"Blind Faith?"

[JLove]

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Now, I’ve heard it said that one should not have “blind faith,” but I would ask, “Is there a faith that isn’t blind?” What I mean is once you have some sort of proof doesn’t it cease to be faith?

John 20:29 Jesus said to him [Thomas], “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Was Jesus saying that those whom have blind faith are blessed?

John 2:23-24 “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did; but Jesus did not trust himself to them,” [Emphasis added]

Will Jesus only trust/believe (it’s the same word in Greek) himself to those who have blind faith?

Thoughts please.

 

[SteveT]

I think you have a peculiar notion of what “faith” is. I like this little blurb from AW Tozer:​

"I confess that it is very intriguing to me to consider the habits of the so-called liberal thinkers. They reject the validity of any kind of faith, declaring that they choose to reject religion because it requires faith. Yet they do not discern that they are going through many of the motions of faith every day.

They get up every morning fully expecting that the sun will be in its accustomed course when they rise. They fully expect that the morning newspaper will be delivered as promised. Although they cannot entirely explain it, they have no doubt that breakfast will satisfy their appetites - at least temporarily!

They step out on the sidewalk with full faith that it will not collapse under their weight. They do not call the office where they work to inquire if they still have a job. Something very much like faith tells them their job is secure and waiting."​

Faith is not a zap! - wake up one morning and have it kind of thing. Faith develops over time, as the one you put faith in reveals himself to be faithful over and over. It is not blind, but rather based on experience.

 

[JLove]

SteveT,

I realize that there are different aspects of faith, but in relation to your quote I would think all the examples he gives apply more to “hope” than faith.

Let me ask you this though, “Why do you believe in God?”

 

[awalt]

I do not think Jesus was referring to “blind faith” when He said faith.

Belief about God is necessary before we can have faith in him. So God graciously reveals himself to us in nature, history, the prophets, the redeemed community, and supremely in Jesus. When we read the Bible or hear the priest and become convinced in our minds that this God is worth entrusting one’s life to, we make the big commitment and hand over our lives to him: this time with our hearts, our wills, our whole being.

 

[FightingFat]

I don’t think blind faith is at all healthy. Jesus taught using parables- he asked his audience to figure stuff out and being a Christian is all about utilising your intellect to sus out what God wants from us.

Faith, by definition, requires us to have doubt. There’s nothing wrong with that. If we had no doubt, how could we have faith? God hides not to be hidden, but to cause us to search.

 

[JLove]

Faith, by definition, requires us to have doubt. There’s nothing wrong with that. If we had no doubt, how could we have faith?

Could you expound upon this a bit more. Particularly the part about doubt being a requirement. What do you mean? I’ve always held that doubting God is something negative.

God hides not to be hidden, but to cause us to search.

I like and agree with that part.

 

[FightingFat]

JLove:

Could you expound upon this a bit more. Particularly the part about doubt being a requirement. What do you mean? I’ve always held that doubting God is something negative.

I think everyone has doubts. How could we have faith if we didn’t have doubts? It wouldn’t be faith then, it would be ‘knowledge’. Listen-

…then said a teacher
‘Speak to us of teaching’
and he said
'no man can reveal to you aught but that which lies half asleep in the dawning of our knowledge.

The teacher who walks in the shadow of the Temple, amoung his followers, gives not of his wisdom, but rather of his faith and his lovingness.

If he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind’.

Khalil Gibran
The Prophet

Do you know the story called ‘Footprints’?

JLove:

I like and agree with that part.

Cool!

 

[space_ghost]

blind faith is where all of us start… it’s only went we get old enough to start asking why that our faith starts getting the test… then with a little study and prayer, we begin to no longer need to place our hands in his side, and feel the holes in his hands so-to-speak…

then the real faith begins, and yes, some of it is blind to, pick your favorite mystery…

 

[JLove]

space ghost:

blind faith is where all of us start… it’s only went we get old enough to start asking why that our faith starts getting the test… then with a little study and prayer, we begin to no longer need to place our hands in his side, and feel the holes in his hands so-to-speak…

then the real faith begins, and yes, some of it is blind to, pick your favorite mystery…

AMEN

FightingFat:

I think everyone has doubts. How could we have faith if we didn’t have doubts? It wouldn’t be faith then, it would be ‘knowledge’. Listen-

I think it needs to be destinguished that “questions” are okay, but “doubts” are right out. I once heard it said that, “A thousand questions don’t make a single doubt.” So, I think we (FightingFat and myself) are saying the same thing but in different terms.

 

[psalm90]

Genesis 3:9 The LORD God then called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?” (NAB)

I think it was C.S.Lewis (or maybe A.J. Tozier) who said that God said that, not because He was lost, but because we are.

(insert time for thinking here)

God certainly knew where Adam was. Adam knew where God was. But, Adam was hiding.

Scripture never proves the existence of God. It always assumes it.
(again, something I read once)

I Cor 13 teaches us that faith is a gift from God, and we should seek it.

In Crossing the Threshold of Hope the Holy Father says that men often reject God because they don’t like how God has revealed Himself to us. And, people stumble right there – “Himself” rather than “Herself” or “It” or “whatever”.

A non-Catholic friend of mine who graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago says that he likes to find himself in a position of always agreeing with scripture. A lot of people have not made or even considered that decision.

Mark 1:15 The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.

I think there’s significance to the order “repent and believe” rather than “believe and repent.” There’s a song with the line “taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”

The idea is that people should give repentence a chance and find out what “real living” in Jesus Christ is about. We have to lift up our heads from a sinful life, to see and want a savior and redeemer. Jesus said that only those could come to him whom the Father has called. Sadly, not everyone is so called but it’s not ours to judge. He told us to preach the gospel to every creature. The rest is up to Him, not us. We can’t save anybody, including ourself. To God be the glory.

 

[FightingFat]

JLove:

I think it needs to be destinguished that “questions” are okay, but “doubts” are right out. I once heard it said that, “A thousand questions don’t make a single doubt.” So, I think we (FightingFat and myself) are saying the same thing but in different terms.

One of the things I’m trying to suggest is that we are careful what we have blind faith in.
Faith in God’s love is one thing, faith in man’s agenda is another. It is part of our tradition that we should be wary of what men ask us to do in the name of religion. It requires careful consideration.

I doubt. I doubt myself and my faith. Deep down I feel God’s love and I know I am ok. But I constantly battle with my id. That’s life; that’s progressive thinking, assimulating the experiences of my life with my understanding of that journey. For each of us it will be a little different, but through the experience we are all drawing closer to God.