Well to begin with there are alot of things that do show the bible is the Word of God.. aside from saying 'it is the Word of God because the bible says it is'
You have - confirmed prophecies all through the bible.. fulfilled.. in ways that the fulfillment of them could be nothing else other than what the prophecies predicted: for example..
Jesus -- His place of birth.. family .. purpose.. life death and resurrection were all foretold in the Old Testament.. in some detail.. that would be impossible for anyone else apart from Jesus to fulfill
But in regards to faith--
You have saving faith-- which is asking Jesus for salvation.. for forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Jesus does this for a person who is genuine asking for salvation.. He seals them with the Holy Spirit.. guaranteeing them eternal life.
Then you have THE faith.. which is service to God after salvation. This is where 'faith without works is dead' comes in.. where acts of service to God require action..and are dormant without action. This is church membership.. bible study.. evangelism.. small groups.. etc..
THE faith is not compulsory because a person who has forgiveness of sin and eternal life.. they got this from Jesus - independently of their service to Him.
So.. you don't HAVE to believe the bible is 100 percent literal.. but you would CHOOSE to if you knew the sound, solid evidence behind it..
Faith.. not blind.. but put in a real Jesus, who really died, who really rose again.. who really is God! How do we know this? Not just cos the bible says so.. but because evidence backing up the bible supports this!
For example:
Did Jesus really die on the cross? YES! Because the method of execution from Romans during this time was brutal and effective in insuring the victim was dead.
Did Jesus' body get stolen from the tomb? NO! Because the disciples were dispersed and scattered when hearing their Messiah was dead! They had no reason to steal the body... they were discouraged and not wanting to come out in the open
Did Jesus somehow revive in the tomb? NO! As before-- the crucifixion was too harsh and brutal for anyone to survive. And even if he did survive.. how did he then remove the rock to his tomb.. get past the Romans guarding it.. and then the disciples actually believe he was risen from teh dead-- in the mostly dead state he was in? NO WAY
So Jesus was dead.. and his body was not stolen.. he did not revive in the tomb after crucifixion..
Now.. the accounts of people seeing him alive after death?
Are based on manuscript evidence that is amongst the most reliable and trustworthy sections of scripture in teh New Testament:
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
This section of scripture.. was passed on to Paul by someone else.. and he wrote it at a very early time.. close to Jesus' life death and resurrectoin anyway!
When someone writes about something like a news article of the time and others who saw the event the author is talking about are around.. the author isn't likely to lie!
So.. what I am pointing out.. is
faith stands up to reason.. and is not blind!
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we UNDERSTAND that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
So faith is undergirded by evidence
but God also hasn't just given us 100 percent proof of Him.. otherwise there would be no searching for Him.. not reason to believe.. it would be like.. does God exist? Well .. I have no choice in the matter cos I just shook His hand yesterday on the hill and He always visits my home in person.
Really it is .. does God exist? Yes! Not because I have seen Him physically on earth now.. but because he has left some fingerprints of the time when He was on earth.. some evidence.. so if I seek Him - take a step of faith out.. I am rewarded.
Christians are allowed to question their faith.. allowed to search it out.. because their faith is deepened when their questions carry some solid answers.
What was the quote? Something like-
"Faith without anguish of mind, without doubt, without searching..without challenge, is not faith at all.. but only an illusion."
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.