Should we simply trust the Bible by faith alone or should we put it to the test? I think all religious writings and political writings both expect us to simply trust them by faith alone with no evidence and if something or someone teaches us to have faith in something that is simply not true then we could be holding on to very deadly beliefs. The idea behind many writings is to push a person to hold a particular belief which bypasses the persons critical thinking step to where they simply accept it as truth without seeking the truth itself. I do not believe that this is beneficial in many instances, and yet for most people it is too hard for them to actually think an issue through so they accept what they hear and see as fact.
The Bible commands us to “test everything” or more specifically, “Question Everything and Hold on to the Good.” (1 Thes 5:21) Even the Bible itself tells us to put it to the test! The Bible says to use prophecy to test if something is from God because only God knows the future (Deut 18:19-22; Is 41: 21-24; 1 Thes 5:20). The Bible itself contains over 600 historical prophecies and each one has been verified with evidence and NOT ONE has been wrong! Such detailed items as specific names and dates as well as events are foretold in the bible with incredible precision and undeniable accuracy that only God would know. There is NO other book that can make these same claims or even begin to compare to the accuracy revealed in the bible.
Certainly faith is a crucial thing, but only after the one true authority, God himself, has been accepted. But if you don’t believe it test it for yourself! Study it, seek it, and you will find it. I have spent many years now in the study of God’s word, and countless hours learning Greek so that I could properly translate the New Testament for myself. I still seek constantly to question everything and hold on to what I find to be true and accurate. Don’t take my words or anyone else’s to be instant truth, test it out for yourself. I encourage everyone to think critically about everything, whether politics or religion or simply everyday issues that people discuss. Don’t accept their words for truth instantly, instead consider their words, think about them and then search for the answers yourself and don’t stop till you have found what you know to be true.
For more info about the Bible visit, Evidence of God
I have faith. I also have the freedom to investigate doubts I may have within that faith. If you sincerely seek to find the Truth, you will find it. There is great freedom within Christianity to seek the Truth, unlike some other religions. Islam is one religion that is based on a blind faith. There is no intellectual freedom to question Islam, the Qur’an, or Muhammad. To question Muhammad and his message is life threatening, because the penalty for disbelief is execution and death for a Muslim. I understand that there are no Muslim institutions of critical religious thinking in any Muslim nation. I wonder why? We as Christians are told to “… Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15 This is a command to study the Word, know it, and be able to defend it. I may not always have answers, but I know that with study, which I am free to do, that I will be able to find them. My faith is not a blind faith.
Posted by: Susan L. Prince on April 25, 2003 10:02 PM
I can’t agree more, Pressed. A faith that doesn’t question and seek answers to those questions is often times a faith that will crumble the first time the person is forced into a situation that causes them to question.
The great thing is, as you note, there are plenty of good ways to verify the Bible, and it comes out with flying colors. I might add to that, that scientists that aren’t stuck in the mindset of the Church of Humanism have even found reasonable evidence for a creationist world view (or at least, an intelligent design world view), so even science can be used to verify the Bible — something many people are scared to try.
Susan is right too. I might add, that while death isn’t threatened, those in the Jehovah’s Witnesses also face a similar requirement to blind faith. Questioning the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society can result in immediate excommunication (from both the organization and, to an extent, from your family, if they are also JW’s).
-Tim
Posted by: Timothy R. Butler on April 26, 2003 06:50 PM
Great stuff! This is an aweomse site!
Posted by: Jake on April 26, 2003 11:47 PM
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