Faith and Christianity?

Question

At church the other night the pastor was out and someone stood in, he spoke on faith, some of what he said didn't sit well with me, at least the way I took it, he's a great man so no offence to him. I was inspired though to show what I think and see what other people(even non christians) think about faith in christianity. Should be eye opening.

Faith - wikipedia style -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith
To commit oneself to act based on sufficient evidence to warrant belief, but without absolute proof[1]. Mere belief on the basis of evidence is not faith. To have faith involves an act of will. For example, many people saw Blondin walk across the gorge below Niagara Falls on a tightrope, and believed (on the basis of the evidence of their own eyes) that he was capable of carrying a man on his back safely across. But only his manager Harry Colcord had enough faith to allow himself to be carried.

What is Christian faith based on?
I know what mine is based on...

THE THING IS - it seems to me, that most christians either don't know what their faith is based on, or base it on nothing.

Add more details - such as what do you base your faith on, if anything other than the good book. Just curious, as the Bible is a great thing to base faith on.
Anyone heard the song -
There is a God
by 33miles
?

Answer 1

        In spite of what some people may think, Faith is a difficult subject to talk about (to qualify or quantify) -- and there is nothing "simple" about Faith. Yet, it would seem that Faith *is* quite simple because even a little child can exercise such great amounts of faith so as to make an Atheist or Evolutionist sick with disgust.

One respondent said:
>> Our faith starts out as simple belief; (I believe Jesus is the
>> Son of God) no act required.

        My response? You call believing that Jesus is the Son of God a "simple" act of Faith? I don't think so. This takes *great* faith! Not that it is hard to believe, but that it goes against human nature -- as Atheists, Evolutionists, and Muslims will attest. Yet, even a little child can do it. Why?

        Well, the answer is easy -- if unbelievable to Atheists and Evolutionists:

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (Rom. 12:3)

        You see? God did not leave us to develop our faith on our own. He gave every one of us a measure of faith from birth. This is why a child is able to exercise great amounts of faith seemingly without any evidence or experience upon which to base it at all. The truth is, though, that a child needs only one thing upon which to base their child-like faith -- and that is the God-given, child-like trust which they place in their parents. The parent only has to state something as fact or, in habit, act out something, and the child will automatically latch onto it in faith. Their parent's word or action is good enough for them.

        That is where we must be when it comes to the things of God:

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Mat. 18:3)

        Now, there is still a lot more about faith upon which I haven't even touched, yet. But, this post is getting long and I'm sure the Atheists and Evolutionists would rather I just shut up anyway. ;-)

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb. 11:6)

God bless.

Answer 2

Ever heard the song that goes...

"If I would walk 500 miles
I would walk 500 more
Just to be the one to walk
1000 miles for the Lord."

This song is a great statement about what it means to have faith. What gives you the motivation to take step 1?

Perhaps on step 314 you run into a situation that tries to shake your faith. Do you fall into it and back track or do you continue on to step 315?

The Bible says that if you have the faith the size of a mustard seed you can move mountains.

Here is a picture of a bunch of mustard seeds:

http://www.americanspice.com/images/data/size/products_detail/21167-mustard-seed-yellow.jpg

Do you see how small they are? God's saying that if our faith is even that strong than we can do miraculous things because God will give us the ability to do them. Whether it be land the job we've been looking for, make the team we tried out for, become president of an organization or country, have the guts to propose and get married, have beautiful children to raise and love, etc.

So if all this could be accomplished by that much faith then what do you think could happen with faith this size:

http://img.radio.cz/pictures/priroda/mt_everestsm.jpg

That is a picture of Mount Everest. Do you see the possible potential if your faith is that much?

Let's look at it from a scientific theory standpoint.

Potential energy is energy that is stored and can be used to produce an action, but is doing nothing at the moment.

Kinetic energy is energy in motion, in other words, putting that potential energy to work and accomplishing something.

So consider your faith as potential energy and the work you do because of it as kinetic energy.

The potential energy will have been a waste if it is not used. It's great to have the energy but if you never use it then what's the point? You must do works in the name of faith in order to see the glory that God has created for you.

So my advice is...stop storing potential energy and start using kinetic energy. You only have a short window of opportunity to live in this world and then your time is up. I'll end my sermon (8^D) with this scripture passage.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:14-30;%20Luke%2019:12-27

Reflect on this Scripture.

Answer 3

I was right there with you until you told the tightrope story - mainly because I am irrationally terrified of heights. I do agree with the sentiment - and the definition!

How do I define faith? What is my faith based on?
Trust - based not on absence of reason - but on past experience and strength of evidence. I have "faith" that this chair I'm sitting in is gonna keep supporting me. I have faith the room will be illuminated when I flip the switch - and I have faith that God is and will keep the promises He has made.

Answer 4

Christian faith is based on the self-authenticating, God-breathed Word contained in the Old and New Testaments Christian faith is based on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, including his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.

Answer 5

there are various church homes that are actually not illiberal in direction of those that are distinctive, in the way Christ taught them to be. seem around for a church with a greater socially liberal point of view, and additionally seem into different religions besides. I used to circulate to a church the place an overtly gay guy taught Sunday college and the pastor observed how the assumption of evolution wasn't in conflict with the Christian faith. ultimately you may locate what's proper for you. you will possibly be dropping faith merely because of the fact the church you circulate to has a hateful message (opposite to what Jesus preached), or you will possibly be finding for a greater tolerant faith (or lack thereof) in many circumstances. good luck and chuffed trails.

Answer 6

Excellent point. But to start with, faith is a progression. Our faith starts out as simple belief; (I believe Jesus is the Son of God) no act required. But immediately we initiate an active faith when we confess Jesus as our personal Savior. The more our faith grows, the more active we are. So you are right...faith is active!

Answer 7

Hebrews 11:1 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society



Hebrews 11
By Faith
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Answer 8

This is what faith looks like to me.

I believe that Every soul is precious to the creator.

Contrary to popular belief I believe that God is smart enough to have a plan for the salvation of each and every one of us that is going to work 100 percent of the time.

Any other idea is a simple lack of faith.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 9

Christian faith is the firm trust that Christ died for our sins, applied by grace alone through faith alone. Faith is the instrument God uses to graciously apply the sacrifice of Christ to us. So, He pays our debt and we are counted guiltless because of what He did. Faith trusts this to be true.

Ath

Answer 10

With faith, I do not worry or fear. He casts away my fears because I believe in his power when I pray.

You need to believe first to have faith.