When asked why I believe what I believe I think many times people just expect the common answer. I just have faith. This is the most common answer that religious people use to explain the things that they believe but don’t have an answer for.
People are almost astonished when I say that I believe what I believe more because of the evidence and proof rather then just “blind faith” or “blind belief.”
When I declare that I have faith in Jesus and hold to the doctrines of Christianity because of the evidence and proof of it, some people feel that because I base what I believe on evidence and proof that I have less faith than someone who has faith without knowing the proofs and evidences.
Here’s the thing though, my faith that’s based on proof and evidence is a more biblical faith then the one that’s blind. By the Bible’s definition, faith is not blind, nor is it made up by what you don’t know. Faith, defined in Hebrews 11:1-3, must be made up of two things: substance and evidence. So in actuality, people that hold to Christianity with the loose grip that they call “blind faith” don’t even really poses faith at all. It would be merely a belief with no backing.
Even Peter himself declares in 2 Peter chapter 1 that his faith and testimony are based on the evidences of what he witnessed with Christ and the confirmation of the prophetic words in scripture that were spoken through men that were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Even Peter, one of the pillars of the early church, wasn’t led by a blind faith. His faith was based on substance and evidence just as stated in Hebrews. Show me a man that lives his life of faith in Christ by substance and evidence and I guarantee that this man will have a closer walk with the Lord that exhibits more power, strength, and fruit, than a man that holds to a blind faith that is a result of his laziness or lack of interest in knowing more fully the God that created him.
It is our responsibility to add to our faith just as Peter stated in 2 Peter 1. The evidences and proofs are definitely out there waiting for you to bear witness to them. We cannot live in the excuse that it was easier for Peter to have a faith based on substance and evidence due to the fact that he was an eyewitness of the life of Jesus. The fact that we don’t have Jesus physically among us has no forbearance on our ability to be an eyewitness. Jesus said in Mark 16:17 that signs would follow believers. Psalms 19:1 says: The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
So we should be eyewitnesses both to the tangible workings of God in the lives of people and to the proofs that creation itself screams of our God.
Peter also gives us instruction in 1 Peter 3:15 to “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.” When Peter speaks of the reason for your hope, I seriously doubt that the reason he is instructing us to give is, “I just have faith.” This brings no understanding or proof to your hope. “Just because,” has never been an acceptable answer. If you ask someone a question and their answer to you is “just because,” what will your initial reaction be? Most would agree that the person that was asked the question has no idea. Is this the message that you convey when you speak of the things of God? Furthermore, Peter doesn’t just say to give a reason, he says to give a defense for your reason. The only way that you can defend anything is if you have evidence and proof. If a lawyer goes into a case without evidence and proof toward the case that they represent, but instead they just stand up and say, “I believe my client,” then no one will believe them because they had no defense to their claim. Likewise, if we stand in front of someone that is asking us for the reason for our hope and faith in Christ, and you can’t present a knowledgeable defense, then as the jury to the case, your listener has no option but to declare that you don’t know what you’re talking about and therefore you can’t possibly be right.
I have a challenge to anyone who hears this message. Prove to me that God exists, that Christ walked the Earth, and most importantly, that Christ is who He claimed to be and did what the Bible said He did. Defend that! If you have trouble with that, I want to encourage you not to be discouraged, but to put away laziness and the feelings of intimidation toward the task of adding to your faith.
You are an eyewitness of Jesus Christ! If you have a hard time excepting this then you are blind and your faith is shallow, just as 2 Peter 1 makes clear. Blind faith is no faith at all. Faith is substance and evidence. If faith does not contain these two things then it is a mere belief that lacks the strength and power of the one true Living God. James 2:17 says, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” By the way, the substance of things hoped for, that Hebrews speaks of are the works or actions of your life that testify to your hope. Faith is based on reality and truth not on mysteries, theories, opinions, ideas, fables, wishful thinking, positive thinking, or on blind belief. To understand that faith is substance and evidence, we now can grasp the reality that faith can grow and should grow. Even Paul backs this up when he says in Romans 1:17 “For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” By Paul’s statement we see two things. First, faith is based on revelation. This means it has evidence and can be proven. Secondly, faith grows.
Be diligent to “add to your faith” the things that Peter lists in 2 Peter 1, and you will live in the promise that follows. These promises are that you will be fruitful and you will not fall or stumble. What a powerful promise that we have through Christ Jesus.
I know that we are all thrown under the title of “believers,” but I would rather be know as “faithful” than “a believer.” Being faithful not only speaks of what I believe but why I believe and what I do to back up what I believe. Merely believing doesn’t have the strength of faith. Anyone can believe. James 2:19 says, “Even the demons believe — and tremble!” I don’t just want to be counted among the likes of demons. I want to be counted among the likes of the faithful. Jesus isn’t going to say, “well done good and believing servant.” I’m going to hear Him some day say, “Well done good and FAITHFULL servant.”
Let us all strive to hear those words from our Savior some day by taking to heart and putting to action the words of Peter. Be diligent to ADD to your faith.
Be blessed and strong in the Lord and His promises!
Pastor Eric
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