Is Faith Blind?

If you read the gospel of John, and the letter titled 1 John, the writer emphasizes empiricism. That he was a witness of what happened. You see, history isn't a matter of faith, and neither is God's existence. Both can be tested and the best explanation will surface, which is different than claiming it's "proven". But it takes honesty.

The closest synonym to faith is trust. Trust is earned and one can base belief in whether or not claims about future promises are likely true on past performance. Christians are invited in Philippians to test all things.

I posted the above in a thread on another website.  An anonymous commenter asked a couple great questions in reply:

It's not mandatory that one has "witnessed" to accept or "believe", though is it?  Is experience necessary to trust, earned or unearned?

Let me attempt to answer.

"It's not mandatory that one has 'witnessed' to accept or 'believe', though is it?"

John followed Jesus to suffering and death because of what he did witness, but it isn't mandatory as Jesus said in this statement from John 20:29 "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  Jesus said this to Thomas, who He allowed to touch His wounds, instead of criticizing his much discussed doubt.  No one living has witnessed Biblical events first-hand, but the events in the old and new testaments are recorded as history.

We know the places in the Bible are real not just because they're recorded in its pages, but because we have unearthed so many, if not most, of them. With that track record, I can believe that Sodom existed, though it hasn't yet been discovered. I believed that even before an ancient Syrian tablet was found that chronicled trade with that city.

Many of the battles recorded have been verified archaeologically. Many characters are mentioned in extra-biblical writings from the time they lived. As this article points out, the Hebrews were indeed in Egypt as the Bible said. It is actually an old discovery because much Hebrew writing, from the time specified by scripture, has been found in Egyptian mines, indicating their status as slaves. As a result, Christianity isn't a blind faith, as asserted by many Atheists. There are loads of evidence if one isn't in a state of denial.

If the history confirmed by archaeology, the sound wisdom and morality, the superiority of a civilization, flawed as it may be, that has endeavored to follow its ethics aren't enough, the prophecies about Israel, foretold thousands of years ago and fulfilled before our eyes should be enough, if one is reasonable. As I have told my kids, the Bible can stand up to any criticism or test as long as it's an honest challenge. Nothing can stand up to unreasonable demands.

"Is experience necessary to trust, earned or unearned?"

That's a personal question with an answer that varies with each individual. More often than not experience is necessary, but it occurs in many different ways. It's natural for one to choose to trust based on the perception he has of an individual, but the existence of that individual is never in question. That God exists is obvious to anyone honest enough to acknowledge the ubiquitous evidence in creation. Romans chapter 1, in the new testament says creation points to God's existence, so it isn't just a blind act. It's the most logical and reasonable inference.

The Atheist definition of faith calls it "belief that doesn't require evidence."  For scriptural support, many of them point to Hebrews 11:1 which says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  But that's a quote mine.  It's out of context because the chapter goes on to describe the faith of Moses who had no doubt that God existed because he met Him in a bush that burned, but wasn't consumed.  Moses heard God's voice from it.  God made Moses' hand leprous, then healed it again.  He turned Moses' staff into a snake, then back again.  God went on to destroy Egypt with a series of fantastic plagues and drown their army in the Red Sea, after He parted the water to make a path of escape for the Hebrews.  God established that He existed, His power and demonstrated not only that He could fulfill His promise to their ancestor Abraham, but that He would.

That's empirical evidence and if Moses still lived, he would say he had more than Newton that his theory of gravity is right.  So what is faith in this circumstance?  Moses relinquished the control that we all hold on to so dearly, and trusted that the God he definitely knew was there, would keep and protect him and his people.  He trusted that God would do what was promised and had good reason to based on the incredible things that had happened so far.  It was the "substance" of things hoped for and unseen.  Unlike many other Hebrews, Moses trusted that God would care for them and that He didn't lead them into the wilderness to have them die of hunger and thirst.

A quick Google search on "faith" brings this definition:

1. complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
"this restores one's faith in politicians"
synonyms: trust, belief, confidence, conviction;

...and it's followed by the newly manufactured, Atheist version that I already offered:

2. strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

I think, for Moses and many others throughout scripture, the first is more appropriate.  But for us today it isn't just based on the stories.  It's based on a history that has been reinforced with archaeology and our own experience, to the extent we're willing to test what God promised to see if, and how, He will deliver.

For me, I had very little faith when I first believed. Just enough to believe God existed. But faith grew as I tested what scripture taught, and found it to be true. One challenge is in the book of James which says that faith without works is dead. The hardest tests for me have been with promises of God's providence, like the Hebrews in the wilderness.  Waiting on God in the midst of bad circumstances isn't apathy.  It is a "work" as James said, and faith will grow as one sees Him respond.

It's natural to want to control all one can.  It provides a sense of security, but a false one.  I have had almost all control taken from me this has proved to me how falsely placed my security was.  Physical injury, multiple surgeries, job loss, failed business, incredibly slow disability process which still hasn't materialized after multiple applications over a few years. But during this trial, I have never seen God fail, as odd as that may sound. Things frequently don't work out the way I expect or want, but I, and my family, have never lacked the essentials.

It has been said, outside the Bible, that God is rarely early, but never late. I have discovered the truth of it and that He acts precisely when, and how, He means to and that I don't need to worry, even though I frequently still do. Paul wrote that God's strength is made perfect in weakness and I'm pretty weak now, but expecting to see His strength demonstrated after all I have seen Him do so far.

Faith, at least the Christian variety, isn't blind.  It is a trust in a Creator that obviously exists, and that has earned it by delivering faithfully.

