Faith: Process or Goal?

Answer 1

Faith is so often misconstrued. It has several definitions and the problems come when someone is using it in one manner and others are interpreting it in another.
For example, faith sometimes referes to a person's religion or doctrine (the faith I belong to or 'my faith'), sometimes refers to a belief or acceptance of some doctrine about god (have faith and you will find god, or you just need faith to believe), sometimes it means loyalty (don't lose faith in the church etc).
But most of the time faith is refering to how one believes what one believes - in this case it is believing based upon someone else's conviction (because someone else says it is so - a minister, a priest, the bible etc)
For the first poster: you don't need to have faith in a chair, you can clearly see it has legs that support your weight. Faith is applied to things you can't see or cannot sense (god) for example.

Answer 2

I say neither. Faith is not a goal....I don't believe we "strive" to attain it. I can't say it is a process though we may grow within it...because often it can be lost. I think it is something we possess whether we are aware of it or not. It is the knowledge of what is not seen and yet known. Our hope lies in our faith and is what we hold on to when there is nothing....when all is gone as we see it Faith is what keeps us moving forward.

Answer 3

If faith is a process, then what IS the goal? I think i will post that question!

Answer 4

Interesting question! I would say its a process. We are commanded in Scripture to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). This growth is spiritual growth, faith growth. The goal is communion with our Creator.

Answer 5

Definitely process.you need to continue to have faith in what you do.it is not the case that once you have faith,you can ignore it.faith cannot be called a goal because faith in something does not need to be kept only once.you need to have faith throughout the process.

Answer 6

Green,
It's not a Process or Goal. Faith is Spiritual
in ones self. You either are strong in your
own Faith, or you are weak. You choose!
''For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities,against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this
World, against Spiritual wickedness
in high places.'' ( Satan! ) Without having
A strong Spiritual Faith in God, Your cooked.

Answer 7

I believe it is both; do you see that as a cop-out? Genuinely interested in your view.

Answer 8

everyone possesses faith

you sit in a chair without testing it...that is faith

most have faith in chairs and such and wont have it in God