What is faith? Is it the opposite of reason? Is it a blind leap into the unknown? Is it something else?
This blog is an excerpt from the Family Bible Study Workbooks. I’d love to hear your responses in the comments below.
Reason is thinking carefully about something. It usually involves the laws of logic we covered last week, but reason is not always done well. Anyone can reason poorly, and anyone can reason well, no matter what their worldview.
The main reason atheists claim that reason is the opposite of faith is that they do not believe there is any evidence that God exists. Christians do believe there is evidence that God exists. Therefore, our faith in God is based on reason, not blind, unsubstantiated “faith.”
What evidence do we have that God exists? That is a large subject for a different study. For now, I encourage you to read Romans 1:20 and think about how God has worked in your life. Have you trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If so, how has He changed your life? If not, have you seen God at work in your life or the lives of those around you? Ask Him to show you He is real, and look for the answer (Jer. 29:13). Scripture is full of amazing answers to that prayer.
What is biblical faith? Read Hebrews 11:1 and do your best to fill in the blanks below.
“Now faith is the ________________________________ of things hoped for, the ________________________________ of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
Faith is not a blind leap. Faith is a firm commitment to what you have good reasons to believe is true. Everyone has faith in something, even atheists. Read Matt. 22:37; 1 Cor. 13:11; 14:20; 1 Pet. 3:15. What do these verses have in common? [Allow family to answer.]
What about people who say it’s impossible to know what is true? That there is no absolute truth? Two groups that follow this reasoning are postmodernists and so-called moral relativists. They say there is no truth. That means truth is whatever an individual says it is. Everyone could be right, or no one could be right, but it doesn’t really matter. A popular catchphrase is: “Truth is relative” (except the truth that all truths are relative; see the Law of Contradiction). They typically demand acceptance and celebration of all “truths.” Do you know anyone with this worldview? What are some things they say? [Allow family to answer.]
While there is value in trying to see things from another’s perspective, this approach to truth isn’t sustainable. For example, there would be no basis to argue that a mass murderer is wrong. There would be no way to call for justice or insist that all views be accepted because everybody is simply “living their truth.” We know deep down that is not right (Rom. 2:15).
What about people who say it’s impossible to know what is true? That there is no absolute truth? Two groups that follow this reasoning are postmodernists and so-called moral relativists. They say there is no truth. That means truth is whatever an individual says it is. Everyone could be right, or no one could be right, but it doesn’t really matter. A popular catchphrase is: “Truth is relative” (except the truth that all truths are relative; see the Law of Contradiction). They typically demand acceptance and celebration of all “truths.” While there is value in trying to see things from another’s perspective, this approach to truth isn’t sustainable. For example, there would be no basis to argue that a mass murderer is wrong. There would be no way to call for justice or insist that all views be accepted because everybody is simply “living their truth.” We know deep down that is not right (Rom. 2:15).
We need to look at the difference between objective and subjective truth. Subjective truth is an opinion. I think blue-green is the best color in the world. You can disagree with me without invalidating the truth of my opinion. That is subjective truth. Objective truth is true, no matter what we think about it. Two plus two is four. It doesn’t matter if I want it to be five or twenty. The correct answer is four. Anything else is incorrect.
Read Jer. 10:10; Jn. 17:3; Rom 9:20; Jn. 14:6. Who sets the standards for truth? [Allow family to answer.]
Read Isa. 33:22; 2 Cor. 5:10; Ps. 7:11; Rom. 2:1-4. Who is the judge of what is right or wrong? [Allow family to answer.]
The dictionary definition of tolerance is “the ability or willingness to tolerate [put up with] something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with” (Oxford Languages Dictionary, bracket explanation mine). Does that mean we need to agree with everyone? [Allow family to answer.]
Read Matt. 5:44; Rom. 14:9-13; Eph 4:15; Lk. 6:31; Prov 25:21-22; 1 Pet. 3:14-16. How should we treat those who disagree with us? [Allow family to answer.]
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