Of Hummingbirds and Half-Baked Explanations

I have flocks of hummingbirds buzzing around my feeder this morning.  As I watched them, I wondered what it might take to build a machine to fly like they do.  Helicopters are an amazing technology but incredibly inefficient and clumsy when compared to this little aviator, and they don't fly themselves.

To say this creature, that can beat its wings up to 80 times per second on 10 calories per day, arose by gradual, accidental changes over millions of years is a lame pseudo-explanation so fantastic that it resembles the magical creation myths of historic pagan cultures.

One would have to be in such an incredible, and unhealthy, state of denial to hold such a view.  No wonder David said in Psalm 14:1 "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'"  Paul was right in Romans 1 to call such thinking futile.  With their understanding darkened, rather than enlightened.  With a reasoning mind, I can't imagine how to build such a thing of beauty and grace.  Such a picture of intricate, high-leveled function and efficiency.

And I'm just talking about flight.  Leaving out sight, hearing, taste, touch, damage repair and reproduction.  The ability to navigate from north to south and back again over tremendous distances.  The ability to avoid obstacles and respond to threats, just to name a few more things.  All in a tiny package that runs on sugar.  Maybe one has to work in engineering or tech to truly appreciate what this is.

Some snidely remark that "God did it" is no explanation at all.  Maybe so, but I say it's way better than dismissing obvious design as an illusion, which is an incredibly weak way to make your argument.  If that's what happened, it's what happened.  No one has trouble attributing the manufacture of a car to an intelligent agent, even if they don't know who the inventor is.  The real science isn't in postulating a counter-intuitive, frankly insane theory that technology such as hummingbird flight just arose with no planning, intention or design.  Especially when it isn't observed and there is no way to test such an idea.  The real science is in discovering how this animal can fly the way it does and attempting to replicate it in a way to replace our existing clumsy, inefficient technology.

A "kluge" is an ill-assorted collection of parts assembled to fulfill a particular purpose.  Many Darwinists like to point to biological mechanisms as such, as they go on to say "It looks just the way it would if it were to come about by evolution."  What an impossibly ignorant line.  It is truly a canard because what man builds is ALWAYS a feeble kluge when compared to what we find in life, and no Darwinist points to the best products of modern human engineering as such.

Returning to Romans 1, Paul says in verse 20 that it is obvious that God exists by what is made.  "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,..."  Here.....take a look:

Job And The Problem Of Evil

Finished Job again today.  Chapter 1 describes what happened in heaven before God allowed Satan to make Job's life a living hell.  Job had no knowledge of the conversation between God and Satan before he lost his kids, his livelihood, his health and status.  Then he wonders why God is out to get him. 

This book in part addresses what is known in philosophy and theology as Theodicy, or the problem of evil; "If God is real, why is there so much pain and suffering?"  Here are a few verses that stand out to me this time around with the name of the one making the statement:

4:17 (Eliphaz) - "Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker?"

It's a rhetorical question and the answer is NO.  I hear many question God's goodness.  Once read an atheist reply "Yes" to this, but we all do it at one point or another.  Judgement, justice, chastening and refining aren't evil, as the likes of Richard Dawkins want to paint it as they attempt to indict God.

38:2 (God) - "Who is this who darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?"

We don't have the whole picture, of which we are a tiny part.  The Bible says God does.  Any complaint we might have against Him is based in ignorance and pride.  God doesn't owe us an answer.  He didn't explain Himself to Job, but we can find clues, and promises, to God's purposes throughout scripture if we're willing to seek them out.

40:2 (God) - "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who rebukes God, let him answer it."

40:4-5 (Job) - "Behold, I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
I lay my hand over my mouth.
Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further."

Wise response.  I think we will hear that many times at the judgement when all of humanity stands before God.

40:8 (God) - "Would you indeed annul My judgement?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?"

Instead of admitting fault and recognizing our place before God, we all have a tendency to accuse Him at one point or another.  Adam did it with the statement "The woman whom You gave to be with me..."  No one is innocent but God, who is the very definition of righteousness.

42:2-3 (Job) - "I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?'
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."

42:5-6 (Job) - "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.
Therefore I abhor myself,
And repent in dust and ashes."

Most of Job records the words of a few men as they try to fit God, and His purposes, into little man-sized boxes of their own imagining.  It demonstrates God is too big for that and during this life we will never get our minds around what He does. 

Romans 8:28, without attempting to go into detail, says "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  This was written by an apostle that spent many years in prison before being tried by the infamous Roman Caesar Nero.  Paul knew it to be true from Biblical history, logic, revelation and personal experience.

Proverbs 3:34 says in the NLT:
"The Lord mocks the mockers
    but is gracious to the humble."

James, in 4:6, and Peter, in 1 Peter 5:5, express that verse:
"God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble."

Job in his pride, like everyone else, demanded an explanation from God.  A justification.  God didn't owe Job an explanation and didn't give one, but basically said "Who the hell are you?" and "What do you know?"  He doesn't owe us an explanation either.  Job did the right thing, recognized his place and humbled himself.  We will all stand before God one day as Job did.  We will all be in awe and ready to cover our mouths like Job and like Isaiah who said

"It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.".  (6:5 NLT)

Job had the opportunity to repent and so do we at the present time, but one day we won't.

This is all, of course, from a Christian perspective.  It assumes there is a creator of the universe and makes complete sense in that context.  Romans 1 says it's obvious that God exists, based on what we observe in the world around us, but that's for another post.