A belief in something that isn’t provable.
A belief in something that might be untrue.
Faith (Webster’s dictionary) –
1 a: allegiance to duty or a person: LOYALTY. b: (1) fidelity to one’s promises (2): sincerity of intentions
2 a (1): belief and trust in loyalty to God (2): belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion
b (1): firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust
3: something that is believed especially with strong conviction; esp: a system of religious beliefs
Just yesterday there was a popular tv show on where one of the main characters was trying to get her family to become more religious. In one scene, the woman asked a man she mistook for a priest about his ideas on faith. The answer was faith was belief in something you couldn’t prove that you just considered that there were bigger things than one’s self. That is a very shallow and mystic definition.
This view of faith seems to be common in the popular culture. I realize that this definition of faith is found in Webster’s Dictionary as definition number two. I take exception to this as I have found in my own experience the faith spoken of in the bible is more in line with Webster’s first definition.
As an example: When you were young, if you had a father growing up with you that you trusted, he might say to you that next week you will go to the lake to go fishing. Because you trust him, you believe with all your heart that next week you will be at that lake fishing with your father. That is faith. You have faith that he is telling you the truth because he has shown to be trustworthy.
This is how it works with God. We trust (or should) Him because He has proven trustworthy and therefore we have faith that what He says He will do He will do. Just like in the above example you trust that your father will take you to the lake to go fishing because he said he would and has proven to be trustworthy.
The bible even tells us :
Instead, exalt the Messiah” as Lord in your lives. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have. (1Pe 3:15) (emphasis mine)
I suggest that every day you examine yourself to be ready to give a defense for your belief. Ask yourself why you believe what you believe. Through this exercise you will strengthen your faith in Christ. If you are just believing because it is what you were told to believe, then your faith is weak and you are in need of exercise. Just like the body needs exercise, so does your faith. This does not go against biblical doctrine. In fact, we have several examples of doing just that. Jesus even praised the Boreans for doing exactly this sort of thing. Anyone who knows me knows that I highly recommend using the Borean principle in anything they do but it obviously applies to your exercise of faith.
These people were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive the message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if those things were so. Many of them believed, including a large number of prominent Greek women and men. (Act 17:11-12)
Too many of us have no idea why we believe in Christ and why we believe the bible. We just do because it is what we were told. This leaves us vulnerable to the false teachers Jesus spoke of that would come and, indeed, already existed in the first century of the church. It is part of putting on the whole armor of God.
Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are continuing in the faith. Test yourselves! You know, don’t you, that Jesus the Messiah lives in you? Could it be that you are failing the test? I hope you will realize that we haven’t failed our test. We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not to show that we have not failed the test, but so that you may do what is right, even if we seem to have failed. (2Co 13:5-7)
This notion that God wants blind followers is non-biblical. God wants firm believers. We are told over and over again throughout the bible to examine ourselves. We are given histories that while once thought to be false, turn out to be true and are supported through archeological evidence. Unfortunately Christians have developed a reputation of being blind followers. Many contemporary Christians claim belief in the bible but when asked can’t tell you what is in it. Jesus tells us not to be deceived. How can we not be deceived unless we know what the truth is to compare to?
So, if you trust in God. Know that your faith is not a belief in something possibly untrue or un-provable. Know that it is faith that God is who He says He is and who He has proven Himself to be. It is faith that He is true to His word in the past, present and future. You do not have to be an expert in everything, but you should know why you believe what you believe.