What is true faith?

HS #39 2018.10.11

What is true faith?

“Faith” is a word I have never understood. 

Part of the confusion occurs because the word is used in opposing ways.  This occurred recently at a conference.  One speaker explained that as evidence grows, our faith – that is our confidence – grows in proportion. The more supporting evidence one has, the more faith one has. Seemed reasonable. But then another speaker explained that “faith” fills the gap left by having incomplete evidence.  So the more evidence one has, the less faith one needs. 

As an example, consider a mother who sends her son and daughter to a store each with a grocery list and $20. The daughter has always returned with the correct items. The son sometimes loses the money or buys the wrong things.  

In which child does she have more faith?  Her confidence in her daughter is higher than in her son. Is this what "faith" means?  Or is she putting more faith in her son because the faith makes up – fills the gap - for the lack of confidence? 

Or is the verb significant: Does she HAVE more faith in her daughter, but PUT more faith in her son? 

Or is it incorrect to quantify faith? She has faith in both, never mind “how much.” 

These seem important questions for Christians in particular, since faith is central in Christianity. 

Jesus was comfortable quantifying faith; he talked about having the tiny faith of a mustard seed. 

The Apostle Paul claimed, “by grace are ye saved through faith.“  The Heidelberg Catechism (HC) agrees that only those with “true faith” are saved. But this, of course, raises the next question, “What is true faith?”

The HC’s answer: “True faith is a sure knowledge whereby I accept as true ALL [my emphasis] that God has revealed to us in his word. At the same time it is a firm confidence … ” But alas, this just raises more questions. 

 Does “all” really mean “all”? So then a person who doesn’t accept as true that the sun stood still for Joshua or that Jonah was swallowed by a fish is not saved? Seems severe. 

The HC also seems confused, even self-contradictory, as to whether faith is an active choice one makes or a state of mind not under one’s control.  

Consider the phrase, "a sure knowledge whereby I accept as true."  “Accept as true” implies making a choice. But what choice to believe is needed if the thing is already known for sure?   I have a sure knowledge that a bowl of Hudsonville Toasted Coconut ice cream (the best flavor ever invented) is on my lap.  I see it.  I smell it.  I taste it.  I feel the weight and the coolness, I hear the clunk when I knock it with my spoon. My friend confirms that it is there. So I am compelled to believe it (unless like George Berkeley or the solipsists I assert that the physical world doesn’t really exist). Conclusion:  No choice is needed to “accept as true” if one already has “a sure knowledge.” 

The confusion continues with the phrase  “a firm confidence.”   Whereas “accept as true” implies that faith is an act of volition,  “a firm confidence” implies that faith is a   state of mind not under one’s control, since one can’t choose to have confidence any more than one can choose to like ice cream.   So is faith a state of mind or an act of volition?   

Indeed, can a person choose to believe?  If I offered you $1000 for believing that I could levitate, would you believe it? COULD you believe it? The incentive is there, but can you choose to have faith? Perhaps the choice is whether you are honest with yourself and others concerning if you have faith. But whether or not you believe seems outside of your control.

Or suppose an entrepreneur advises four friends to invest their savings in a new company. One is confident and invests; one is skeptical, but invests nonetheless; the third believes it will likely be successful, but still doesn’t take the chance; and the fourth has no confidence and doesn’t invest. Which of these has faith? Is faith essentially an action one takes, or is it a state of mind?

So, does faith increase or decrease with supporting evidence? Is faith a matter of choice? If so does it require action?  Or is faith a state of mind not under our volition?  All questions to ponder. Thoughts are welcome.