Have you ever been a part of a spiritual conversation where some confusing idea surfaces, and in the confusion one or both parties decide that they “just need to have faith” and not worry about such seeming paradoxes? I think most of us have done something like this at one time or another, and I’m not entirely convinced that this is a good thing. I mean, yes, of course, in the Christian life we all need faith, everyone would agree on that. But is that what it’s all about, Or can faith instead be used as a barrier behind which we can hide so that we won’t have to really interact with God? Wait a minute, what exactly is faith?
Isn’t it just believing in something that we can’t see?
Well, yes, but is it not much more than that?
Yes, of course it is. One of my professors, Dan Allender, has talked a lot about faith (it is, after all, part of the name of the course). He talks a lot about remembering stuff, and how faith yields stability, and how hope is faith for the future, and that betrayal works to destroy faith, and a bunch of stuff like that.
Wait, what is it?
I thought I just told you that.
I don’t think you did.
Oh, so you want me to give you a real, actual definition?
Yes, please.
Well, I don’t really know that I can do that. Can’t you just have faith that God knows the definition?
Yes I can! That’s perfect! I can use my faith that God knows what “faith” means so that I won’t have to actually think about and ponder these things. This is brilliant!
Wait a minute, what were you saying earlier about faith not necessarily being a good thing when it’s used as something to hide behind in order to avoid actual relationship with God and the difficult and often paradoxical ideas that are often used to describe him?
What? Oh, I don’t remember, why?
Eh, no reason.
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