simple essay about faith

100-Word Faith Stories: (Very) short essays about unexpectedly experiencing God in the world today

God is in all things. But we don’t always expect to feel God’s presence in a particular moment or place. We asked readers to share these stories of surprising moments of faith and grace in no more than 100 words. These (very) short essays about unexpectedly experiencing God in the world today include feelings of joy, sadness, laughter, anger and anything in between. They demonstrate the many ways in which God is with us, if only we would take the time to notice.

Two parents and four boys make a small house feel like a sardine tin packed with firecrackers. I had my eye on a larger fixer-upper nearby. But despite its apparent practicality and my eagerness, my husband wasn’t enthused. I suggested a quick attempt at discernment: Pray one Hail Mary while imagining we had settled on each choice, buy or stay.

We both felt God’s presence. The “Stay” prayer brought unwelcome but undeniable inner peace. “Buy” brought anxiety rather than excitement.

I could only respond, “Thy will be done.” Our house is cramped and noisy, but we’ll stay for now. Jessica Carney Ardmore, Pa.

My sons and I were enjoying the wave pool at our local amusement park on a beautiful sunny day. There was the usual crowd of people—of different ages, from different neighborhoods and cultures—all enjoying the pool. I closed my eyes and was suddenly aware of the joyous cacophony. All the voices, screams and laughter of my siblings, my fellow children of God. I was awestruck, and with my eyes still shut, I smiled broadly, and I thanked God for that sudden grace of connection and awareness. Matthew Whelehan Rochester, N.Y.

My husband is a stroke survivor; I’m his caregiver. Ron has balance issues, garbled speech and swallowing difficulties. Once the primary breadwinner, Ron’s now on SSDI. I struggle to bring in money while handling the numerous responsibilities of caring for my husband and household.

Earlier today I read the abandonment prayer of the newly canonized St. Charles de Foucauld: “Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.”

I am now at peace. Jerilyn Burgess North Olmsted, Ohio

At my first holy Communion, when I was 7 in 1958, I came up to the altar and was so small I had to stand rather than kneel at the rail. The priest approached and put the host on my tongue. I felt drawn out of myself, forgetting where I was, feeling a sense of presence. It was like being a mini Samuel, and I said to the Lord, “Speak, for your servant is listening . ” My love for the Eucharist continues to this day. William Eagan, S.J. Weston, Mass.

I invited my all-white classmates to Mass at my Black Catholic parish. During Mass, my friend nudged me, “Lee, we’re the only white people here.” I responded, “Frank, how do you think…” but before I could finish my statement, Frank added, “Lee, I never thought about you that way.” The experience helped him to see my struggles as the only Black kid in our classes. We had just had a class that taught we were made in the image and likeness of God. We saw that in one another more clearly now. Lee Baker New Orleans, La.

As I walked a labyrinth, I couldn’t shake the image of playing hide and seek with God. Shrubs around the path made me alternately feel hidden and then exposed. I know God is always there waiting for me, but I often “hide.” I fear I haven’t done enough, or I’m not good enough to earn God’s love. But those doubts come from me, not God. Although I may think I’m hiding, God sees and loves me. When I embrace God’s unconditional love, I will grow into the person he created me to be. Cathy Cunningham Framingham, Mass.

Deep in grief as I grappled with my husband’s determination to divorce, God felt absent, my faith rocked. My friend, Sister Noreen, told me to read the Bible. I mocked her. Unfazed, she insisted: “Open it at random. What have you got to lose?” On March 19, as I opened a newly purchased Bible, I cried: “God where are you?!” My eyes fell upon Jer 29:11. “For I know the plans....” I can still feel the jolt that coursed through my body at that moment—in shock and joy—the first of many such moments since then. Mary Margaret Cannon Washington, D.C.

Most popular

Your source for jobs, books, retreats, and much more.

The latest from america

Christian Faith: Ancient Religion Essay

To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
As a template for you assignment

Christianity is one of the many religions that exist in the world today. In addition, it is among ancient religions that were developed by patriarchs. It is largely based on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ. The events and teachings of Christ are depicted in the New Testament. As the world’s largest religion, Christianity has, and continues to influence the lives of many people around the world. The Christian faith has several beliefs and doctrines that are meant to influence people into living authentic lives. For example, ity teaches that Jesus is the son of God, he is the way to salvation, and he was sent by God (the Father) to save the world from sin. In addition, it has several precepts that form its foundation as both a religion and way of life. Examples of core Christian teachings include forgiveness, peace, love, salvation, resurrection, belief in Jesus Christ, the second coming of Christ, and worship.

Things that appeal to me about the Christian faith include the teachings on love, sacrifice, hope, salvation, ad peace. All the teachings of Christianity are based on one major precept: love. In all his teachings, Jesus maintained the importance of loving both God and fellow humans. Love is a force that is capable of transforming people, communities, nations, and the world. Christians are always reminded that love is the greatest responsibility that God gave man when he created Adam and Eve and put them in the Garden of Eden. Jesus taught that love was the greatest commandment that God gave humans.

Through loving God, believers prepare themselves to love other humans despite their religious beliefs. Another precept is sacrifice. According to the Christian faith, God sacrificed Jesus for the sake of humanity. This was an overt expression of love. On the other hand, Christ sacrificed his life by suffering on the cross in order to save humanity. This teaching is very important because humans are required to make sacrifices in their everyday lives for the sake of other people.

On the other hand, Christianity gives hope to its followers by teaching that there will be an afterlife. This gives hope to followers because they live knowing that their good deeds will be rewarded in another life. Hope is a very important aspect of human life because it strengthens, motivates, and energizes people to do good deeds. In addition, the teaching on salvation gives life a purpose. Christians live their lives with the knowledge that the afterlife will give more happiness and fulfillment.

Finally, the Christian faith advocates for peace and coexistence among people. Jesus taught that it was important to love one’s enemies and avoid retaliation. In addition, he taught about the importance of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a core Christian teaching and belief that is a sure way to peace. With war and turmoil prevailing in today’s world, the teaching would go a long way in promoting peaceful coexistence in the world. Jesus taught that peacemakers are blessed and worthy in the presence of God.

Christianity lauds the importance of peace and forgiveness as requisites for an authentic life. Jesus proclaimed that he had given peace to his disciples after his resurrection. Christianity’s teaching on peace is based on the work that the Holy Spirit does through believers who transform the world. Christians have worked hard to bring peace in the world through promoting their teachings.

Catholic Social Teaching Program
The Latter Day Saint Movement
Self-Forgiveness: The Step Child of Forgiveness Research
Rene Descartes: A Brief Perspective
Human Rights: Humanitarian Intervention
Religion: Ecological Spirituality in Cross-Cultural Perspective
Hell Debate in the Scripture
The Status of Animals in Religion
Ludwig Feuerbach on Religion as a 'Projection'
Politics and Religion Interdependence
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, May 13). Christian Faith: Ancient Religion. https://ivypanda.com/essays/christian-faith/

"Christian Faith: Ancient Religion." IvyPanda , 13 May 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/christian-faith/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Christian Faith: Ancient Religion'. 13 May.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Christian Faith: Ancient Religion." May 13, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/christian-faith/.

1. IvyPanda . "Christian Faith: Ancient Religion." May 13, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/christian-faith/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Christian Faith: Ancient Religion." May 13, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/christian-faith/.

Spiritual Growth and Christian Living Resources

BROWSE TOPICS X
Devotionals
Newsletters

What Is Faith and Why Is it Important?

Carrie Lowrance Crosswalk Contributor
Updated Jan 05, 2022

Faith. It’s a word we hear thrown around all the time. Keep the faith. Walking in faith. Having faith. So what is faith? Faith has several different definitions.

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 truth. 3. A system of religious belief. 4. A firmly held belief or theory

What Does the Bible Say About Faith?

The Bible says that faith is confidence in what we hope for and the assurance that the Lord is working, even though we cannot see it. Faith knows that no matter what the situation, in our lives or someone else’s, that the Lord is working in it.

The Hebrew word for faith is Emunah which means “support.” This is perfect because faith is like “the Lord’s support” to us because he is working in every situation for his glory. Regardless of what we think, He always knows best, and there are many times we have to see by faith and not our own eyes.

5 Bible Verses About Faith:

“And Abraham believed in the Lord, and the Lord counted him righteous because of his faith.” - Genesis 15:6 , NLT
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith, we understand that the whole universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” - Hebrews 11:1-3 , NLT
“When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and his servant Moses.”- Exodus 14:31 , NLT
“Be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.” - 1 Samuel 12:24
“He will protect his faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear into darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone.” - 1 Samuel 2:9

Where Does Faith Come From?

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9

Justification by faith means that God has removed the penalty of our sins and has declared us to be righteous. By God's work, we have peace with our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Romans 5:1 (NLT)

What’s the Difference Between Faith and Belief?

Faith and belief are often used in the same context, sometimes interchangeably, but they are not quite the same thing. Belief is a strongly held opinion about an idea or worldview. Beliefs are also opinions that you form about what you read, hear, or see. Beliefs can change over time, as you grow and learn new things. Faith is not something you start and build from; faith can only be received, it must be given by God. True faith can take on doubts and questions, but it remains intact. We can grow in our faith, but the foundation is always the same. James 2:19 says,

"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder."

You can believe there is a God, even that there is one God, but do you believe He is your God? God produces faith in us by giving us new hearts and opening our eyes to see that He is our God and we need Him. Does your faith in God change the way you live your life? There are some who say they believe in God, but the way they live their life does not change; they are motivated by other factors. Faith changes how we live our lives, faith motivates us to keep moving in life.

Having faith in the Bible means trusting that God’s Word is the truth. The faith that God began in us will grow when exposed to God's Word. It’s knowing that every time you read the Bible, the word of God is being imparted in you. The Bible says that faith is not silly or irrational. It is not a feeling of closeness to God either. Instead, faith is being able to trust God for what He has promised in His Word.

5 Examples of People in the Bible Who Had Faith

1. Mary was faithful to God when she was chosen to be the mother of his son. Mary trusted her God and the role He had chosen for her.

"The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.' 'I am the Lord’s servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.' Then the angel left her." - Luke 1:35-38

2. Abraham had faith in God when he was called to sacrifice his only son as a burnt offering. He set out the next morning after God told him where to go, he had faith that God would provide.

"Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.' Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, 'Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.' Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, 'Father?' 'Yes, my son?' Abraham replied. 'The fire and wood are here,' Isaac said, 'but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?' Abraham answered, 'God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.' And the two of them went on together." - Genesis 22:1-8

3. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had faith when they were thrown into the fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar. They had no doubts that God would save them.

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” - Daniel 3:17-18 "They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, 'Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God." - Daniel 3:27-28

4. Esther had faith in going to the king unannounced and exposing Haman’s plan to kill the Jews.

"When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: 'Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?' Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.'" - Esther 4:12-16

5. Moses had faith when God asked him to lead the Israelite’s out of Egypt and across the red sea, away from everything they knew.

"As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, 'Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!' Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” - Exodus 14:10-14

How to Grow in Faith

There are several different ways we can grow in our faith.

1. Ask God to increase your faith. If you are struggling in your faith, ask Him for more of it. He will be glad to bestow it through the Holy Spirit.

2. Focus on obeying God. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes, but if you focus on following God’s word and commands, your faith will grow naturally.

4. Spend time with other believers. We are meant to worship together, pray together, and share our faith with each other. Hearing about others' journeys in faith can be encouraging. Also study the Bible together, encouraging each other in godly disciplines.

5. Spend time in fervent prayer . Scheduling a specific time each day to spend with God in prayer makes a huge difference. This is your time alone with Him to discuss anything that is on your heart and mind. Be still and listen carefully and your faith will grow in abundance.

How Do We Live by Faith and Not By Sight?

Living in faith and not by sight means that you are willing to go into the unknown. It’s trusting God even though you don’t know where He’s leading you or what the outcome will be. I have been living in faith over a specific situation for almost three years. I have been praying over this situation fervently. I don’t know how it’s going to turn out or where it’s going to lead. All I do know is that God is working, and I’m waiting patiently to see the outcome. It’s not easy and it’s not fun, but I know that He’s in control and that is where I find my peace.

How to Keep the Faith in Times of Trouble

1. Keep a positive attitude, reflecting on God's promises. We are to praise Jesus in all things and in all circumstances.

2. Surrender your circumstances to God. It can be so easy to get upset and shake our fists at Him when things aren’t going right. Instead, ask Him for help and to change your circumstances. Let Him take the wheel and trust what He is going to do.

3. Be generous. The Bible says even in times of trouble, we are to give. It seems counterintuitive when you are struggling to keep your head above water. However, in giving and blessing someone else, you are blessing yourself too. God loves a cheerful giver.

4. Spend more time in the Word. This will help keep you grounded and not going in another direction due to confusion or desperation.

The truest act of faith, which is made possible by God's gift of grace to us, is complete trust in the Lord through every circumstance, even when we do not understand why something is happening or not happening.

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord, Please help me grow in my faith. Help me to lean on You in good times and bad. Help me not to be quick to anger and instead, have a godly mindset. Speak to my heart as I read Your Word and highlight verses of encouragement. Help me to trust You in every situation and in every circumstance. In Your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Carrie Lowrance is a writer and author. She has been published on Huffington Post, The Penny Hoarder, and ParentMap. She is also the author of two children’s books, Don’t Eat Your Boogers (You’ll Turn Green) and Brock’s Bad Temper (And The Time Machine). You can find out more about her on her website, www.carrielowrance.com

Photo credit: ©Thinkstock/B-C-Designs

Recently On Spiritual Life

Editor's Picks

Popular Today

Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Crosswalk App
California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information
California - CCPA Notice

Skip to main content
Skip to secondary menu
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

A Plus Topper

Improve your Grades

Essay on Faith | Faith Essay for Students and Children in English

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on Faith: The term faith can be defined as the confidence and trust in a person, concept or a thing. Faith is different for everyone – having faith in something, or someone means believing in them and being able to trust them completely.

