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T
I believe doubt is a part of the Christian's journey. For example: You can have doubts that draw you closer to God and His Word, to better understand the Bible etc. (what you believe and why you believe what you believe) and then there's doubts where people look for reasons not to believe. They don't listen to reason, they don't want an answer. They just want to justify their unbelief and call it a day. I think the first example is commendable.
Unbelief stems from putting to must trust in the carnal senses,In other words,when a person only believes when they can perceive it with one or more of their five senses like doubting thomas.
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John 20:24-29
king James version(KJV)
24.)But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25.)The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he(thomas) said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26.)And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27.)Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28.)And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29.)Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
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John 20:24-29
king James version(KJV)
24.)But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25.)The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he(thomas) said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26.)And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27.)Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28.)And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29.)Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
L
I voted FEAR. Fear is imo what causes the other two - doubt and unbelief. Fear of making a wrong step in what and where we put our faith. Did God say and mean this?....or did God say and mean that? Perfect love casts out fear and then enables us to move forward by faith. If our fears are not cast out., we can't have faith or belief. (in my experience) fear is the enemy.
that doesn't make sense.
see, atheism is actually a belief system that requires it's own measure of faith, and many respected thought leaders would call atheism a form of "religion" since it has its own set of tenets and beliefs. therefore, atheism actually isn't the opposite of christianity, or any other belief system. it's simply another belief system.
also, i think it's important to remember that if you read hebrews 11, you will read of obedience and action taken by those who walked and exercised their faith. it goes on to say that they could have wavered, or fallen short. those who were martyred for their faith were certainly those of faith. but the point is, we all fall short of faith, and will ultimately fail our tests. jonah is a good reminder that we we all fall short of our faith and callings, but that doesn't make us atheists. it makes us people who fall short and don't always pass the test. what's most important is that we repent of our shortcomings, and learn and grow for the future. : )
see, atheism is actually a belief system that requires it's own measure of faith, and many respected thought leaders would call atheism a form of "religion" since it has its own set of tenets and beliefs. therefore, atheism actually isn't the opposite of christianity, or any other belief system. it's simply another belief system.
also, i think it's important to remember that if you read hebrews 11, you will read of obedience and action taken by those who walked and exercised their faith. it goes on to say that they could have wavered, or fallen short. those who were martyred for their faith were certainly those of faith. but the point is, we all fall short of faith, and will ultimately fail our tests. jonah is a good reminder that we we all fall short of our faith and callings, but that doesn't make us atheists. it makes us people who fall short and don't always pass the test. what's most important is that we repent of our shortcomings, and learn and grow for the future. : )
I FEAR that many here DOUBT the BELIEF of others as to the question posed in the OP. UNBELIEF seems to abound, and I DOUBT that the FEAR such disputations cause could certainly lead to one questioning FAITH. I FEAR that some DOUBT that both FEAR and DOUBT are actually a "fruit" of UNBELIEF.
Now, as for Scripture:
[h=1]John
3:16[/h]
16.) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17.) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved
18.) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Now, as for Scripture:
[h=1]John
3:16[/h]
16.) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17.) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved
18.) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
I'm 100% sure. Abraham did use logic and reason when he offered Isaac. He was bound by a blood covenant. He knew that GOD had bound himself to send his own son as a sacrifice for the world; and that he himself was bound to offer his son if GOD demanded it. In blood covenants, whatever one party demands from the other party, it must be given.
No sane, godly person would sacrifice his son merely on 'faith'. Abraham's great faith was exhibited by 1) his faithfulness to the covenant, and 2) his trust that GOD would also be faithful to the covenant by raising his only begotten son (Isaac) from the dead if necessary, in order to fulfill his vow that Christ would be his heir.
Faith is believing what GOD says, having confidence he will do what he says, and trusting him to bring those things to pass. Faith involves both the heart and mind.
No sane, godly person would sacrifice his son merely on 'faith'. Abraham's great faith was exhibited by 1) his faithfulness to the covenant, and 2) his trust that GOD would also be faithful to the covenant by raising his only begotten son (Isaac) from the dead if necessary, in order to fulfill his vow that Christ would be his heir.
Faith is believing what GOD says, having confidence he will do what he says, and trusting him to bring those things to pass. Faith involves both the heart and mind.
Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac.[SUP][d][/SUP] I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him Gen17:19
God was testing Abrahams faith. As far as he was concerned Isaac was as good as dead, the son through whom he had been promised a great nation would come. It still comes down to the same thing. Logic and reason could not understand what God had told him to do, and what God had promised he would do through Isaac. Faith had to be separated from logic and reason in order to obey
God was testing Abrahams faith. As far as he was concerned Isaac was as good as dead, the son through whom he had been promised a great nation would come. It still comes down to the same thing. Logic and reason could not understand what God had told him to do, and what God had promised he would do through Isaac. Faith had to be separated from logic and reason in order to obey
Both fear and doubt can be productive for a believer. They are not exclusively bad.
Scripture tells us to not fear the one who can destroy the body, but to fear the one who can destroy both body and spirit. Fear of the Lord is a good thing.
As well, Scripture tells us to test the spirits to know they are of God. We may hear one preaching/teaching something, and doubt what they are saying is of God, and this doubt is in keeping with Scripture.
( just saying )
Scripture tells us to not fear the one who can destroy the body, but to fear the one who can destroy both body and spirit. Fear of the Lord is a good thing.
As well, Scripture tells us to test the spirits to know they are of God. We may hear one preaching/teaching something, and doubt what they are saying is of God, and this doubt is in keeping with Scripture.
( just saying )
i'm inclined to think you're both partly right.
i don't think faith is entirely logic or illogical. faith sort of defies the boundaries of both. let's consider the definition of faith, as explained by hebrews of 11:1. i'm going to use the amplified bible version for this point.
Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].
while you may have abundant logical confirmation, even be bound by obligation made with the One who is the very author of our faith, but choosing to override every visceral and innate response in obedience must require far more than our logical self. i would say it would require every dimension of our being, including the most irrational, and emotional parts of ourselves.
perhaps the KJV/NKJV version says best what faith really is--the substance of things hoped for, and evidence of things not seen.
building upon that, my personal definition of faith is somewhat more poetic.
hope is the well that springs forth from the heart and soul, shielded from a mighty and gorgeous old tree we'll call "logic and reason".
i'd say that faith is the beautiful living things that grow in that amazing little ecosystem. : )
i don't think faith is entirely logic or illogical. faith sort of defies the boundaries of both. let's consider the definition of faith, as explained by hebrews of 11:1. i'm going to use the amplified bible version for this point.
Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].
while you may have abundant logical confirmation, even be bound by obligation made with the One who is the very author of our faith, but choosing to override every visceral and innate response in obedience must require far more than our logical self. i would say it would require every dimension of our being, including the most irrational, and emotional parts of ourselves.
perhaps the KJV/NKJV version says best what faith really is--the substance of things hoped for, and evidence of things not seen.
building upon that, my personal definition of faith is somewhat more poetic.
hope is the well that springs forth from the heart and soul, shielded from a mighty and gorgeous old tree we'll call "logic and reason".
i'd say that faith is the beautiful living things that grow in that amazing little ecosystem. : )
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Maybe it depends on what one's definition of logic and reason are? But, I have to say that IMHO, "logic" and "reason" are of man's understanding, and we are told to not rely on our understanding. Just saying
As for "faith:"
[h=1]Hebrews
11:1[/h]
1.) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
See, to me, it would not be "logical" or "reasonable" to believe in something/someone we can not see/confirm the existence of, which is why "faith" is necessary for Grace to be imparted unto us.
(just my thoughts/not intended to be Biblical Doctrine)
As for "faith:"
[h=1]Hebrews
11:1[/h]
1.) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
See, to me, it would not be "logical" or "reasonable" to believe in something/someone we can not see/confirm the existence of, which is why "faith" is necessary for Grace to be imparted unto us.
(just my thoughts/not intended to be Biblical Doctrine)
Let's look at Peter. According to his state of mind, it was not logical to try to walk on water. Yet he did have a great, yet weak, faith, and tried. But because of his double mind, he failed.
However, if his mind had been clear (single) and had seen Christ as the lord of creation, then it would have been perfectly logical for him to step out in faith and walk on water.
However, if his mind had been clear (single) and had seen Christ as the lord of creation, then it would have been perfectly logical for him to step out in faith and walk on water.