But we were created with a brain!

“The Oxford dictionary defines faith as “1. Complete trust or confidence in someone or something 2. Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.”

The first definition seems benign enough. But I couldn’t disagree more with the second definition, that implies faith must be blind. My faith, is absolutely based on proof and evidence.

The Bible, on the other hand, defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen” (Hebrews 11:1).  How do we have assurance, and how do we have conviction of things unseen, unless there is evidence to support our confidence?  

We are not like the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz. God has given us a brain to reason and apprehend truths about Himself. He wants us to use our mind. Consider the following verses:

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding” (Proverbs 3:13).

In Acts 17:11, the Apostle Paul encouraged those who were “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” He wanted his listeners to test what he had told them!

In Hebrews, the author in describing the faith of Abraham, tells us he “reasoned” before he proceeded to place his son on the altar as a sacrifice. He trusted God based on his knowledge of Him.

And Jesus Himself said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  

How do we love Him with our mind? We examine the evidence of what He has done in the past, not only in the world but in our lives. We examine the evidence supporting the authenticity of the Bible. We search for Him with an open mind. When we do, the evidence is overwhelming.

Admittedly, there are things about God we cannot fully comprehend, but we can still choose to trust Him based on the knowledge He has given us. Besides, do I want to worship a God Whom I fully comprehend? Don’t I want a God who espouses more than my human mind can ever understand?  

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

   neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

   so are my ways higher than your ways

   and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9