Religious faith and non-religious faith are two different things. Faith is a belief, which holds to every person –religious or non-religious. Faith is the hope that a person has, which also determines how the person decides to lead their life.

You can also find more Essay Writing articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Long and Short Essays on Faith for Students and Kids in English

We are providing students with essay samples on a long essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on the topic Faith for reference.

Long Essay on Faith 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Faith is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Having faith is the essence of having hope. No matter how high one’s aspirations maybe if they keep trusting in themselves and embrace faith, their dreams turn into reality. Faith teaches us persistence and determination – nothing is possible when faith is absent. Faith serves as the driving force behind all the greatest endeavours that have ever been and are still being pursued in this world. Faith gives a person the push that they need to achieve their goals and fulfil their dreams – which they have set for themselves. Hence every new invention, discovery and success is possible because of the faith that was held on to during the tough times.

Faith not only means worshipping or believing in an idol. One can have faith without any prayers or any idols. Faith goes a long way in making an individual’s life happier and full of achievements. Having faith is necessary as even if one fails, faith gives them the strength to embrace the failures and try again. Faith cannot be taught, forced or imbibed into a person. It comes from within and serves as the determiner of one’s attitude towards life. Faith gives one motivation and also strength and enthusiasm for achieving their goals. Faith also serves as an important factor in determining the success or failure of one’s dreams – when faith is lost, failure is forthcoming.

A person who has any skills, intelligence or capabilities cannot accomplish their set goals if he or she lacks faith. Faith serves as the foundation of any mission that a person undertakes and has hope and will to complete. Even if having faith doesn’t make the struggles go away, it gives one the strength to face your challenges head-on and not let them drag them down.

Faith helps in keeping a person’s aim clear to them and helps them focus on their destination by not being deterred by the hardships that come their way. An individual feels enlightened and doesn’t lose their heart in a moment of hopelessness – is they have faith.

Great men and saints have lived their lives challenging the mainstream and stereotypes. They have accomplished tasks and missions that ordinary men were far from achieving. It was their faith, hope and belief that helped them achieve all this. Freedom fighters have faith in their country and themselves and have won great battles. This faith has also helped them in not getting disheartened when they have encountered failure. A doctor has full faith in his abilities that gives him the strength to cure his patients.

Even in the epics, there are examples of great characters like Lord Krishna, who won the battle against evil forces with his faith in goodness and fairness. Swami Vivekananda is another example of great men who practised and preached the power of faith to people and used it to get rid of most miseries faced by people. Mother Teresa had faith in humanity and brotherhood – and she kept serving the poor and sick selflessly. People still have in goodness for the selfless and kind contributions of people like her. History and one’s own experience has innumerable examples to showcase that faith is the mother of success and force of life.

Short Essay on Faith 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Faith is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Faith can be defined as having complete confidence or trust in a person or a thing. Faith is that distant light that stills keeps us moving even when the circumstances and surroundings seem to fall apart. When one has faith and keeps practising hard work courage and determination, there is nothing that can stop them from winning.

People who have succeeded in life and have made a change in the world is because they had faith in themselves and their beliefs. Every great achiever has always said that the reason why they are where they are in life is that they had faith in themselves. Faith is what made the impossible possible.

Having faith doesn’t always have to religious. One can even have faith without any deities or religion. Faith is something that comes with time – it cannot be put into something but is something that some builds with experience and time.

10 Lines on Faith in English

Everyone has a different perspective on faith.
Faith is not about what we claim to believe, but faith is what we truly believe in.
Faith means believing in something true for both a religious and non-religious person.
Faith doesn’t necessarily have to be religious.
A struggle becomes much easier when the person has faith in themselves.
Having faith doesn’t always need prayers and an idol; it can be practised from within.
Having faith gives a person the hope to hold on in situations where everything seems dull and dark.
One’s faith is completely one’s personal choice.
Faith gives a person the strength to achieve their goals and aspirations.
If one loses faith, failure is inevitable.

FAQ’s on Faith Essay

Question 1. Does faith always have to be religious?

Answer: Faith doesn’t always necessarily have to be religious. Every living being – whether religious or non-religious – must have faith.

Question 2. Why is faith necessary?

Answer: Faith sometimes is the only brink of light during tough times that keep one moving forward. Faith gives one the strength in times of weaknesses. Without faith, one cannot survive.

Question 3. Can faith have negative consequences?

Answer: Sometimes, faith can have negative consequences when an individual starts believing in the wrong things. This happens due to wrong company which can have deadly consequences.

Picture Dictionary
English Speech
English Slogans
English Letter Writing
English Essay Writing
English Textbook Answers
Types of Certificates
ICSE Solutions
Selina ICSE Solutions
ML Aggarwal Solutions
HSSLive Plus One
HSSLive Plus Two
Kerala SSLC
Distance Education

What Is Faith and Why Is It So Important?

Exactly what is faith? In God’s word, we learn what faith is and why it’s so important.

When it comes to being a Christian, there are few things more important than faith.

But exactly what is faith ?

After all, people use the word in all kinds of situations. Members of sports teams have faith in each other. Investors have faith in particular companies. When someone isn’t sure if they can accomplish a task, we say to them, “I have faith in you!”

In order to truly understand faith, we need to turn to the Bible. In God’s word we learn what faith is and why it’s so important.

Let’s dive in.

What Is Faith?

There are significant differences between generic faith in a person or thing and Biblical faith. In fact, a person can have a broad, vague faith that God exists and still be miles away from the faith described in the pages of Scripture.

James 2:19 memorably makes this point when it says,

“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!”

There’s nothing particularly special about believing in God. Even demons believe that there is God! So what does true, Biblical, God-honoring faith look like?

Faith Is Believing In God’s Character

The Bible tells us what God is like. It makes His character clear to us. Some people say that God is too great and mysterious for us to understand Him. And while God certainly is great and mysterious in certain ways, He has revealed His character to us in the pages of Scripture.

For example, in Leviticus 11:45 we read,

“For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Deuteronomy 32:4 says of God,

“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.”

1 John 4:16 says,

“ And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”

These verses are just a few of the hundreds in Scripture about the character of God. The Bible tells us that God is holy, loving, righteous, just, merciful, gracious, generous, faithful, perfect, and many other things.

True faith believes in and responds to the character of God. We believe that God is good even during tough times when it feels otherwise. We believe that God is faithful even when we can’t see how things will work out. We believe God is holy when we’re tempted to give in to sin and that He is just when it seems like evil is going unchecked.

Pastor Adrian Rogers said :

"When your eye is right, it responds to light. When your ear is right, it responds to sound. When your heart is right, it responds to God, and that response is called F-A-I-T-H. Faith is the heart’s response to God. That is the reason the Bible says, “Beware lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief.” Unbelief comes out of the heart. Faith honors God and God honors faith."

Sin is almost always the result of not believing in the character of God. Adam and Eve sinned because they doubted the character of God. Satan convinced them that God was holding out on them and being less than good.

What is faith? Faith is believing in the character of God and then acting accordingly.

Faith Is Believing In God’s Promises

In addition to believing in the character of God, faith is also firmly believing God’s promises. From beginning to end, the Bible is full of promises from God.

For example, in Romans 10:9-10 it says,

“...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Philippians 4:19 says,

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Romans 8:28 says,

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

God’s promises flow out of His character. We know that God is good and always speaks the truth. We know that He cannot lie and that every word He says is fully and completely true.

True faith believes in all of God’s promises and lives in light of them. We believe that God will save us from our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ, even though our sins are many. We believe that God will meet all our needs, even when things seem tight. We trust that God will work everything together for our good, even though we can’t possibly see how.

"Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible. Doubt sees the obstacles; faith sees the way. Doubt sees the darkest night; faith sees the day. Doubt dreads to take a step; faith soars on high. Doubt questions, “Who believes?” Faith answers, “I”!

When we have faith, we look beyond what we can see to what God has promised. Instead of trusting and hoping in what makes sense, we trust in God and all that He has committed to do on our behalf.

What is faith? Faith is completely resting in the promises God has made to us.

Why Is Faith So Important?

Why does faith matter so much? Hebrews 11:6 makes it clear:

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Without faith, we simply cannot please God. Faith in God’s character and promises motivates us to love and obey Him. When we don’t have faith, we start to believe bad, untrue things about God. We believe that He’s not good, loving, and faithful. We start to think that He doesn’t care about us and can’t give us the joy He promises. We begin to wonder if He’ll really meet our needs and work things for our good.

Doubting God almost always leads to disobedience of God. After all, why would we want to follow and obey a God who isn’t good, just, and loving? Why would we trust a God who isn’t faithful and true? Without faith, we will wander from God.

This is why Hebrews 10:23 says,

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

We must hold fast to the truths about God revealed in Scripture. We must maintain our faith.

Helpful Tools and Resources on Christian Foundations

What is a christian 7 essential truths.

There is a bit of confusion on what exactly makes a person a Christian. So what is a Christian? Let’s go a bit further by seeing what the Bible has to say.

We Don’t Rely On The Strength Of Our Faith

It’s important to note that our hope is not in the strength of our faith. There will be times when our faith is weak and other times when our faith is strong. Sometimes faith will come easily and other times we’ll have to battle for it. Ultimately, our confidence is in God, not in our faith.

When you plug in an appliance, electricity flows through the cord and into the appliance. The power comes from the electricity, not the cord, and a lot of electricity can come through a very small cord.

Faith is the cord that “connects” us to God. Even when our faith is weak, God is still strong.

In Mark 9 , a man came to Jesus and asked Him to heal his son. Jesus said to the man, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” The man replied to Jesus, “I believe; help my unbelief!” In response, Jesus healed the man’s son.

Jesus didn’t reject the man’s faith, even though it was mixed with doubt. Jesus responds to even small, weak, doubt-ridden faith. Our hope is not in the amount of faith we have but in the One in whom we have faith.

Don’t put faith in faith, put faith in Jesus. The devil used to pull that trick on me. He used to say, “Adrian, how do you know that you really believe enough?” It shook me at first, but God taught me to turn the tables on him. Now I agree with the devil. I say, “You know, devil, you are right. My faith is weak, but Jesus is wonderful. I am not putting my faith in my faith. I am putting my faith in Jesus.”

Faith in God and His promises is critically important. But we must not make the mistake of putting faith in our faith.

Our faith is in God and only God.

More helpful tools and resources about who god is, what is the gospel of jesus christ.

What is the gospel? It means "good news" and in this article, we’re going to answer the question of why the gospel is such good news.

Who Is A Child of God? Key Questions Answered

Who exactly is a child of God? In order to answer this important question, we need to look at what the Bible says.

What Is Baptism and Why Does It Matter?

So exactly what is baptism and why does it matter? In order to answer these questions, we’re going to dig into what Scripture has to say about baptism.

Believing Is Seeing (1646)

How to stand when you don't understand, 800-274-5683.

2941 Kate Bond Rd, Memphis, TN 38133

CONNECT WITH LWF

How to Measure a Man (1286)
How to Measure a Man
https://d1uovme38eq7lq.cloudfront.net/1286a.mp3

How Does the Bible Define Faith?

Faith is the fuel of the Christian life

Inspirational Bible Devotions
Christianity Origins
The New Testament
The Old Testament
Practical Tools for Christians
Christian Life For Teens
Christian Prayers
Denominations of Christianity
Christian Holidays
Christian Entertainment
Key Terms in Christianity
Catholicism
Latter Day Saints

General Biblical Studies, Interdenominational Christian Training Center

Faith is defined as belief with strong conviction; firm belief in something for which there may be no tangible proof; complete trust, confidence, reliance, or devotion. Faith is the opposite of doubt.

Webster's New World College Dictionary defines faith as "unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence; unquestioning belief in God, religious tenets."

What Is Faith?

Faith is the means by which believers come to God and put their trust in Him for salvation.
God provides believers with the faith needed to believe in Him: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9).
The entire Christian life is lived out on the foundation of faith (Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:20).

Faith Defined

The Bible gives a short definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1:

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

What do we hope for? We hope that God is trustworthy and honors his promises. We can be sure that his promises of salvation , eternal life , and a resurrected body will be ours someday based on who God is.

The second part of this definition acknowledges our problem: God is invisible. We can’t see heaven either. Eternal life, which begins with our individual salvation here on earth, is also something we do not see, but our faith in God makes us certain of these things. Again, we count not on scientific, tangible proof but on the absolute reliability of God’s character.

Where do we learn about the character of God so we can have faith in him? The obvious answer is the Bible, in which God reveals himself fully to his followers. Everything we need to know about God is found there, and it is an accurate, in-depth picture of his nature.

One of the things we learn about God in the Bible is he is incapable of lying. His integrity is perfect; therefore, when he declares the Bible to be true, we can accept that statement, based on God’s character. Many passages in the Bible are difficult to understand, yet Christians accept them because of faith in a trustworthy God.

Why We Need Faith

The Bible is Christianity’s instruction book. It not only tells followers who to have faith in but why we should have faith in him.

In our day-to-day lives, Christians are assailed on every side by doubts. Doubt was the dirty little secret of the apostle Thomas , who had traveled with Jesus Christ for three years, listening to him every day, observing his actions, even watching him raise people from the dead . But when it came to Christ’s resurrection , Thomas demanded touchy-feely proof:

Then (Jesus) said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27)

Thomas was the Bible’s most famous doubter. On the other side of the coin, in Hebrews chapter 11, the Bible introduces an impressive list of heroic believers from the Old Testament in a passage often called the "Faith Hall of Fame ." These men and women and their stories stand out to encourage and challenge our faith.

