Faith is being sure of what we Hope for: I don’t think so.

“The Opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty” (Anne Lamott)

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Heb 11:1, NIV). I am sure that we have heard this verse quoted almost as much as John 3:16. But here is what I believe to be a more accurate translation from the Greek,  “Now faith is the confidence (essence or substance) of things hoped for, the assurance of things unseen” (Interlinear, the Complete Biblical Library). It comes down to the Greek word Pistis (faith). According to Dr. Konkel this word is about trusting, not so much about believing. Belief implies cognition, human cognition. How can faith be reduced to mere comprehension? It is not about how much we know; it is about how much we trust on the basis of what we know (If there is no or very little knowledge of God, what then is trust based on?). People often believe that a plane will fly but still refuse to get onboard. This is important because the misconception of faith is to think it is about believing, when it is not. Often it is difficult to know what to believe in, but yet have the courage to trust nonetheless – That is real faith. Words like ‘being sure’ and ‘certain’ give a false sense… is there any significance here?

Ultimately to speak of God as He is, is to reduce Him, to limit Him, and to belittle Him. The fact that we think we can grasp His ‘person’ and His behavior must primarily be arrogant, but also foolish. Defining God has always come down to who can use the most superfluously superlative word-combinations in order to depict Him as He apparently is. He is infinite, boundless, all loving, all compassionate, all gracious… omni this omni that, and finally indescribable? Basically and clearly, everything that is beyond full human comprehension. So if this is God, the object of our worship, how can we speak of certainty in regards to faith in Him?

There is no certainty in Faith. None. (this is self evident in the English language itself) If there was and if the Holy Spirit was truly living and speaking in everyChristian’s ‘heart’ why are there hundreds of denominations and disagreements in the Body of Christ? Are they all clearly hearing the Almighty Spirit? Why is there so much confusion – “Our ability to know the truth and be rational is rather fragile, subject to the warpings of our sinful nature. We practice “cheap rationality”, if you will, being rational and open to truth only so long as it serves our interests” (Clark & Gaede).

God’s special revelation (Scripture) is obviously ambiguous enough to confuse just about every person who has ever lived. Richard Dawkins, an Oxford zoologist, specifically an ethologist (a science of animal behavior), author of the God Delusion, The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, and many more, was asked in an interview what he would say if he died and found himself in front of God. He said that he would ask God why He kept Himself so hidden.

Christians and those of other faiths deal with doubt all the time because of His hiddeness/silence. Mother Theresa’s journals tell us that God had been silent to her for decades! This should be a piercing indication of how real this can be, even for a saint who had devoted almost her entire life to serving God in India (The irony being the millions of Christians all over north America who apparently hear God all the time…) there is an insidious understanding of Faith in North America, which preaches that real faith (with all its religious baggage) is supposed to be sure and absolute. It is interesting how people love comfort and stability and yet, ironically and innately, what captivates humankind more than Pure Mystery?

In faith we have an imperfect grasp of God’s truth… Robert Bell says that Christianity is about embracing mystery, not conquering it. Let’s be humble in our faith; let’s be the last to judge and condemn and the first to listen and love. Don’t base your faith on vacillating religious doctrines and ideas, for that is all human…