Stepping Out in Faith

Introductory questions to chew

If faith doesn't act, is it faith?

Whose faith are you following?

What are some differences between recklessness and stepping out in faith?

Is there an aspect to your faith you are unwilling to act on?

What can we do to encourage another's faith?

Got faith?

Faith. What is it? And how do you know if you have it?

First question first: what is faith? Well, I suppose we could say that faith is a system of belief, and that would be a good beginning but it certainly wouldn't be enough. Otherwise the Israelites could have parked at the edge of the Jordan for 26 generations, proclaiming their unflagging belief that what God said was true: a path would open through the river as soon as the feet of the priests touched the water. So there has to be another element to faith.

Let's amend our definition. How about this? Faith is a system of belief that leads to actions consistent with those beliefs. Satisfied with that? I have to tell you that I am not. It just seems something is still lacking. Otherwise the people could have left their tents pitched and their stuff in their tents while they curiously waited for word if the priests got more than the soles of their feet wet. What I mean by that is rather elementary. The people could have said, "We believe a path will be made through the river, and we will walk through that path . . . once it appears." So there has to be yet another element to faith.

Time for another amendment: Faith is a system of belief that, unhampered by the lack of tangible evidence and human reasoning, leads to actions consistent with those beliefs. OK, I'll grant you that this definition does not flow very smoothly. I'm certain it does not rise to the level of a dictionary definition. It may even lack another element or two. Even so, I think it has enough meat now to make for some profitable chewing. So let's chew.

Faith is belief.

Faith is not shackled by the physically and humanly obvious.

Faith acts.