For believers, faith starts a chain of events that ultimately leads to heaven:

By faith through God's grace , Christians are forgiven. We receive the gift of salvation by faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ .
By trusting wholly in God through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are saved from God's judgment of sin and its consequences.
Finally, by God's grace we go on to become heroes of faith by following the Lord into ever greater adventures in faith.

How to Get Faith

Sadly, one of the great misconceptions in the Christian life is that we can create faith on our own. We can’t.

We struggle to stoke up faith by doing Christian works , by praying more, by reading the Bible more; in other words, by doing, doing, doing. But Scripture says that’s not how we get it:

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Martin Luther , one of the early Christian reformers, insisted faith comes from God working in us and through no other source:

“Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do.”

Luther and other theologians put great stock in the act of hearing the gospel being preached:

"For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?' So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:16-17, ESV)

That’s why the sermon became the centerpiece of Protestant worship services. The spoken Word of God has supernatural power to build faith in listeners. Corporate worship is vital to fostering faith as the Word of God is preached.

When a distraught father came to Jesus asking for his demon-possessed son to be healed, the man uttered this heartbreaking plea:

“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24, NIV)

The man knew his faith was weak, but he had sense enough to turn to the right place for help: Jesus.

Faith is the fuel of the Christian life:

"For we live by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV).

It is often difficult to see through the fog of this world and beyond the challenges of this life. We cannot always feel God's presence or understand His guidance. It takes faith to find God and faith to keep our eyes on Him so that we persevere until the end (Hebrews 11:13-16).

Faith Is the Key - Hebrews 11:6
Psalms 118: The Middle Chapter of the Bible
Jesus Our Hope: A Christmas Devotional Reading
Quotes of the Founding Fathers on Religion
God Never Fails: Joshua 21:45
'He Who Began a Good Work in You' Philippians 1:6
His Mercies Are New Every Morning - Lamentations 3:22-24
Philippians 3:13-14: Forgetting What Is Behind
9 Practical Devotionals for Christian Men
The Ultimate Definition of Respect
Words of Encouragement for Men
Enter By the Narrow Path - Matthew 7:13-14
Eternity in the Hearts of Men - Ecclesiastes 3:11
Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve - Joshua 24:15
Biography of John Newton, Author of Amazing Grace
Jesus Calms the Storm - Matthew 14:32-33

Essay on Faith

Introduction

A tightrope walker suspended high above a bustling city skyline takes each step with unwavering confidence. What keeps them balanced, you might wonder? It’s not just the taught wire beneath their feet but something far more intangible yet equally powerful: faith.

Faith, an intangible yet potent force, permeates every facet of human existence, shaping beliefs, actions, and perceptions. Whether rooted in religion, personal conviction, or trust in the unknown, faith is a cornerstone of our lives. It transcends boundaries of culture, creed, and time, offering solace in moments of uncertainty and anchoring us amidst life’s tumultuous seas. Yet, its essence eludes definitive explanation, encompassing a spectrum of meanings and interpretations. In this essay, we embark on a journey to unravel the complexities of faith, exploring its myriad manifestations and profound implications. From the sanctuary of sacred rituals to the corridors of everyday existence, faith weaves a tapestry of hope , resilience, and interconnectedness, inviting us to ponder the mysteries of existence and embrace the boundless potential of the human spirit.

Watch our Demo Courses and Videos

Valuation, Hadoop, Excel, Mobile Apps, Web Development & many more.

Understanding Faith

Faith is a multifaceted concept that encompasses various dimensions of human experience. It extends beyond religious belief systems to encompass trust, confidence, and conviction in something greater than oneself. To comprehend faithfully, one must explore its diverse interpretations and implications:

Religious Faith : At its core, faith is often synonymous with religious belief. Across different faith traditions, believers trust a higher power, whether God, gods, or spiritual principles. Religious faith is a guiding force, providing moral frameworks, rituals, and narratives that shape individuals’ identities and worldviews. It offers solace in adversity and fosters community and belonging among adherents.
Personal Faith : Faith extends beyond organized religion to encompass individual convictions and values. It reflects one’s trust in oneself, others, or the universe at large. It can manifest as confidence in one’s abilities, trust in humanity’s goodness, or belief in the cosmos’ inherent order. Personal faith empowers individuals to navigate life’s uncertainties with resilience and courage, guiding their choices and actions.
Faith in Relationships : Faith is crucial in interpersonal relationships as the foundation of trust and commitment. Whether in friendships, romantic partnerships, or familial bonds, faith entails believing in the reliability and goodwill of others. It also involves vulnerability and risk, as individuals invest their trust and emotions in others, believing their bonds will endure challenges and hardships.
Faith in the Unknown : Beyond tangible realities, faith encompasses belief in the unseen and the unknowable. It invites individuals to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty, acknowledging that empirical evidence alone cannot grasp all truths. Faith in the unknown encourages exploration, curiosity, and openness to new possibilities, fostering personal growth and intellectual humility.
Cultural and Philosophical Perspectives : Different cultures and philosophical traditions offer unique insights into the nature of faith. From the existentialist notion of faith in oneself to the Taoist concept of trusting the natural flow of life , diverse perspectives enrich our understanding of faith’s complexities. Cultural expressions of faith, such as art, literature, and rituals, provide windows into the human soul’s yearning for transcendence and meaning.

Historical Perspectives on Faith

To comprehend the depth and complexity of faith, it is essential to trace its roots through the annals of history, where it emerges as a fundamental force shaping human civilization.

Ancient Civilizations: From Mesopotamia to Egypt, people deeply intertwined faith with the natural world and the cycles of life and death in the cradle of civilization. Ancient cultures venerated gods and goddesses, believing in their power to influence the forces of nature and human affairs. Rituals, sacrifices, and sacred texts emerged as expressions of devotion and attempts to understand the divine.
Classical Antiquity: The quest for understanding and moral virtue replaced polytheistic worship as the central theme of the intellectual traditions of ancient Greece and Rome, providing multiple viewpoints on faith. Philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle contemplated the nature of the divine and explored concepts of transcendence, immortality, and the meaning of life. Skepticism and rational inquiry challenged traditional religious beliefs, paving the way for new ways of understanding faith.
Abrahamic Religions: The emergence of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam marked a pivotal moment in the history of faith. Rooted in the monotheistic tradition of ancient Israel, Judaism laid the foundation for the Abrahamic faiths, emphasizing covenantal relationships between God and humanity . Christianity, born out of the teachings of Jesus Christ, introduced the concept of divine love, redemption, and salvation. Islam, founded by the Prophet Muhammad, offered a comprehensive worldview, uniting spiritual beliefs with legal and social principles.
Medieval and Renaissance Periods: Faith was central in shaping European society during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The dominance of the Catholic Church provided a framework for religious life, with rituals, sacraments, and hierarchical structures governing spiritual practice. The rise of scholasticism and mysticism reflected diverse approaches to faith, from the rigorous logic of theologians like Thomas Aquinas to the ecstatic visions of mystics like Hildegard of Bingen.
Enlightenment and Modernity: The Enlightenment ushered in an era of intellectual upheaval, challenging traditional religious beliefs and institutions. Philosophers such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Kant championed reason, individualism, and human autonomy. They also questioned religion’s authority and advocated for secularism and religious tolerance. Despite these challenges, faith persisted, adapting to new cultural, scientific, and political realities and shaping movements of social reform, spiritual revival, and global missionary outreach.

The Role of Faith in Religion

Faith occupies a central position in religion, serving as the cornerstone of belief systems and shaping the spiritual lives of adherents. Its role is multifaceted, encompassing various dimensions that are fundamental to religious practice and experience:

Foundation of Belief : Faith establishes the foundation for religious beliefs. Followers of religious traditions trust and confide in the existence of divine beings, sacred texts, and spiritual truths. Through faith, believers accept and affirm their religion’s teachings and doctrines, even without empirical evidence.
Source of Meaning and Purpose : Faith imbues religious life with meaning and purpose, answering existential questions about the nature of existence, human suffering, and the afterlife. It provides a framework for individuals to interpret their experiences and find significance in the broader context of divine providence and cosmic order.
Guiding Moral Principles : Religious faith informs ethical and moral principles, guiding adherents’ behavior and shaping their moral decision-making. Believers draw upon their faith traditions’ teachings to discern right from wrong, cultivate virtues, and uphold ethical standards that reflect their devotion to divine commandments and principles of justice.
Expression of Devotion and Worship : Faith inspires devotion and worship as believers express their reverence and commitment to their religious beliefs through rituals, prayers, and practices. These faith expressions deepen individuals’ spiritual connections with the divine and foster a sense of awe, gratitude, and humility.
Community and Communal Identity : Faith fosters community cohesion and solidarity among believers as they come together to worship, celebrate religious festivals, and participate in communal rituals. Religious communities provide support networks, social structures, and avenues for collective worship and service, reinforcing individuals’ sense of belonging and shared identity.
Means of Salvation and Redemption : Many religious traditions believe faith plays an instrumental role in attaining salvation, liberation, or enlightenment. Through faith in divine grace, mercy, or enlightenment, believers seek spiritual liberation from suffering, sin, and ignorance, striving to cultivate virtues and live by divine will.
Source of Comfort and Hope : Faith provides solace and consolation in times of adversity, grief, and uncertainty. Believers draw strength from their faith, finding comfort in believing that divine providence offers guidance, protection, and eventual redemption. Faith instills hope for a better future in this life and the hereafter.

Faith in Everyday Life

Faith permeates every aspect of human existence, extending beyond religious contexts to influence personal relationships, decision-making, and resilience in facing challenges. Through real-life examples, we can explore how faith manifests in various facets of everyday life:

1. Faith in Self

Pursuing Dreams : Consider an aspiring entrepreneur who embarks on a risky business venture fueled by faith in their abilities and vision. Despite uncertainties and setbacks, they persist with unwavering confidence, trusting their capacity to overcome obstacles and succeed.
Overcoming Adversity : Imagine an individual facing a debilitating illness who maintains faith in their ability to heal and regain health. Through perseverance and a positive mindset, they navigate treatment challenges with resilience and hope, believing in their inner strength to overcome adversity.

2. Faith in Others

Building Relationships : Imagine a newlywed couple embarking on a lifelong journey together, guided by faith in their love and commitment. Despite inevitable disagreements and challenges, they cultivate trust and mutual support, strengthening their bond through shared experiences and unwavering faith in their partnership.
Parental Trust : Consider a parent entrusting their child with responsibilities, demonstrating faith in their abilities to make sound decisions and learn from mistakes. Through guidance and encouragement, the parent fosters the child’s self-confidence and independence, nurturing a relationship grounded in mutual trust and respect.

3. Faith in Community

Volunteerism and Service : Reflect on individuals who dedicate their time and resources to serving their communities, driven by faith in the collective power of compassion and solidarity. Whether volunteering at a homeless shelter or participating in community outreach programs, they embody faith in humanity’s capacity for kindness and social change.
Support Networks : Think of support groups or faith-based communities that provide solace and strength to individuals facing life’s challenges. Through shared experiences and mutual encouragement, members draw on their collective faith to navigate hardships, find healing, and foster a sense of belonging and connection.

4. Faith in the Future

Educational Pursuits : Consider students who persevere through academic challenges, driven by faith in their potential to achieve their educational goals. With determination and resilience, they overcome setbacks, believing in the promise of a brighter future through learning and personal growth.
Environmental Activism : Reflect on individuals and organizations advocating for environmental sustainability and conservation. Their optimism about humanity’s capacity to save the world for coming generations inspires them. Through activism and collective action, they strive to create a more sustainable and equitable world grounded in faith in the power of collective efforts to effect positive change.

Challenges to Faith

Despite its significance and resilience, faith is not immune to challenges. Human experiences, doubts, and external factors often test the strength and endurance of one’s faith. Here, we explore several common challenges to faith from the perspective of human struggles and uncertainties:

1. Doubt and Skepticism

Internal Conflict : Individuals may grapple with doubts about their beliefs, questioning the validity of religious teachings or the existence of a higher power. These internal conflicts can arise from intellectual inquiry, personal experiences, or exposure to contradictory perspectives.
External Influences : Skepticism fueled by societal norms, scientific advancements, or philosophical debates can also challenge faith. Cultural shifts towards secularism or materialism may undermine religious convictions, leading individuals to question the relevance or validity of their faith.

2. Suffering and Adversity

Existential Angst : Confronted with personal suffering or witnessing the pain and injustice in the world, individuals may struggle to reconcile their faith with the existence of evil and suffering. The age-old question of why a benevolent deity allows suffering can shake the foundations of religious belief and lead to profound existential crises.
Loss and Grief : Experiences of loss, such as the death of a loved one or personal tragedy, can challenge faith by eliciting feelings of anger, abandonment, or disillusionment. Despite prayers or religious rituals, the absence of divine intervention in moments of profound grief may strain one’s faith in the benevolence or existence of a higher power.

3. Morality and Ethics

Moral Dilemmas : Conflicts between religious teachings and personal ethics may arise, challenging individuals to reconcile their faith with contemporary ethical issues. Debates over topics such as LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, or social justice can create tensions between religious doctrine and evolving societal norms, testing the integrity of one’s faith.
Religious Hypocrisy : Instances of hypocrisy or misconduct within religious institutions or leadership may undermine trust in organized religion, causing disillusionment and skepticism among believers. Scandals involving abuse, corruption, or intolerance can erode faith in religious authority and the integrity of institutionalized faith.

