider suggestions to the contrary. It’s difficult to admit when one is wrong about something, but to hold a position that has not been tested is hurtful to oneself and those around you that you would like to convince of your position.
Conversations take time. God has called us to “be ready in season and out of season” (II Tim 4), to “always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (I Peter 3). I personally have conversations that have been going on for years with people who disagree with my position, on many subjects, not just Christianity. The Christian doesn’t converse to win an argument. We converse because it is our calling, our privilege to serve God in this way. We are to converse in a manner that is glorifying to God, not our ego.
The world around us is lost. The world has always been lost and were it not for our faith in Christ Jesus, and the fact that someone at some point shared the Gospel with us, so would we be. The favoritism that Christianity has enjoyed over most of my lifetime is no longer. We must, as a result, be more diligent and sober minded in our observation of the world around us and take every opportunity to discern the times. We can then be light in the darkness.
A reading of the following verses is a good beginning of getting an understanding of the world we live in.
Romans 1:19-32, I Corinthians 1:19-25, II Tim 4:3-4, Phil 3:19
To be continued…