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Fuzzy Faith

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There is some “fuzzy thinking” about the word “faith” or “belief”.  Faith and belief are defined the same; trust or confidence in something or someone.  Faith is a verb and belief is a noun.  But they mean the same thing: what a person understands to be true is what they believe or have faith in.

One camp says, in essence, faith is void of evidence, logic and reason.  This camp follows a Søren Kirkegaard model of “a leap” to connect the gap where evidence falls short.  This is where modern ideas like, “faith endures after reason fails” or “I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist.”

But then I hear things like “having full faith” like the US currency being backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Things like this illustrate that faith depends on evidence, logic and reason. 

So, which is it? Is faith void of evidence & reason or does it rest on evidence & reason?

First, let’s look at the “Leap” version of faith.

Often associated with Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855).  This view says:

• Reason can only take you so far
• At some point, you must choose without certainty
• Faith is a commitment despite incomplete evidence

To clarify, Kierkegaard wasn’t saying faith is irrational (against reason), but trans-rational (beyond what reason alone can settle).  The idea is “I don’t have 100% proof, but I will step forward anyway.” That’s where phrases like “a leap of faith” and “faith shows up when reason fails” come from.

Now, let’s consider the “confidence based on evidence” version of faith.

This is how the word is used in everyday life: “I have faith in this bridge,” “full faith and credit of the United States” or “I trust this person.”

This version clearly means:

Confidence is built on evidence, testimony, track record, reliability as well as logic and reason to evaluate.

It’s not blind at all, it’s evidence based and logic confirmed trust.

Finally, what does the Bible say?

Although certain philosophers, theologians, pastors and priests may support the idea of “blind faith,” the Bible does not.

This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 

John 21:24   

The Apostle John wrote the book of John for the explicit purpose of providing evidence and testimony, so a reader did not have to simply use “blind faith.”

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

The author of the book of Hebrews uses two key words, assurance (confidence) and conviction (evidence-based persuasion). The Greek word pistis (faith) carries the idea of trust based on reliability and proof.

And Scripture repeatedly ties faith to evidence:

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:20

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Psalm 19 

To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3

Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” John 20:27

Notice, Jesus did not chastise or criticize Thomas for wanting more evidence.  Jesus gave it to him.  But He did say “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see and yet believed.” John 20:29

I am reminded of the story of the Roman Centurian who had a sick servant.  But instead of following Jesus’ statement of coming into his home to heal him, the Centurian replied and said, “I am not worthy, but if you just say the word, he will be healed.”  The Centurian had enough evidence.  He had heard all the testimony he needed.  He understood who Jesus was and what He could do.  Just say the word and it will be done.  And it was.  Jesus said that the Centurian had a greater faith than anyone He had seen in Israel.

And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, 6and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” 7Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. 11I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.  Matthew 8:5–13 (see also Luke 7:1–10)

So biblically, faith is not believing without evidence it’s trusting based on sufficient evidence, even if not exhaustive proof.

So, Which Is It? Here’s the clean answer. 

Faith is NOT:

• belief with zero evidence
• blind acceptance
• intellectual suicide

Faith IS:

• trust based on what you’ve come to understand is true
• confidence built on evidence, experience, and reliability

a decision to act when you don’t have complete certainty

The Real Relationship Between Faith and Reason

Think of it like this, reason gathers evidence and faith commits AND acts based on that evidence.

You will never get 100% certainty in most things in life:

• Marriage
• Business
• Stepping into a new opportunity

At some point, you move forward.

That step isn’t blind it’s informed trust in what you have good reason to believe is true.

A Tighter Definition

Initially, I said: “Faith is what a person understands to be true.”

That’s close, but incomplete.

A sharper version:

Faith is trust in what you have sufficient reason to believe is true, expressed through action.

In other words, Biblical faith requires evidence, reason and action

The confusion exists because people collapse two different ideas:

1. Faith (or belief) without evidence is unbiblical.
2. Faith (or belief) beyond complete certainty is the Biblical definition.

The second one is where real life and real Biblical faith live.