4. Intellectual and Philosophical Inquiries

Cognitive Dissonance : Encounters with philosophical conundrums or inconsistencies within religious texts may provoke cognitive dissonance, causing individuals to question the coherence or rationality of their faith. Paradoxes such as the problem of evil, predestination versus free will, or the compatibility of faith and reason can challenge deeply held beliefs.
Interfaith Dialogue : Engaging with diverse religious perspectives or encountering atheistic philosophies may expose individuals to alternative worldviews, prompting critical reflection on their faith traditions. Dialogue with skeptics, agnostics, or adherents of other religions can foster intellectual humility and a deeper understanding of one’s own beliefs, but it may also raise challenging questions that unsettle faith convictions.

5. Spiritual Dryness and Disconnection

Spiritual Crisis : Periods of spiritual dryness or disillusionment, commonly called a “night of the soul,” can test one’s faith by eliciting feelings of spiritual emptiness, alienation, or divine absence. Even with fervent prayers or religious practices, individuals may experience a sense of disconnection from their faith or difficulty finding meaning and purpose on their spiritual journey.
Lack of Religious Community : Isolation or alienation from religious communities due to geographical mobility, cultural assimilation, or disagreements with fellow believers can weaken one’s sense of belonging and support network and challenge one’s faith resilience.

Benefits of Faith

Faith, whether in a religious context or as a broader belief system, offers individuals a multitude of strengths and benefits that contribute to their well-being, resilience, and sense of purpose. Here are several key strengths and benefits of faith:

1. Psychological Resilience

Coping Mechanism : Faith is a powerful coping mechanism during adversity, providing individuals with comfort, hope, and inner strength to navigate challenges.
Emotional Support : Belief in a higher power or divine providence offers emotional support, reducing anxiety, depression, and loneliness and promoting overall psychological well-being.
Sense of Meaning and Purpose : Faith provides individuals meaning and purpose, helping them find significance in their experiences and fostering greater fulfillment and contentment.

2. Social Support and Community

Sense of Belonging : Reducing isolation, fostering social cohesion, and engaging in religious or spiritual communities cultivate a sense of belonging and connection to those who share similar views and ideals.
Mutual Support : Faith communities offer mutual support and solidarity during times of need, providing practical assistance, emotional encouragement, and spiritual guidance to members facing challenges.
Opportunities for Service : Engagement in acts of service and volunteerism within faith communities strengthens social bonds and promotes altruism, compassion, and empathy toward others.

3. Health and Well-being

Stress Reduction : Belief in a higher power or divine plan can reduce stress levels by promoting acceptance, surrender, and trust in the unfolding of life events beyond one’s control.
Positive Health Outcomes : Studies have shown that people with strong religious or spiritual beliefs frequently have superior physical health outcomes, such as a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, an enhanced immune system, and a quicker recovery after illness or surgery.
Lifestyle Practices : Many faith traditions encourage healthy practices, such as regular exercise, dietary guidelines, and stress-reduction techniques, contributing to overall health and longevity.

4. Ethical and Moral Guidance

Guiding Principles : Faith provides individuals with ethical and moral guidelines for behavior, promoting virtues such as compassion, forgiveness, integrity, and humility.
Sense of Accountability : Belief in divine judgment or karma fosters a sense of accountability for one’s actions, encouraging individuals to act with integrity and consider the ethical implications of their decisions.
Contributions to Society : Faith-inspired values and principles often motivate individuals and communities to engage in social justice initiatives, humanitarian efforts, and advocacy for marginalized populations, promoting greater equity and compassion in society.

5. Hope and Optimism

Positive Outlook : Faith instills hope and optimism for the future, encouraging individuals to envision possibilities for growth, transformation, and redemption, even in the face of adversity.
Resilience in Uncertainty : Belief in divine providence or a higher purpose cultivates resilience in uncertainty, enabling individuals to maintain optimism and perseverance amidst life’s challenges.
Source of Inspiration : The stories, teachings, and symbols of faith traditions inspire individuals to overcome obstacles, pursue noble aspirations, and strive for a better world, fueling a collective sense of hope and determination.

The Power of Faith

Here are two real case studies that illustrate the transformative power of faith:

Viktor Frankl’s Search for Meaning

During World War II, Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl went through unspeakable torture in Nazi detention camps. Despite his horrors, Frankl discovered a profound sense of purpose and resilience through his faith.
While imprisoned, Frankl observed that those who maintained a sense of meaning and purpose were more likely to survive. Drawing from his experiences, he developed logotherapy, a psychotherapeutic approach centered on finding meaning in life.
After the war, Frankl’s faith in the human capacity for transcendence and his belief in a higher purpose led him to write “Man’s Search for Meaning,” a seminal work that continues to inspire millions worldwide.
Through his enduring faith, Frankl not only survived the atrocities of the Holocaust but also found a way to transform his suffering into a source of wisdom and hope for generations to come.

Mother Teresa’s Compassionate Mission

Mother Teresa, whose birth name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Albania, devoted her life to helping the impoverished in Calcutta, India. Motivated by her deep faith and a calling from God, she founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950.
Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, including criticism and skepticism from some quarters, Mother Teresa remained steadfast in her commitment to love and serve the marginalized and destitute.
Through her unwavering faith in God’s love and her belief in every human being’s inherent dignity, Mother Teresa touched countless lives, providing care, comfort, and hope to society’s most vulnerable members.
Her selfless devotion to serving others earned her worldwide acclaim, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Mother Teresa’s legacy inspires people of all faiths to embrace compassion and altruism as guiding principles.

Critiques and Controversies

Despite its profound influence on individuals and societies, faith is not immune to criticism and controversy. Various critiques and controversies surround the concept of faith, reflecting diverse perspectives and conflicting interpretations. Here are some key critiques and controversies related to faith:

Close-mindedness and Dogmatism : Critics argue that faith can foster close-mindedness and dogmatism, inhibiting critical thinking and openness to alternative perspectives. In some cases, rigid adherence to religious beliefs may lead to intolerance, discrimination, or rejection of scientific evidence that contradicts religious doctrine.
Religious Extremism and Conflict : Faith-based extremism, characterized by radical interpretations of religious teachings and ideologies, has fueled violent conflicts, terrorism, and religious persecution throughout history. Critics contend that religious extremism poses a threat to global peace and stability, perpetuating cycles of violence and division.
Ethical Ambiguity and Moral Relativism : Critics question the ethical foundations of faith-based morality, arguing that religious doctrines may promote moral absolutism or endorse practices that conflict with contemporary moral values. Moral relativism and ethical uncertainty exist inside and within religious communities due to the vast range of religious texts and teachings.
Suppression of Dissent and Free Inquiry : Some critics argue that faith-based institutions and authorities have historically suppressed dissenting voices, persecuted heretics, and stifled free inquiry and scientific progress. Religious orthodoxy may discourage questioning or skepticism, hindering intellectual freedom and the pursuit of truth.
Conflict between Faith and Secular Values : Tensions often arise between faith-based beliefs and secular principles, particularly in education, public policy, and human rights . Controversies surrounding issues such as evolution, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and religious freedom highlight the complex interplay between religious convictions and secular values.
Scandals and Abuse within Religious Institutions : Instances of misconduct, abuse, and corruption within religious institutions have prompted public outcry and eroded trust in religious leadership. Scandals involving clergy abuse, financial impropriety, and institutional cover-ups have raised questions about the moral integrity and accountability of religious organizations.
Cognitive Biases and Psychological Vulnerabilities : Critics argue that faith can exploit cognitive biases and psychological vulnerabilities, such as the human tendency to seek patterns, meaning, and comfort in uncertain or distressing situations. Charlatans and religious leaders may manipulate followers’ emotions and beliefs for personal gain or control.

If you remain unconvinced about the power of faith, let me share my personal story, which may illuminate the matter.

My Journey towards Faith

Growing up in a small mountain town, faith was central to my upbringing. But it wasn’t until facing my trials that its true power became evident. As a teenager, a chronic illness changed everything. Questions swirled: Why me? Where was the divine intervention?

In my darkest moments, prayer became my solace. Despite no miraculous healing, faith gave me peace beyond my pain. It became my anchor, providing strength to face each day with courage and hope. Through my struggles, I found purpose in sharing my story and offering hope to others. Faith taught me resilience—not to escape suffering but to endure and overcome it.

Today, I’m grateful for faith’s lessons. It’s not always easy, but belief can transform lives, heal wounds, and inspire hope in the darkest times. In the end, faith has been my guiding light, leading me through darkness to healing and redemption.

The faith journey is as diverse as the individuals who embark upon it. From the depths of personal struggles to the heights of spiritual awakening, faith is a guiding light that illuminates our path through life’s trials and triumphs. Through stories like mine and countless others, we witness the transformative power of faith to provide strength, resilience, and hope in the face of adversity. It is a force that transcends cultural, creed, and circumstance barriers, uniting humanity in a shared quest for meaning and connection. As we navigate the complexities of existence, may we hold fast to the belief that faith is not merely an escape from suffering but a source of inner fortitude and renewal. In embracing faith, we discover the courage to confront life’s challenges with unwavering resolve, knowing that even in the darkest times, the light of faith shines brightest.

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Valuation, Hadoop, Excel, Web Development & many more.

Forgot Password?

This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to our Privacy Policy

Explore 1000+ varieties of Mock tests View more

Submit Next Question

Early-Bird Offer: ENROLL NOW

Plain Bible Teaching

The Importance of Faith: Conclusion

The apostle Peter described the faith that one might have as “ being more precious than gold ” (1 Peter 1:7). No matter what we might hope to gain in this life, nothing is as important as our faith in God.

To remind us of the importance of faith, notice again the points we have considered in these lessons:

Faith allows us to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith leads to our justification (Romans 5:1).
Faith allows us to be sons of God (Galatians 3:26).
Faith lets Christ dwell in our hearts (Ephesians 3:17).
Faith gives us understanding (Hebrews 11:3).
Faith is the standard by which we live (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Faith gives us stability (Colossians 2:7).
Faith is a shield to protect us (Ephesians 6:16).
Faith gives us victory over the world (1 John 5:4).
Faith saves us (1 Peter 1:9).

In the end, as our time on earth draws to a close, all that will matter is whether we can make the same affirmation as Paul: “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith ” (2 Timothy 4:7). If we keep the faith, we will receive the reward of “ the crown of righteousness ” (2 Timothy 4:8). Let us determine to be “ faithful until death ” (Revelation 2:10) so that we do not miss out on the reward that God has offered to us.

Did you find this material to be helpful?

Get more content like this by signing up for the Plain Bible Teaching Weekly Newsletter. This free newsletter will be delivered in your inbox each Friday!

You have successfully joined our mailing list.

Join Our Mailing List

Loading…

My Latest Book

Answering Basic Questions: Simple Explanations of Some Fundamental Bible Topics

Peter issued this challenge to all Christians: “ But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence ” (1 Peter 3:15). However, many Christians feel unprepared to do this; therefore, many conversations that could potentially lead people to the truth never get started.

This book will help equip all Christians to start engaging in spiritual conversations with those around them by providing simple answers to some basic Bible questions. Being ready to give an answer does not mean having an answer to every possible question at the drop of a hat. Instead, it means being able to give a ready answer to questions that are fundamental to our faith that can open the door to further discussions and studies with those who are interested. By studying the material in this book and becoming familiar with the Scriptures cited in each answer, Christians will be better prepared and have more confidence when they discuss their faith with others.

Click here for more information about the book.

PBT Podcast

How Should Christians Vote? (09/05/24)
Inflation and a Decrease in Giving (08/29/24)
The “Most Important” Part of Worship (08/22/24)
Socialism vs. Neighborliness (08/15/24)
Should Christians Tithe? (08/08/24)
About Plain Bible Teaching
Comment Policy
Permission to Use Articles
Subscribe to Plain Bible Teaching

Social Media Links

Plain Bible Teaching on Facebook
Plain Bible Teaching on Twitter
Andy Sochor on Twitter

Browse the Archives

Creative commons license.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License .

If you have further questions about using any of the material on this site, please contact me .

Return to top of page

What Is Faith? Definition, Biblical Examples, And How To Have Faith In Christianity

This article will explore the concept of faith, its importance in Christianity, and how it can shape your daily life. We will also delve into the Bible to learn from examples of faith in action and discuss how you can strengthen your faith as you continue on your spiritual journey.

Last Updated:

May 27, 2024.

As you embark on your spiritual journey and explore the world of Christianity, you may ask, “What is faith according to the Bible?” Faith is a fundamental element of the Christian experience and is crucial in how you relate to God and navigate your spiritual path. Understanding the biblical definition of faith can help you develop a stronger connection with God and embrace the challenges and opportunities of a life of faith.

Understanding the Biblical definition of faith

The Bible clearly and concisely defines faith in Hebrews 11:1, stating, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This passage emphasizes faith is believing in something even when you cannot physically see or touch it. Faith in God means trusting in His promises and relying on His love, guidance, and power, even when circumstances might be challenging or uncertain.

In Christianity, faith is considered a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” This passage highlights the importance of faith as a means of salvation and emphasizes that it is not something you can earn through your efforts but a gift God bestows upon you.

What does faith in God mean?

To have faith in God means to trust in His existence, character, and promises. It is an unwavering belief that He is always present, all-knowing, all-powerful, and deeply invested in your well-being. Faith in God means recognizing He has a plan for your life and is working all things for your good, even when you may not fully understand why things are happening the way they are.

Having faith in God also means acknowledging that you cannot control every aspect of your life and that there are times when you must surrender your desires and plans to His will. This can be a challenging and humbling experience, but it is essential to growing in faith and deepening your relationship with God.

