There is a great deal of confusion, even among believers, regarding the appropriate character faith.  I have heard at least two experienced preachers make the comment, “You’ve got to take it on faith,” thus committing a ridiculous failure as they were confusing faith with superstition.

Definitions

Superstition – belief or conviction without evidence

Faith – trusting conviction (The definition will be more fully defined further in the article.)

SUPERSTITION

“Superstition” certainly defines the conviction of many in that they have not had, or taken opportunity, to consider the evidence behind their faith, or the lack thereof.  They have simply adopted the faith of those around them.  They are “Christians” because everyone around them professes to believe in Christ.  Many times over the past thirty-five years I’ve asked saints who should have possessed a deep knowledge of God’s word to provide evidence for their faith regarding a basic bible truth only to find that they could not recall the book, chapter, and verse.  Don’t misunderstand, to be saved you do not have to recall every passage proving the divinity of Christ or the necessity of baptism, etc. but to provide an effective defense of your faith you need to know the passages that support it. 

Superstitious faith is typically the product of the influence of those around us or perhaps our misunderstood personal experience.  Regarding the latter for instance, someone walking down a dark swamp road at night may observe a soft glow beyond the tree line and conclude they’ve seen a ghost when they have actually observed a natural phenomenon called “marsh gas” which is a mixture of methane, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide gases.  It is easy to say this as I’m writing this on a beautiful north Texas day, whereas if I were the one walking down that swamp road in the middle of the night, I might find myself irrationally seeing ghosts and goblins.  After all, I still get the heebie-jeebies if I’m by myself in a big old church building. I admit to sensing a dark and ominous presence and realize it is likely the product of my imagination … but the heebie-jeebies are still there.  Grrrrr

This is all fun and games unless superstition is treated as “faith”.  It accomplishes nothing regarding salvation and serves as a spiritual detriment to all those over whom we have influence.  It is not the faith prescribed by God.

WHAT IS THE CHARACTER OF FAITH THAT GOD FINDS ACCEPTABLE?

As most may know, the English word “faith” in the bible is translated from the Greek word “pistis” and is simply defined as conviction or belief.  However, a word is defined by how it is used, and what we’ll see is that “faith” involves all those things identified with the term that are required by God. 

FIRST: Faith must be based on the evidence God provides!

Note that in Hebrews 11:6 we are told: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”  We can effectively “seek,” or know God, only through the information He has provided us, and through that information we arrive at the conclusion that He rewards us for the effort of seeking Him.  What can be known about God can be clearly seen through that which He has made, even His “eternal power and divine nature”. (Romans 1:18-19)  I believe the Apostle Paul is pointing to the majestic order of all things, the irreducible complexity present in you and I and all living organisms, and even the “natural moral law” we witness in hearts of all, even the most depraved.

Contrary to what many have concluded, God wants us to use our mental faculties in knowing Him and His will for us.  Note the greatest commandment, “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 The word “mind” is from the Greek word dianoia which means “deep thought,” the “exercise of mental faculty.”  God wants us to THINK and LOVE Him!  In Ephesians 5:17 Paul wrote, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is”.  The word “understand” is from suniemi and means to “mentally comprehend or put together.” God wants us to THINK and UNDERSTAND His will!  

SECOND: Faith that saves one and is pleasing to God is lovingly obedient!

1 Corinthians 13 is the beautiful chapter of love, but an oft-overlooked statement is made in verse 2, “And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”  A man who has faith that does not include love is “nothing” before God!  The faith that pleases God and justifies the believer is more than simple conviction.  Paul tells us in Galatians 5:6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”  The Apostle James states plainly concerning Abraham in James 2:22 “You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;” and in verse 24, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

Friends, to please God we must diligently look to the evidence He has provided, and then lovingly obey the Heavenly Father revealed to us through that objective search.