Remember the rules: no Googling, and comments about your agreement and/or disagreement with the quote are welcome and encouraged.
This week’s entry:
Is it faith to understand nothing, and merely submit your convictions implicitly to the Church?
Update 7/22 8:45: The answer is… John Calvin.
I’ll have to say Martin Luther.
And since it’s a question rather than a statement, my answer would be yes and no. Yes, it is a kind of faith. A blind faith. A blind, misplaced faith. And no—it is not faith as we see the term defined in the Bible.
O.k. here I am out on a limb again with this one.
Jeffery thinks Martin Luther. As I read this question I think, I could see Martin Luther saying this. I also think depending on the way you read this quote the speaker could be agreeing with it or not. The more I read it, the more it sounds as if the person does not agree with the statement. I hope to not confuse you.
I think with a faith in God one must first have an understanding of God. In Romans it mentions we are without excuse because of nature around us. We should be able to look at creation and see that there is a higher deity that made it. We are expected to have a faith in something that gives evidence or proof, but we can’t see.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. If our faith is in a future hope than it is not merely based on understanding “nothing”. It is based on an understanding that we have a present assurance of a future reality,(I had a little help from my John MacArthur foot notes in my Bible – I’m still playing within the rules of this challenge). This scripture says that there is evidence, but of things not seen. So therefore it is not based on nothing.
I hope I did not read this one wrong. It’s hard to get a chance to ponder such things.
Needless to say, if I were asked this question, I would say, “Why no, it is not.” (Smile)
My money is on Mr. Luther also. But I’m not a scholar (not yet, anyway) so I’m just shootin’ in the dark. The fact that “Church” is capitalized makes me think it’s regarding the Catholic church (or maybe the Church of England?), and it seems Luther could easily have made such a statement. Yep, my final non-informed answer is Luther.
MMMMM Tracy, Do you think we frightened the others off? Is there no one else with a guess or opinion out there?
This anticipation can cripple us women! Just kidding! It made for a very interesting conversation at the ladies salad night out.
Well, I can’t do any better than Luther. But, once again, this kind of statement could come from someone outside the church throwing rocks at a straw-man that represents anyone of faith.
OK to go with Eric’s idea of someone outside the church using the statement to throw rocks, I’ll guess Richard Dawkins.
I agree with both of you. After the last quote, you just can’t be sure. I think that is what makes this so interesting.
Sometimes, as Christians, we think have our own little language, separate from the world. Then there’s the real shocker when we witness only to find out that there are people out there, who don’t know God, but they speak interesting truths. Sort of like what Eric said on the last blog about the atheist sometimes having a better defense for their cause, (I believe it was because they put more effort into defending their cause then the average Christian. I think that was that you meant-please correct me if I read it wrong).
It seems that this faith we are talking about in this blog (or arguing the truth of the definition of faith) is the very thing that separates us from the world.
Faith, the evidence of things not seen, that only God can get us excited about (Through the Holy Spirit-Our deposit). Which makes perfect sense as to why some atheists are so strong in defending their cause. There have no future hope in them, no deposit of what is to come. Another reason as to why some believers may get lazy in studying the defense of Christianity, because how can you prove the power of the Holy Spirit in mere words?
We have Faith in His word , that it is true.
Faith in God, that He is big and sovereign. These are hard to convince people of. However, we forget that God has used logic and other proof, in opening the eyes of those searching.
I am totally starting to talk in circles now.. I better go.
Yikes I meant -“They” have no future hope in them, not “there”.
My sweet husband tells me to write anyway without the fear of making mistakes. I wonder if that fear keeps others from writing too sometimes?
I press on…..After all, it’s just interesting conversation from a bunch of imperfect people? Right?
Ha! I ever make typos.
I mean, “never.”
Oh wait… nevermind. 🙂
After talking to the ladies and encouraging them to blog, I decided to re-blog.
Although my gut was Luther, the more I thought about the quote itself, I couldn’t see him being quoted saying it. I think he would absolutely agree with the sentiment, but probably didn’t say it.
The statement sounds somewhat rhetorical. Actually, more like a sarcastic response to someone inaccurately describing what faith may be to them (or maybe the “Church”?). Also, I don’t know who would have actually challenged Mr. Luther about faith specifically. His issues were with the Catholic Church in lots of areas, most notably the sale of indulgences, right? I can see him being quoted on lots of things, but not so much this.
Of course, I’ve thought I was wrong before…:0)
Whoever it was, this person was probably influenced by or influenced Mr. Luther.
How’s that for nailing it down to nothing?! Sorry, I think it’s the new hair color talking. I’m feeling a bit woozy…
And the answer is…
John Calvin.
The next quote will be released after church today!
Yikes! I guess I’ll be haunted by his ghost now that I’ve attributed his comment to Richard Dawkins! 🙂