Going deeper,faith in God means obeying His commands and teachings, even when it is difficult or goes against your desires or cultural norms. This often involves stepping out of your comfort zone and standing up for your beliefs, even when it may be unpopular or met with resistance.

The Importance of Faith in Christianity

True Faith is a foundational aspect of Christianity, as it is through faith in Jesus Christ that you receive salvation and eternal life. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Therefore, belief in Jesus, His death on the cross, and His resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and how you are reconciled to God.

Faith is also essential for developing a strong, personal relationship with God. Through faith, you can experience God’s love, guidance, and presence, allowing you to grow in wisdom, understanding, and spiritual maturity. Biblical Faith empowers you to overcome challenges and obstacles, enabling you to rely on God’s strength and provision rather than your limited resources.

Additionally, faith is vital for effective prayer and communication with God. Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Your faith in God’s existence, character, and promises fuels your prayer life and helps you draw closer to Him in times of need.

Examples of faith in the Bible

The Bible is filled with examples of men and women who demonstrated great faith in God despite their challenges and obstacles. One of the most well-known examples is the story of Abraham, who God called to leave his homeland and journey to an unknown land. Abraham obediently followed God’s command, trusting that God would fulfill His promise to give him a great nation and bless all the families of the earth through his descendants (Genesis 12:1-4).

Next, we have Noah. God asked him to build a giant boat in preparation for a great flood that was coming – something he’d never seen before. But Noah didn’t let fear stop him from obeying God’s command. Instead, he trusted Him and continued to build the ark even when people around him laughed and mocked him for doing so. Noah’s faith and obedience were rewarded when the flood came, and everyone on board the ark was saved from destruction.

Another example of faith in the Bible is the story of David and Goliath. God chose David to face the Philistine giant, Goliath, as a young shepherd. Despite his youth and inexperience, David confidently declared, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37). David’s faith in God’s protection and power allowed him to triumph over Goliath and become a symbol of faith for future generations.

In the New Testament, the apostle Peter provides a powerful example of faith in action. Although Peter often struggled with doubt and fear, he eventually became a bold and courageous leader in the early church, preaching the gospel and performing miraculous acts through the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter’s faith in Christ Jesus, the Son of the living God, became the foundation on which the church was built (Matthew 16:16-18)

Faith is essential if we want to live our best lives possible. It allows us to trust in God’s plans for us even when things don’t make sense right away or seem impossible. Have courage today, knowing that whatever you face can be overcome with faith!

How to develop and strengthen your faith in God

Developing and strengthening your faith in God is a lifelong process that requires intentionality, commitment, and practice. Here are some practical steps you can take to grow in your faith and deepen your relationship with God:

Study the Bible : The Bible is the primary source of knowledge about God and His will for your life. Regularly reading and meditating on Scripture can help you grow in your understanding of God’s character, promises, and teachings, which in turn will strengthen your faith in Him.
Pray : Prayer is a vital means of communication with God and essential to a strong faith. Through prayer, you can express your gratitude, praise, and needs to God and receive guidance, comfort, and strength from Him. Therefore, make it a habit to pray regularly and cultivate an attitude of continual communication with God throughout your day.
Fellowship with other believers : Surrounding yourself with fellow Christians can provide encouragement, support, and accountability as you seek to grow in your faith. Attend church services, participate in a small group or Bible study, and seek out friendships with others who share your beliefs and values.
Put your faith into action : Faith is not just about believing in God but also about living out your beliefs in your daily life. Look for opportunities to serve others, share your faith, and demonstrate God’s love through your words and actions.
Trust God in difficult circumstances : When challenges arise, remember that God is in control and working all things for your good (Romans 8:28). Lean on Him for strength and guidance, and trust He will see you through.

Different Types Of Faith

There are three primary types of faith: historical faith, theological faith, and living faith. Historical faith believes in events that happened in the past or that were recorded in scripture. Theological faith is based on understanding God’s character and His will for our lives. Finally, living faith is trusting God to act today and believing in Him no matter what we experience.

These three types of faith can be combined to build a strong foundation for us to stand on. Historical faith helps us remember how God has worked in the past and how He has been faithful. Theological faith gives us the wisdom to understand how God wants us to live today and how He works in our lives. Finally, living faith allows us to trust Him even when we don’t have all the answers or life doesn’t make sense.

God desires us to trust Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). No matter where you are on your journey with Jesus, having these different types of faith will help you grow closer to Him and strengthen your relationship with Him.

The Bible reveals that developing a solid relationship with God requires effort from both sides – we need to come close to Him by seeking His face through prayer and reading His word. Still, He also draws near those who draw near Him (James 4:8). So start today by growing your historical, theological, and living faiths so you can see amazing things happen in your life!

The Role of Faith in Daily Christian Life

Faith is pivotal in your daily Christian life, as it influences your thoughts, attitudes, and actions. As you grow in your faith, you will become more aware of God’s presence and guidance, allowing you to make decisions and choices that align with His will and purposes.

Faith also helps you to navigate difficult situations and challenges with grace, resilience, and hope. When faced with obstacles or setbacks, a strong faith in God can provide comfort, encouragement, and the confidence that you can overcome whatever may come your way.

Moreover, faith enables you to experience a deeper connection with God through prayer, worship, and the study of His Word. As your faith grows, you will develop a greater appreciation for God’s love, goodness, and faithfulness, which can inspire you to share your faith with others and impact their lives for Christ.

Faith and Doubt: Overcoming Obstacles to Faith

Doubt is a common and natural part of the human experience, and it is not unusual for Christians to experience moments of doubt or uncertainty in their faith journey. However, it is essential to recognize that doubt can also be an opportunity for growth and spiritual maturity. It often prompts you to explore your beliefs more deeply and seek answers to your questions.

When faced with doubt, it is helpful to remember that faith is not about having all the answers or understanding everything perfectly but rather about trusting in God’s character and promises, even when you don’t have all the answers. Turning to Scripture, prayer, and the support of fellow believers can help you confront and overcome your doubts, strengthening your faith in the process.

The Impact of Faith on personal growth and spiritual development

Your faith in God powerfully impacts your personal growth and spiritual development. As you learn to trust in God and rely on His wisdom, guidance, and strength, you will become more attuned to His voice and direction. This can lead to greater self-awareness, humility, and a desire to grow in character and godliness.

Moreover, a strong faith in God can help you cultivate virtues such as patience, perseverance, and hope, as you learn to trust in His timing and provision. Faith also fosters a spirit of gratitude and contentment as you recognize the many ways God has blessed and sustained you.

As your faith in God grows, you will also be more inclined to seek out opportunities to serve others and share your faith, thus contributing to the growth and development of the wider Christian community.

Common Misconceptions About Faith

First, faith is not something you “have” or “don’t have.” It’s a choice to believe something even when we don’t have proof or evidence. You may have heard people say, “I have faith,” when talking about trusting in someone or something, but the truth is that everyone has the potential to develop and strengthen their faith.

Another misconception is that faith means never having doubts or questions. In reality, doubts and questions can be part of having faith— they can help us grow and deepen our trust in God. We can also use prayer to ask God for strength, guidance, and wisdom as we work through our doubts and questions with Him.

Lastly, many people think having faith means blindly believing without thinking critically about our beliefs— this couldn’t be further from the truth! Faith isn’t just about accepting what we’re told; it’s also about actively engaging with scripture and discussing our beliefs with others who share them. By seeking out knowledge and dialogue around our faith, we gain insight into why we believe what we do to make our convictions more meaningful.

Faith isn’t just an idea; it’s an actionable practice that helps us live life with greater purpose and joy! When we believe in something, even when things don’t make sense or seem impossible—that’s the power of faith at work! Embrace this gift today by deepening your understanding of your beliefs and putting them into practice every day!

Conclusion: Embracing faith in your Christian journey

Faith is an essential aspect of the Christian journey, as it shapes your relationship with God, influences your daily life, and impacts your personal growth and spiritual development. By understanding the Biblical definition of faith, learning from examples of faith in the Bible, and actively seeking to strengthen your faith in God, you can experience a deeper connection with your Creator and embrace the challenges and opportunities of a life of faith.

Remember that faith is not a one-time event or a destination but an ongoing journey of growth and transformation. Embrace the ups and downs of your spiritual journey and trust that God is with you every step of the way. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

May you continue to grow in your faith and experience God’s abundant life in store for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does faith differ from religion.

Faith is integral to life, but religion isn’t the same. Faith is a belief in something that you can’t see or touch. It’s trusting and believing in something bigger than yourself, even when there is no proof or evidence that it exists. Conversely, religion is a set of beliefs and practices used to help guide someone’s faith journey.

In Christianity, faith is essential for our relationship with God. We come to know Him through faith – trusting that He loves us and has a plan for our lives – even when we don’t understand His ways. We are encouraged by scripture to have faith in His promises and rely on them for hope and peace. This kind of faith takes time to develop as we learn more about who God is and how He works in our lives.

How we put our faith into practice looks different from person to person because of different backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs. But ultimately, having faith means relying on God’s promises rather than our understanding or abilities. So then, when life gets complicated or confusing, we can rest knowing that God will always be with us and provide what we need when the time is right.

No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, having faith in God’s goodness can bring joy and comfort during difficult times. By studying His word and learning more about who He is, you can grow your trust in Him so that you know He has your best interest at heart – no matter what comes your way!

How do I know if I have enough faith?

First, having faith means believing in God and trusting in Him. When we have faith in Christ, we trust Him and His promises. We don’t worry about what’s happening around us because He controls everything. That kind of attitude is one way to recognize if you have enough faith or not.

Another sign that can help you understand your level of faith is prayer. If you’re consistently praying and speaking words of faith over your life, then chances are, your trust is strong and growing. Prayer is essential to deepen your relationship with God so your faith can grow even more.

Finally, having an attitude of gratitude can also help build your faith in Christ. When we thank God for all He has done and will do, we show Him our trust and confidence in His plans for us. A grateful heart is a sign that our faith is strong and growing daily!

So when measuring your level of faith in Christ, remember these three things: trust God and His promises, pray continually, and always express gratitude! This will help ensure that you’re building on the foundation of a strong relationship with Jesus — one filled with deepened faith each day!

How do I increase my faith?

The first step is to read the Bible and learn more about God’s promises. God’s promises are what give us hope and encouragement during difficult times. When we read His Word, we will find He has promised us many things to help us grow in our faith. Praying is another excellent way to increase your faith. Talk to God about your situation and ask Him for guidance. Trust that He will answer your prayers in His perfect timing and use them as an opportunity to draw closer to Him.

The next step is building relationships with other believers with solid faith. Surround yourself with people who can encourage you in your faith journey and lift you when circumstances seem complicated or hopeless. Lean into their support, wisdom, and joy for Jesus Christ as they share stories of how He has worked in their lives. Nothing will bring more life into your faith than having a community of like-minded believers who can share their experiences!

Finally, practice acts of service with others. Serving others is one of the best ways to increase our faith because it helps us put our focus on loving others rather than ourselves or our situations. So go out into the world and serve those around you, whether it be a volunteer opportunity or simply helping someone carry groceries; any little service can go a long way!

TIP: To keep growing in your faith, take time each day to dedicate yourself to prayer, Bible study, and serving those around you! In doing so, your relationship with God will deepen, and your trust in Him will provide for all your needs according to His perfect plan.

What is the difference between faith and hope?

Faith and hope are two concepts that are closely related yet have distinct qualities. Faith is having certainty in what we cannot see or touch, while hope is having a desire for something to happen. To better understand the difference, here are three key points:

First, faith is trusting God no matter the circumstance. It believes He will come through when we can’t see how and trust Him when life doesn’t make sense. We must be willing to take steps of faith even if our circumstances don’t align with our beliefs; this is how our faith grows.

Second, hope is an expectation that something good will happen despite the odds against us. It’s having a positive outlook on life amid difficult times and believing that God will work it out, even if all logic says otherwise. When it comes to hope in God, we must keep expecting, despite not seeing immediate results.

Third, faith and hope both require action on our part. As believers, it’s important to remember that although these two things are supernatural gifts from God, they also need our effort to be effective. Therefore, we must stay diligent in prayer and obedience while trusting and expecting God to answer our prayers according to His plan and timing.

We all need faith and hope—they give us strength during trials and help us see beyond what our eyes can see right now. Both are vital components of living a victorious Christian life as they keep us focused on the promises of God rather than being consumed by what’s happening around us or within us at any given time. By understanding the difference between faith and hope, we can confidently press into God’s promises knowing He will never fail us!

Episcopal vs Roman Catholic: Understanding the Core Differences

Jesus’ Tomb: A Look Inside the Size and Significance

Snow in Dreams: Biblical Symbolism and Interpretation

Is ‘Religion’ Mentioned in the Bible?

A Guide to Making, Using, and Blessing with Holy Water at Home

Dust to Dust: The Biblical Significance of Dust

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

Discover more from Christian Pure

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Short Essay & Paragraph On Faith For Students

Faith is what enables people to move on when things get difficult and what brings them back to good after bad decisions. It is important to show confidence in yourself and others around you. You never know how far your prayers will go for someone else, even if that person is the most unlikely.

Table of Contents

Paragraph on Topic Faith in Yourself

Just like my family, I’ve always had faith in myself, but it wasn’t there all the time. I’ve often made the wrong decisions: preferring boys to friends; spending time with people who haven’t encouraged me; not doing my homework or homework because I was too busy hanging out with friends, and spending money because I didn’t think about the future.

I was fortunate to have a family who loved me no matter what, and they were always there to pick me up when I fell. They never gave up on me and never lost faith in me.

