~ Uncertainty The Problem of Faith

We all say things like we know that God exists, and that Jesus lives but the shocker for most of us when pressed is that, that knowledge is generally subjective.  There is no proof apart from our faith. 

We grow up being conditioned to trust tangibles such as electricity power points.  There is a strong element of faith in our reaching out to the light switch to provide illumination.  When nothing happens after we throw the switch we immediately assume that there is a problem not that the power has failed. 

To take this trust analogy a little further I heard a comment earlier made by a motor racing commentator about a driver who threads the needle between to other cars at 200 MPH.  His comment was “how would you do that at home? – no don’t try it.”  Like for most of us it is nerve wracking enough doing 100 KPH on a crowded freeway let alone 300 KPH.

Now please do not get me wrong.  I am not suggesting that our subjective faith statements have no basis in truth.  Nothing is further from the truth.  My faith is based on experiences with God that are specific to my life.  If you have not lived my life then they may have no significance to you, in fact I would not expect them to. 

We accept the Bible as God’s truth.  Technically this is more a statement of dogma, than a faith statement.  There are other books in existence including the Hebrew body of Scripture, that we call the “Old Testament,” which are venerated as “holy scripture”.  We call our Bible “Holy” just as others call theirs “Holy.”  I remember a long time ago the statement of a polytheist priest “give us a representation of your god and we will worship him too”. 

The significant aspect to the uncertainty factor is that we are so certain of what we believe that we project as “truth” that which is true for us but may not be true for others.  These “truths” include the existence of God, the Heaven/Hell divide, the One God directive along with, one Salvation through Christ.  Each of these truths come out of the content of the Bible, the weighting that is given to them is the prerogative of the individual person.  In fact we each may have a different belief position on these issues and many others; and that is just within the faith community.

Uncertainty is not unbelief; it is recognizing that short of death there are some beliefs that cannot be black and white. 

I believe passionately in God and His Story.  I believe that there are two venues after death and I believe that Jesus the Messiah died and then was returned to life having beaten our enemy and giving us the victory.  But ... and it is a big but that is my interpretation of scripture and the evidence of God’s actions in my life.

The facts of my faith based on my experience are very subjective and rely on others accepting what I believe.  Someone who has little regard for the Bible may see something in my life but still reject the central person of that dogma – to remain relevant to that person I need to accept that he or she may be on a journey toward faith even if they do not believe.

Someone recently described Agnosticism as “I don’t know.”  It is being honest enough to say this I believe ... but I may be wrong ... and the faith in Christ is for me “I believe Master validate my belief.”  I accept that as it says in 1 Corinthians 13:12.  We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!