For the Christian saving faith is not taking a leap into the dark, but a step into the light. It is important to understand that our faith is only as good as the object we place it in. If that object, which for the Christian is the word of God, is a rock solid reliable source, then I content that faith in Jesus as God is both reasonable and rational.
While the Christian faith asks us to believe in the supernatural this goes contrary to the predominant worldview in America today called naturalism. Naturalism starts with the premise that anything supernatural is impossible and since the existence of God and all the miracles we see recorded in the Bible are supernatural events we can clearly rule out this possibility. Thus, faith in God and His supernatural doings in the Bible clearly are not possible to a naturalist.
But this line of reasoning is irrational since our faith in God simply follows the evidence wherever it leads. To state that miracles and faith in an invisible God are not possible from the start allows the naturalist to be left with the most irrational idea on how this universe came into being. His only conclusion is that nobody times nothing equals everything. This evolutionary mantra, not only is irrational, but takes more faith to believe in than the biblical teaching that: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1).
The naturalist doesn’t seem to realize that he puts his faith in things that are invisible and that he can’t understand how they work all the time. For example, when he gets a cut on his hand, he believes that a clot will form and will heal the wound. Yet, this amazing process happens inside his own hand and he can’t see the intricate internal processes inside his body that accomplish this healing feat. But he has had cuts in the past and his body always seems to heal itself, thus he has faith that future cuts will also heal themselves without his having to do anything. And there are many other examples of things that are invisible that we put our faith in like the force of gravity and electricity. He also has faith that the milk he drinks is safe and free of poisons even though he can’t be 100% certain.
For the Christian, when he follows the evidence, it leads him to have faith in God and the Bible because they both have the following rational reasons to defend their existence and veracity. First, to create our vastly complex universe, requires an infinitely powerful and intelligent being – which we call and believe is God. Second, the Bible must be a supernatural book, because it is historically accurate in everything it says, states scientific events and laws that men have only discovered in some cases 2,000 years later, and prophesies events hundreds and even thousands of years before they happen. Third, only the Bible gives us a rational reason why our world is in such a mess – sin. And fourth, Christians can testify down through the centuries of the incredible transformation that has taken place in their lives once they, by faith, accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
While I can’t prove Jesus is God through the scientific method, which is basically through observable, repeatable experimentation, I have enough evidences all around me to allow me to have reasonable faith in the reliability of the Bible and that Jesus is God. This faith in God allows me to live a life of joy, peace, purpose, and the expectation of eternal life with Jesus. For the naturalist, his faith is in the belief that he came from nothing, when he dies he goes back to nothing, and in between these two states of nothingness he has maybe 70 or 80 years to find meaning in life – good luck.
My friends once I was blind but now I see. For the naturalist he sees but in reality he is blind. I have a calm assurance and strong belief that God loves me and His holy word, the Bible, is absolute truth. Faith and reason are my traveling companions as I journey through life and God throws in peace and joy free of charge. When I cast my lot with Jesus I made the wisest investment of my time, talent, and treasury. Far from being blind faith, I made my decision, thanks to Jesus working in my heart, to come out of the darkness and into His marvelous light!
“faith in God and His supernatural doings in the Bible clearly are not possible to a naturalist.”
It’s important we maintain the Biblical understanding of why the naturalist believes the supernatural is not possible. It is never due to lack of evidence but is a willful act of suppression of the evidence. He knows the truth and in his rebellion and hate of God, refuses to acknowledge what is plain to him. This is not innocent ignorance that can be enlightened if given enough evidence but is a sinful choice in the face of God’s invisible attributes, deserving of God’s wrath.
This is clearly a battle of presuppositions rather than evidences. We all see the same evidences but interpret them according to our worldview; therefore, our task is to challenge the unbeliever’s presuppositions that make up his worldview rather than pile our proofs of God’s existence on a person who already knows God exists. It has been said, “There are no atheists, but liars who deny the existence of God.”
Only the work of the Holy Spirit can grant repentance and faith that changes the heart of the suppressor of truth.
Romans 1:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images.
and I’m so glad you did Curt, and are writing these devotion, because they are very encouraging.