I think that’s the most important thing about faith; it has to be worked on. You can’t just say “I have faith” and then don’t do anything about it. It is something that you must earn through your actions and prayers . God always listens, and he will help you if you let him.

No matter, what happens in this life, I know that my loved family and I will always have faith in each other, in ourselves, and God. It is something that can never be taken away.

What exactly is this belief? Webster’s dictionary defines it as trust or confidence in a person or thing. In the Bible, faith is described as the certainty of hope, the conviction of things that cannot be seen (Hebrews 11:1). What does it all mean?

To put it simply, to believe is to believe in something that cannot be seen. It is trust in God no matter what happens in your life. It has hope for the future, even when it is difficult. Faith also means being willing to do whatever is necessary to follow Jesus Christ, even if that means making sacrifices.

Faith was everything to me. It was the light at the end of the tunnel in difficult times, and it gave me hope when I didn’t think it would get better. It was also a source of strength when I needed it most. And I know that I am not alone—millions of people around the world believe in God, no matter what their religious beliefs may be.

What does it all mean for you? Well, first and foremost, it means that you are never alone. No matter what happens in this life, you can always turn to God for help . He is always there for you and will never leave you. Second, it means that you should always have hope for the future.

It’s tough right now, but it’s getting better. God has a plan for your life and he will never misdirect you. After all, it means that you should always be ready to do whatever is necessary to follow Jesus Christ. Even if it’s difficult or you have to make some compromises, it will be worth it in the end.

Essay On Faith

Faith can be defined as a belief in something for which there is no proof or evidence. It is often associated with religious beliefs, but it can also refer to a belief in oneself, in others, or in a higher power or purpose. Faith can provide individuals with a sense of purpose and direction, and can also help to provide comfort and security in difficult times.

Faith can also play a significant role in shaping one’s values and actions. For example, religious faith may influence an individual’s views on issues such as morality, social justice, and the environment. Faith can also be a source of inspiration and motivation, encouraging individuals to take positive actions in the world.

However, faith can also be a source of division and conflict. Different individuals and groups may have different beliefs and values, and these differences can lead to disagreements and even violence. It is important for individuals to respect the faith and beliefs of others, even if they do not agree with them.

Faith can be a personal and private matter, and the level of importance placed on it can vary greatly from one person to another. Some people may find that faith plays a central role in their lives, while others may have little or no interest in it. Regardless of the level of importance placed on faith, it can have a profound impact on an individual’s life.

Short essay on faith in God

Faith in God is the belief in the existence of a higher power or supreme being who is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the universe. This belief is central to many religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and it can play a significant role in shaping an individual’s values, actions, and worldview.

Believing in God can provide individuals with a sense of purpose and meaning in life, as well as a source of comfort and guidance in times of difficulty. It can also serve as a moral compass, providing individuals with a framework for making ethical and moral decisions. Additionally, believing in God can help individuals to find a sense of belonging and connection with a larger community of believers.

However, faith in God can also be a source of controversy and debate. Some individuals may question the existence of God or reject the idea of a higher power altogether. Additionally, different religions may have different beliefs about the nature of God and how to worship or connect with him, which can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings.

Ultimately, faith in God is a deeply personal and subjective belief that can have a profound impact on an individual’s life. For some, it can provide a sense of hope and peace, while for others it may not be a significant part of their life. Regardless of one’s personal beliefs, it is important to respect and tolerate the diverse perspectives and faith of others.

Short essay on faith can move mountains

The phrase “faith can move mountains” is often used to express the idea that faith can accomplish seemingly impossible tasks and overcome great obstacles. This phrase is rooted in religious and spiritual beliefs, and suggests that faith in a higher power or in oneself can be a powerful force for change and progress.

Faith can provide individuals with the courage and determination to tackle difficult challenges and pursue their goals. It can give people the strength to persevere in the face of adversity, and the belief that they can achieve their dreams. By having faith, individuals can overcome their fear, doubts, and insecurities, and can approach their challenges with a positive attitude and unwavering determination.

Faith can also be a source of inspiration and motivation for others. When individuals have faith in their abilities and in the possibilities of the future, they can inspire and motivate others to do the same. This can create a positive and productive environment, where people work together towards a common goal, encouraged by each other’s faith.

However, faith alone is not enough to move mountains. It must be combined with hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Faith can give you the determination and motivation to keep going, but it is the actions that you take and the effort you put in that will ultimately make the difference.

In summary, faith can be a powerful force that can help individuals to overcome obstacles and achieve great things. It can provide strength, motivation, and inspiration, and can give people the courage and determination to pursue their goals and make a positive impact in the world.

FAQ: On Faith

Q: What is faith?

A: Faith is a belief in something for which there is no proof or evidence. It can be associated with religious beliefs, but it can also refer to a belief in oneself, in others, or in a higher power or purpose.

Q: How can faith shape one’s values and actions?

A: Faith can play a significant role in shaping one’s values and actions. For example, religious faith may influence an individual’s views on issues such as morality, social justice, and the environment. Faith can also be a source of inspiration and motivation.

Q: How can faith be a source of division and conflict?

A: Different individuals and groups may have different beliefs and values, and these differences can lead to disagreements and even violence. It is important for individuals to respect the faith and beliefs of others, even if they do not agree with them.

Q: Is faith important for everyone?

A: The level of importance placed on faith can vary greatly from one person to another. Some people may find that faith plays a central role in their lives, while others may have little or no interest in it.

Q: How can faith impact an individual’s life?

A: Faith can provide individuals with a sense of purpose and direction, and can also help to provide comfort and security in difficult times. It can also have a profound impact on an individual’s life, regardless of the level of importance placed on it.

Hello! Welcome to my Blog StudyParagraphs.co. My name is Angelina. I am a college professor. I love reading writing for kids students. This blog is full with valuable knowledge for all class students. Thank you for reading my articles.

The Power of Believing: A Heartfelt Poem on Faith in God

What is a Faith Statement and How Do You Write One? (with Examples)

What is a faith statement and how do you write one? This resource offers guidance from Lord’s Library editors and Christian thought leaders.

If you found this resource then you are probably looking to have the following question answered: “What is a faith statement?” You might also be trying to be find thoughtful advice on how to write a statement of faith. Christians write faith statements for confirmation, job applications, entrance into a church ministry, and Christian college and university applications.

This article will highlight the process for writing a good faith statement through various statement of faith examples, as well as advice from Christians with experience on the topic. It will also include faith statement outlines so you know what a statement of faith should include.

The motivation for creating this resource came after our launch of Lord’s Library last year. As a Christian media startup with a clear mission , we knew we had to construct a professional faith statement that our readers could reference. Our creation would also act as the personal statement of faith of our founders, making it a daunting task.

This article offers everything one needs to know when asking “what is a faith statement?” or when looking for a template on how to write a statement of faith.

The Best Christian Colleges & Universities in America by State, 2024

What is a faith statement.

A statement of faith is a description of spiritual belief as it pertains to an individual or community organization, structured by summarizing core tenets. Faith statements commonly include a description of belief on various Christian topics, including the nature of God, the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Bible, creation, salvation , revelation, the role of the Church, denominational association , and how those beliefs are relevant to an individual’s personal mission, a ministry, or organization.

A statement of faith is not dissimilar to a creed, which is a confession of faith or a symbol representing it. The earliest known creed in Christianity was written by Paul the Apostle and states “ Jesus is Lord. “

Personal vs. Professional Faith Statements; What’s the Difference?

It may be a surprise to learn that no standard format exists for how to write a statement of faith, and they can be as unique as the individual or community organization writing them. A personal faith statement is akin to a creed while a professional statement of faith could be comparable to a Christian-centric mission statement. There are many organizations though, like Lord’s Library, that choose to align their professional faith statements with the personally-held beliefs of their founders.

One might write a personal statement of faith for confirmation , which is sometimes required as a prerequisite for youths to attain membership in a church. Young adults are commonly tasked with writing a faith statement as part of the application process to a Christian college or university along with a personal essay. Or maybe you’re an outspoken Christian with a personal blog and you want your readers to know where you stand on key ecumenical issues. However, one should be guarded not to write a statement of faith for the sole purpose of showing Biblical knowledge.

A professional statement of faith follows along this same path, but is often written for a business purpose or for acceptance into a community organization or church ministry. You might also want to write a professional faith statement if you’re starting your own Christian ministry or commercial project, like we are doing here at Lord’s Library. Our guess is that this is growing increasingly more common due to the pandemic and digital transformation that has come as a result of it.

Christian companies may require a statement of faith for their records and as part of the application process which shows you agree with their overall mission. The same might be true for installation as a church officer such as elders or deacons. In one good example we found in our research, a church may require members to be in general agreement on doctrine while understanding that different people may word things differently.

Personal and professional faith statements can differ depending on the writer and the purpose, but the goal should remain largely the same.

How to Write a Statement of Faith: Key Elements to Include

It can be a difficult process to put your personally held spiritual beliefs onto paper for multiple reasons. First, you may be worried about shutting others out who don’t have the same set of values. You might also be concerned with forgetting a key point. However, learning how to write a statement of faith can be an excellent exercise, both because it makes you contemplate deeply what you believe, and because it’s an ideal way to start communicating the faith with others.

We recommend beginning the process in prayer, asking The Lord for spiritual guidance on how best to communicate your declaration. Then you can begin to script your faith statement by starting with an outline of key elements that will act as a foundation of belief. And since the goal of a statement of faith is to communicate spiritual belief, Scripture ought to be used whenever possible. Next, begin adding supporting Scriptures to your faith statement outline to build it out.

A statement of faith can feature one all-encompassing paragraph that covers theological basics. Some may choose to devote an entire paragraph to each theological section, while others might combine some and highlight others specifically for added effect on a particular point. There are also faith statements which present as simple bullet point lists. The format isn’t important. Rather, the sequence and organization of the topics will make the statement distinct and personal.

To help you build out an outline, we listed below a number of key elements to consider including in your personal statement of faith.

The nature of God the Father
The nature of Jesus Christ
The Holy Spirit
The Trinity
Inerrancy of Scripture and the Bible
Role of the Church
Revelation (or eschatology)
Sin (or good and evil)
Heaven and Hell
Human nature
Your mission (as it pertains to the above)

These are the most common examples we discovered during our research and analysis of various faith statements from across the web. You may choose to add additional topics to this framework.

Statement of Faith Examples and Advice to Consider

Below we link out to several statement of faith examples from different Christian doctrines to help save you time:

Association of Classical Christian Schools
First Baptist Atlanta (Georgia)
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ
American Anglican Council
Presbyterian Mission

We also thought it would be helpful to include tidbits of advice from other Christians who may have written their own faith statements in the past. So we took to LinkedIn and polled those in some of the most popular Christian user groups . The hope is that the advice they offered can be of some assistance as you begin your own writing process:

“ Recognizing that you are probably writing your statement for a reason, I would hope the reason does not color your language. That is, don’t say what you want others to hear, rather write what you have come to believe .” – Paul Mannes, Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies at Washington University of Virginia in Theology for Today
“ The statement must be Christ centered .” – Anthony Luckett, Pastor of Saint Paul Church in Milwaukee, WI in Bivocational Ministry
“ Be truthful and fearless. Tell what you truly experienced with God through His Son by the way His given Holy Spirit .” – Vicki Gann, Founder of Love4Love Ministry in Assemblies of God Ministers
“ If going it alone, a statement of faith should be built on a strong foundation and understanding of scripture with clearly articulated doctrinal points and a liberal use of Biblical citations .” – Lonnie Williams, Pastoral Counselor at Bethel Christian Church in Warren, MI in Inside Pastoral Care & Counseling

Are you currently writing your own statement of faith? Have tips, tricks, or techniques to share? Let us know !

NOW READ: The Best Christian Colleges and Universities in America by State for 2022

Recent Posts

What Does the Bible Say About Diligence? With Key Scriptures - August 24, 2024
What Does the Bible Say About Desire? With Key Scriptures - August 24, 2024
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Meaning: The Gospel of Jesus Christ - August 20, 2024

Share this post

Timothy Andrew

Tim is the Founder of Lord's Library. He believes the Bible commands us to minister "as of the ability which God giveth" (1 Peter 4:11). Tim aspires to be as The Lord's mouth by "taking forth the precious from the vile" (Jeremiah 15:19) and witnessing The Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4) to the whole world.

View all posts by Timothy Andrew →

The 5 Best Christian Colleges in Montana for 2024

Proof of Repentance: The Significance of Matthew 3:8 & 4:17

Being a Servant Leader: An Acronym, Key Bible Verses & Meaning

What Does the Bible Say About Abundance? With Scripture References

The 6 Best Christian Search Engines for Your Next Web Query

The Preterist View of Revelation: Introduction & Key Scripture

The 32 Best Christian News Sources for Reports on Current Events

Atheist Objections to Theism #2: God of the Gaps Argument

The Gospel of the Kingdom Scripture Verses KJV

Tribalism According to the Bible with Commentary & Key Scriptures

Table of Contents
Random Entry
Chronological
Editorial Information
About the SEP
Editorial Board
How to Cite the SEP
Special Characters
Advanced Tools
Support the SEP
PDFs for SEP Friends
Make a Donation
SEPIA for Libraries
Entry Contents

Bibliography

Academic tools.

Friends PDF Preview
Author and Citation Info
Back to Top

Questions about faith have inspired centuries of philosophical and theological reflection, particularly, though by no means exclusively, as faith is understood within the Christian branch of the Abrahamic religions. What is faith? What makes faith reasonable or unreasonable, valuable or disvaluable, morally permissible or impermissible, virtuous or vicious? How does faith relate to psychological states such as belief, desire, trust, and hope? How does faith relate to action? To what extent is faith under our voluntary control? Because answers to these further questions depend on what faith is, as well as on assumptions about relevant evaluative norms and the philosophical psychology and theory of action applicable to faith, this entry focusses on the nature of faith, while also touching upon implications of various models of faith for assessments of its reasonableness and value.

‘Faith’ is a broad term, appearing in locutions that point to a range of different phenomena. We speak of ‘having faith that you will succeed, despite setbacks,’ ‘having faith in democracy,’ ‘putting faith in God,’ ‘believing that God exists by faith,’ ‘being a person of faith,’ ‘professing and keeping the faith (or losing it),’ ‘keeping (or failing to keep) faith with someone’, and so on. At its most general ‘faith’ means much the same as ‘trust’. Uses of ‘faith’ and ‘faithfulness’ closely parallel ‘trust’ and ‘trustworthiness’ and these are often used interchangeably. Yet one of the striking and intriguing facts about theorizing in this area (the study of faith, faithfulness, and related phenomena), is that people have offered radically different accounts of what faith is—to such an extent that there remains disagreement even about the basic ontological category to which faith belongs. Is it a psychological state and, if so, is it cognitive, affective/evaluative, or perhaps some combination of both? Is it an act or disposition to act—or is there at least some sort of connection to action essential to faith and, if so, to what sorts of acts?

This entry will focus on religious faith as paradigmatic—or, rather, it will focus on the kind of faith exemplified in theistic faith (i.e., faith in God, faith that God exists, and commitment to a theistic interpretation of reality), while leaving open whether faith of that same general kind also belongs to other, non-theistic, religious contexts, or to contexts not usually thought of as religious at all. The question of faith outside of a theistic context, such as whether it is apt to speak of the faith of a humanist, or even an atheist, using the same general sense of ‘faith’ as applies to the theist case, is taken up in the final Section (11).

Philosophical reflection on theistic religious faith has produced markedly different accounts or models of its nature. This entry organizes discussion of accounts or models of faith around key components that feature in such accounts—with varying emphases, and with varying views about how these components relate to one another. These components are the cognitive , the affective , the evaluative , and the practical (volitional, actional and behavioural). Models of faith may also be usefully categorized according to further principles, including

how the model relates faith as a state to the actional components associated with faith;
whether the model takes the object of faith to be exclusively propositional (e.g., faith that such and such) or not (e.g., faith in persons or ideals);
the type of epistemology with which the model is associated—whether it is broadly ‘internalist’ or ‘externalist’, ‘evidentialist’ or ‘fideist’;
whether the model is necessarily restricted to theistic religious faith, or may extend beyond it.

The entry proceeds dialectically, with later sections presupposing the earlier discussion. The section headings are as follows:

1. Models of faith and their key components

2. the affective component of faith, 3. faith as knowledge, 4. faith and reason: the epistemology of faith, 5. faith as belief, 6. faith as an act of trust, 7. faith as doxastic venture, 8. venturing faith, without belief, 9. faith and hope, 10. faith as a virtue, 11. faith beyond (orthodox) theism, other internet resources, related entries.

While philosophical reflection on faith of the kind exemplified in religious contexts might ideally hope to yield an agreed definition in terms of necessary and sufficient conditions that articulate the nature of faith, the present discussion proceeds by identifying key components that recur in different accounts of religious faith. It also aims to identify a focal range of issues on which different stances are taken by different accounts. There is a plurality of existing philosophical understandings or models of faith of the religious kind. This discussion therefore aims to set out dialectically an organisation of this plurality, while also giving indications of the reasons there may be for preferring particular models over others. Since ‘religion’ itself may well be a ‘family resemblance’ universal, essentialism about faith of the religious kind might be misplaced. Nevertheless, the concept of faith as found in the Abrahamic, theist, religious traditions is widely regarded as unified enough for an inquiry into its nature to make sense, even if a successful real definition is too much to expect (this kind of faith might conceivably be a conceptual primitive, for example).

Note that some philosophers approach the target of religious faith by first classifying and analysing ordinary language uses of the term ‘faith’ and locutions in which that term occurs. See, for recent examples, Audi 2011 (Chapter 3, Section I), who identifies seven different kinds of faith, and Howard-Snyder (2013b), who attempts a general analysis of ‘propositional’ faith—i.e., faith that p is true, where p is a relevant proposition. The present discussion, however, deals directly with the target notion of the kind of faith exemplified in religious faith , assuming the background of a working grasp of the notion as deployed in religious forms of life, and specifically in those belonging to the theist traditions. Insights from the analysis of faith understood more broadly may, nevertheless, be important in constructing models of faith of the religious kind, as will emerge below in the discussion of religious faith as a kind of trust (Section 6).

The notion of religious faith as the possession of a whole people is familiar, and arguably theologically primary in the theist traditions. Philosophical accounts of theistic faith typically focus, however, on what it is for an individual person to ‘have faith’ or be ‘a person of faith’. An initial broad distinction is between thinking of faith just as a person’s state when that person ‘has faith’, and thinking of it as also involving a person’s act, action or activity . Faith may be a state one is in, or comes to be in; it may also essentially involve something one does. An adequate account of faith, perhaps, needs to encompass both. In the Christian context, faith is understood both as a gift of God and also as requiring a human response of assent and trust, so that their faith is something with respect to which people are both receptive and active.

There is, however, some tension in understanding faith both as a gift to be received and as essentially involving a venture to be willed and enacted. A philosophical account of faith may be expected to illuminate this apparent paradox. One principle for classifying models of faith is according to the extent to which they recognise an active component in faith itself, and the way they identify that active component and its relation to faith’s other components. It is helpful to consider the components of faith (variously recognised and emphasised in different models of faith) as falling into three broad categories: the affective , the cognitive and the practical . There are also evaluative components in faith—these may appear as implicated in the affective and/or the cognitive components, according to one’s preferred meta-theory of value.

One component of faith is a certain kind of affective psychological state—namely, having a feeling of assurance or trust. Some philosophers hold that faith is to be identified simply with such a state: see, for example, Clegg (1979, 229) who suggests that this may have been Wittgenstein’s understanding. Faith in this sense—as one’s overall ‘default’ affective attitude on life—provides a valuable foundation for flourishing: its loss is recognised as the psychic calamity of ‘losing one’s faith’. But if foundational existential assurance is to feature in a model of faith of the kind exemplified by theists, more needs to be added about the kind of assurance involved. The assurance of theistic faith is essentially a kind of confidence: it is essentially faith in God. In general, faith of the kind exemplified by theistic faith must have some intentional object . It may thus be argued that an adequate model of this kind of faith cannot reduce to something purely affective: some broadly cognitive component is also required. (For an account that takes faith to be fundamentally affective, while allowing that it might also involve cognitive aspects, see Kvanvig 2013.)

What kind of cognitive component belongs to faith, then? One possibility is that it is a kind of knowledge , but there is then a question about the kind of knowledge that it is: e.g., is it knowledge ‘by acquaintance’, or ‘propositional’ knowledge ‘by description’, or both? One type of model of faith as knowledge identifies faith as propositional knowledge of specific truths, revealed by God. A model of this type has received prominent recent defence in the work of Alvin Plantinga, who proposes an account which he regards as following in the tradition of the reformers, principally John Calvin (see Plantinga 2000, 168–86). Calvin defines faith thus: ‘a firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence towards us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit’ (John Calvin, Institutes III, ii, 7, 551, quoted by Plantinga (2000, 244)).

Appeal to a special cognitive faculty

‘Reformed’ epistemologists have appealed to an externalist epistemology in order to maintain that theistic belief may be justified even though its truth is no more than basically evident to the believer—that is, its truth is not rationally inferable from other, more basic, beliefs, but is found to be immediately evident in the believer’s experience (see Plantinga and Wolterstorff 1983, Alston 1991, Plantinga 2000). On Plantinga’s version, (basic) theistic beliefs count as knowledge because they are produced by the operation of a special cognitive faculty whose functional design fits it for the purpose of generating true beliefs about God. Plantinga calls this the sensus divinitatis , using a term of Calvin’s. (For discussion of the extent to which Plantinga’s use of this term conforms to Calvin’s own usage see Jeffreys 1997 and Helm 1998.) This quasi-perceptual faculty meets functional criteria as a mechanism that, when functioning in the right conditions, confers ‘warrant’ (where warrant is whatever must be added to true belief to yield knowledge) and, granted theism’s truth, it probably yields ‘basic’ knowledge because God designs it just for that purpose. In defence of specifically Christian belief, Plantinga argues that the same warrant-conferring status belongs to the operation of the Holy Spirit in making the great truths of the Gospel directly known to the believer.

The welcome certainty of faith

This appeal to a God-given ‘higher’ cognitive faculty is found (in the early 12th Century) in al-Ghazâlî’s Deliverance from Error , where it provides the key to the ‘Sufi’ resolution of his religious crisis and his sceptical doubts about the deliverances of sense perception and unassisted human reason. Faith is thus understood as a kind of basic knowledge attended by a certainty that excludes doubt. But faith will not be exclusively cognitive, if, as in Calvin’s definition, faith-knowledge is not only ‘revealed to our minds’ but also ‘sealed upon our hearts’. For, on this model, faith will also have an affective/evaluative component that includes a welcoming of the knowledge received.

Practical aspects of faith on this model

This model of faith as a kind of knowledge, certain and welcome, exhibits faith as essentially something to be received, something delivered by the proper functioning of a special cognitive faculty. Nevertheless, the model may admit a practical component, since an active response is required for reception of the divine gift. Such a practical component is implied by the real possibility that faith may be resisted: indeed, Christians may hold that in our sinful state we will inevitably offer a resistance to faith that may be overcome only by God’s grace. It is, however, a further step for persons of faith to put their revealed knowledge into practice by trusting their lives to God and seeking to obey his will. On this ‘special knowledge’ model of faith, however, this activity counts as ‘acting out’ one’s faith rather than as a part of faith itself. Persons of faith thus act ‘in’, ‘through’ or ‘by’ faith: but, on this model, their faith itself is the welcomed revealed knowledge on which they act.

Models of faith as knowledge may be thought lacking because they admit no actional component in faith itself. Faith seems essentially to involve some kind of active venture in commitment and trust, even if talk of a ‘leap of faith’ may not be wholly apt. Many have held that faith ventures beyond what is ordinarily known or justifiably held true, in the sense that faith involves accepting what cannot be established as true through the proper exercise of our naturally endowed human cognitive faculties. As Kant famously reports, in the Preface to the Second Edition of his Critique of Pure Reason : ‘I have … found it necessary to deny knowledge , in order to make room for faith ’ (Kant 1787 [1933, 29]). Theist philosophers do, however, typically defend the claim that faith is not ‘contrary to reason’. On models of faith that take a cognitive component as central, and construe faith’s object as propositional, reasonable faith therefore seems subject to a general evidentialist principle—‘a wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence’, as Hume puts it (Hume 1748 [2007], “Of Miracles”, 80). And W. K. Clifford elevates evidentialism to the status of an absolute moral requirement, affirming that ‘it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone to believe anything upon insufficient evidence’ (Clifford 1877 [1999, 77]. Faith’s venturesomeness may thus seem in tension with its reasonableness, and models of faith differ in the way they negotiate this tension in response to evidentialist challenges. Another way to classify models of faith, then, is in terms of their associated epistemology—and, in particular, whether and according to what norms of ‘evidential support’, they accept that faith’s cognitive component needs to meet a requirement to be grounded on available evidence.

The Reformed epistemologist model of faith as ‘basic’ knowledge (outlined in Section 3) generates an epistemology under which, although ordinary cognitive faculties and sources of evidence do not yield firm and certain inferred knowledge of theistic truths, there is (if Christian theism is true) a ‘higher’ cognitive faculty that neatly makes up the deficit. This model seems thus to secure the rationality of faith: if faith consists in beliefs that have the status of knowledge, faith can hardly fail to be rational. And, once the deliverances of the special cognitive faculty are included amongst the believer’s basic experiential evidence, an evidential requirement on reasonable belief seems to be met. (Note that Plantinga originally expressed his defence of ‘properly basic’ theistic belief in terms of the rationality of believing in God ‘without any evidence or argument at all’ (Plantinga 1983, 17). He does respect an evidential requirement, however, holding that it may be fully met through what is basically, non-inferentially, evident in the believer’s experience. Hence Plantinga’s insistence that his Reformed epistemology is not fideistic (Plantinga 2000, 263).)

Reflective faith and the question of entitlement

It is not clear, however, whether Reformed epistemology’s model of faith can achieve all that is needed to show that theist faith is reasonable. From the perspective of reflective persons of faith (or would-be faith), the question of entitlement arises: are they rationally, epistemically—even, morally—entitled to adopt or continue in their faith? This question will be existentially important, since faith will not be of the kind exemplified by religious faith unless its commitments make a significant difference to how one lives one’s life. Reflective believers, who are aware of the many options for faith and the possibility of misguided and even harmful faith-commitments, will wish to be satisfied that they are justified in their faith. The theist traditions hold a deep fear of idolatry—of giving one’s ‘ultimate concern’ (Tillich 1957 [2001]) to an object unworthy of it. The desire to be assured of entitlement to faith is thus not merely externally imposed by commitment to philosophical critical values: it is a demand internal to the integrity of theistic faith itself. Arguably, believers must even take seriously the possibility that the God they have been worshipping is not, after all, the true God (Johnston 2009). But, for this concern to be met, there will need to be conditions sufficient for justified faith that are ‘internalist’—that is, conditions whose obtaining is, at least indirectly if not directly, accessible to believers themselves. And, as already noted, those conditions are widely assumed to include an evidentialist requirement that faith is justified only if the truth of its cognitive content is adequately supported by the available evidence.

The Reformed epistemologist model as leaving the question of entitlement unanswered

It may be argued, however, that, if the Reformed epistemologist’s model is correct, those who seek to meet an evidentialist requirement will be unable to satisfy themselves of their entitlement to their faith. Theistic truths may be directly revealed, and experienced as immediately evident, yet, on reflection, one may doubt whether such experiences are genuinely revelatory since competing ‘naturalist’ interpretations of those experiences seem available. Furthermore, there are rival sources yielding contrary claims that equally claim to be authentically revelatory. It may be true, as Plantinga’s Reformed epistemology maintains, that if God exists then certain basic theist beliefs meet externalist criteria for knowledge, even though the truth of the propositions concerned remains open to reflective ‘internalist’ doubt. On an externalist account, that is, one might lack independent evidence sufficient to confirm that one has knowledge that God exists while in fact possessing that very knowledge . One may thus refute an objector who claims that without adequate evidence one cannot possess knowledge. But this consideration is still insufficient to secure entitlement to theistic faith—if, as may be argued, that entitlement requires that one has evidence adequate to justify commitment to the truth that God exists. For, one has such evidence only conditionally on God’s existence —but it is precisely entitlement to believe that God exists that is at issue (Kenny 1992, 71; Bishop and Aijaz 2004). For a wider discussion of the possibility of religious knowledge that, inter alia , endorses the present point, see Zagzebski 2010.

If faith is not ‘firm and certain’ basic knowledge of theistic truths, then a model of faith as having a propositional object may still be retained by identifying faith with belief of relevant content—and the question whether a faith-belief may have sufficient justification to count (if true) as (non-basic) knowledge may remain open. To have theist faith might thus be identified with holding a belief with theological content—that God exists, is benevolent towards us, has a plan of salvation, etc.—where this belief is also held with sufficient firmness and conviction. Richard Swinburne labels this the ‘Thomist view’ of faith, and expresses it thus: ‘The person of religious faith is the person who has the theoretical conviction that there is a God’ (Swinburne 2005, 138). (Aquinas’s own understanding of faith is more complex than this formulation suggests, however, as will be noted shortly.)

The rationality of faith on this model will rest on the rationality of the firmly held theological beliefs in which it consists. As Swinburne notes, if such beliefs are founded on evidence that renders their truth sufficiently more probable than not, then the beliefs concerned may amount to knowledge on a contemporary ‘justified true belief’ fallibilist epistemology, even though they fall short of knowledge on Aquinas’s own criteria, which require that what is known be ‘seen’ (i.e., fully and directly comprehended) ( Summa Theologiae 2a2ae 1, 4 & 5 (Aquinas 1265–1273 [2006], 27)). In any case, the reasonableness of faith on this model of faith as (non-basic) theological belief depends on the beliefs concerned being adequately evidentially justified. The claim that this condition is satisfied is defended by John Locke in The Reasonableness of Christianity (1695 [1999]), and, in contemporary philosophy, by Richard Swinburne’s Bayesian approach to the epistemology of Christian belief (see, for example, Swinburne 2003).

Some argue, however, that the truth of theism is ‘evidentially ambiguous’—that is, that our total available evidence is equally viably interpreted from both a theist and a naturalist/atheist perspective (Hick 1966 and 1989; Davis 1978; Penelhum 1995; McKim 2001). This thesis of evidential ambiguity may be supported as the best explanation of the diversity of belief on religious matters, and/or of the persistence of the debate about theism, with philosophers of equal acumen and integrity engaged on either side. Or the ambiguity may be considered systematic—for example, on the grounds that both natural theological and natural atheological arguments fail because they are deeply circular, resting on implicit assumptions acceptable only to those already thinking within the relevant perspective. (In relation to Swinburne’s Bayesian natural theology, in particular, this objection surfaces in criticism of assumptions about how to set the prior probabilities implicated in calculations of, for example, theism’s probability on the evidence of the ‘fine-tuning’ of the Universe’s basic physical constants, or of the probability, on all our evidence, of the truth of the Resurrection.) If the ambiguity thesis is correct, then—assuming evidentialism—firmly held theistic belief will fail to be reasonable.

On this model of faith as non-basic belief, all that characterizes faith apart from its theological content is the firmness or conviction with which faith-propositions are held true. Firm belief in the truth of a scientific theoretical proposition, for example, fails to count as faith only through lacking the right kind of content. This model therefore shares with the Reformed epistemologist model in taking its theological content as essential to what makes theistic faith faith , and so rejects the suggestion that faith of the same sort as found in the theist religious traditions might also be found elsewhere.

Furthermore, in taking faith to consist in non-basic belief that theological propositions are true, this model invites the assumption that theological convictions belong in the same category of factual claims as scientific theoretical hypotheses with which they accordingly compete. That assumption will lead those who think that theological claims are not reasonably accepted on the evidence to regard faith as worthless and intellectually dishonourable—at best, ‘a degenerating research programme’ (Lakatos 1970). (On this negative assessment of faith’s evidential support, persons of faith come perilously close to the schoolboy’s definition mentioned by William James: ‘Faith is when you believe something that you know ain’t true’ (James 1896 [1956, 29]). Or, if persons who have theistic faith readily abandon theological explanations whenever competing scientific ones succeed, their God gets reduced to ‘the God of the gaps’.) These misgivings about the model of faith as firmly held factual theological belief dissolve, of course, if success attends the project of showing that particular theological claims count as factual hypotheses well supported by the total available evidence. Those who doubt that this condition is or can be met may, however, look towards a model of faith that understands faith’s cognitive content as playing some other role than that of an explanatory hypothesis of the same kind as a scientific explanatory hypothesis.

Aquinas’s account of faith

Though firmly held theological belief is central to it, Aquinas’s understanding of faith is more complicated and nuanced than the view that faith is ‘the theoretical conviction that God exists’. Aquinas holds that faith is ‘midway between knowledge and opinion’ ( Summa Theologiae 2a2ae 1, 2 (Aquinas [2006], 11)). Faith resembles knowledge, Aquinas thinks, in so far as faith carries conviction. But that conviction is not well described as ‘theoretical’, if that description suggests that faith has a solely propositional object. For Aquinas, faith denotes the believer’s fundamental orientation towards the divine. So ‘from the perspective of the reality believed in’, Aquinas says, ‘the object of faith is something non-composite ’ (hence, definitely not propositional)—namely God himself. Nevertheless, grasping the truth of propositions is essential to faith, because ‘ from the perspective of the one believing … the object of faith is something composite in the form of a proposition’ ( Summa Theologiae , 2a2ae, 1, 2 (Aquinas [2006], 11 & 13), our emphases).

A further problem with describing as Thomist a model of faith simply as firm belief that certain theological propositions are true is that Aquinas takes as central an act of ‘inner assent’ ( Summa Theologiae , 2a2ae, 2, 1 (Aquinas [2006], 59–65)). This is problematic because, (i) in its dominant contemporary technical usage belief is taken to be a mental (intentional) state —a propositional attitude, namely, the attitude towards the relevant proposition that it is true; (ii) belief in this contemporary sense is widely agreed not to be under volitional control—not directly, anyway; yet (iii) Aquinas holds that the assent given in faith is under the control of the will. Aquinas need not, however, be construed as accepting ‘believing at will’, since assent may be construed as an act that has to be elicited yet terminates a process that is subject to the will—a process of inquiry, deliberation or pondering that involves mental actions, or, in the case of theist faith, a process of divine grace that can proceed only if it is not blocked by the will.

Most importantly, however, Aquinas says that assent is given to the propositional articles of faith because their truth is revealed by God , and on the authority of the putative source of this revelation. Terence Penelhum puts it like this: ‘Thomas tells us that although what one assents to in faith includes many items not ostensibly about God himself, one assents to them, in faith, because they are revealed by God … It is because they come from him and because they lead to him that the will disposes the intellect to accept them’ (Penelhum 1989, 122: see Summa Theologiae , 2a2ae, 1, 1 & 2 (Aquinas [2006], 5–15)). So, Aquinas’s model of faith is of believing (assenting to) propositional truth-claims on the basis of testimony carrying divine authority . John Locke follows the same model: ‘Faith … is the assent to any proposition … upon the credit of the proposer, as coming from God, in some extraordinary way of communication’ (Locke 1698 [1924, 355]; compare also Alston 1996, 15).

The unanswered question of entitlement—again

Theist faith as assent to truths on the basis of an authoritative source of divine revelation is possible, though, only for those who already believe that God exists and is revealed through the relevant sources. Might such faith, then, have to rest on a prior faith—faith that God exists and that this is God’s messenger or vehicle of communication? Those foundational claims, it might be maintained, are held true on the grounds of adequately supporting evidence, such as putatively provided by arguments of natural theology and the claimed evidence for miraculous endorsement of a prophet’s authority. Theist faith might then have a purely rational foundation. But this could hardly be so for every person of faith, since not everyone who believes will have access to the relevant evidence or be able to assess it properly. Besides, and more importantly, although Aquinas allows that rational assessment of the available evidence may lead a person to faith, he does not think that such an assessment could ever elicit assent itself—only demonstration could achieve that and so high a level of proof is not here available (see Aquinas [2006], footnote 2b, 58–9). Aquinas’s view is thus that all believers stand in need of God’s grace: ‘the assent of faith, which is its principal act … has as its cause God, moving us inwardly through grace’ ( Summa Theologiae , 2a2ae 6, 1 (Aquinas [2006], 167)). It follows, then, that, on Aquinas’s view, believing that God exists and is revealed in specific ways is itself a matter of faith, and not a purely rationally evidentially secured prolegomenon to it.

Aquinas’s model of faith thus shares with the Reformed epistemologist model the problem that it leaves unanswered the reflective believer’s concern about entitlement. Attempting to settle that concern by meeting the evidential requirement leads to circularity: theological truths are to be accepted on divine authority, yet the truth that there is such an authority (historically mediated as the relevant tradition maintains) is amongst those very truths that are to be accepted on divine authority—indeed, it is the crucial one. As Descartes puts it in the Dedication to his Meditations , ‘It is of course quite true that we must believe in the existence of God because it is a doctrine of Holy Scripture, and conversely, that we must believe Holy Scripture because it comes from God. … But this argument cannot be put to unbelievers because they would judge it to be circular’ (Descartes 1641 [Cottingham et al. 1984, 3]). Thus, although they differ on the question whether the firm beliefs of faith count as knowledge, both Aquinas and Calvin understand faith as essentially involving accepting the truth of propositions as revealed through willingly receiving God’s gracious gift of that very revelation. The question remains how accepting this gift could be epistemically rational. The externalist account of how Christian beliefs may have epistemic worth proposed in Plantinga’s model of faith (named ‘the A/C’ model because its sources are supposedly found in Aquinas as well as Calvin) offers some help with the required explanation, but (as noted in the final paragraph of Section 4 above) may arguably not by itself be sufficient.

Revelation—and its philosophical critique

The reasonableness of belief that God exists is a focal issue in the Philosophy of Religion. Theist traditions typically, or some would say essentially, make a foundational claim about an authoritative source, or sources, of revealed truth. What is salient includes belief or some related sort of affirmation, not just that God exists but associated content such as that this God exists, the God who is revealed thus and so (in great historical acts, in prophets, in scriptures, in wisdom handed down, etc.). The reasonableness of theism is therefore as much a matter of the reasonableness of an epistemology of revelation as it is of a metaphysics of perfect being. The question of how God may be expected to make himself known has gained prominence through recent discussion of the argument for atheism from ‘divine hiddenness’ (Schellenberg 1993; Howard-Snyder and Moser 2002). That argument holds that a loving God would make his existence clear to the non-resistant—but this claim is open to question. Perhaps God provides only ‘secret’ evidence of his existence, purposely overturning the expectations of our ‘cognitive idolatry’ in order to transform our egocentric self-reliance (Moser 2008); besides, there may be significant constraints logically inherent in the very possibility of unambiguous divine revelation to finite minds (King 2008).

Similarly, accounts of theistic faith will be open to critique when they make assumptions about the mechanisms of revelation. In particular, the model of faith as assent to propositions as revealed holds that, since God’s grace is required for that assent, when grace is effective the whole ‘package deal’ of propositional revealed truth is accepted. This yields the notion of ‘ the Faith’, as the body of theological truths to be accepted by ‘the faithful’, and it becomes a sign of resistance to divine grace to ‘pick and choose’ only some truths, as heretics do (Greek: hairesis , choice; see Summa Theologiae 2a2ae 5, 3 (Aquinas [2006], 157–61)). For heresy to be judged, however, some human authority must assume it possesses the full doctrinal revelation, with God’s grace operating without resistance in its own case. Whether that assumption can ever be sufficiently well founded to justify condemning and purging others is an important question, whose neglect may be seriously harmful, as we are reminded by the fact that the phrase for ‘act of faith’ in Portuguese— auto-da-fé —came to mean the public burning of a heretic.

But the deeper assumption made by this model of faith as non-basic (justified) belief (as, too, by the model of it as basic knowledge yielded by the proper functioning of a special cognitive faculty) is that God’s self-revelation is primarily the revelation of the truth of propositions articulated in human language (compare Swinburne 1992). Alternative understandings of revelation are available, however. In particular, it may be held that it is primarily the divine itself that is revealed—the reality, not merely a representation of it. (See Lebens 2023 for discussion of faith as knowledge by acquaintance with God from a Jewish perspective). Propositional articulations of what is revealed may still be essential, but they need to be accepted as at a remove from the object of revelation itself, and therefore as limited. The development of propositional articulations expressing the nature and will of the self-revealing God—the doctrines of ‘the Faith’—will, of course, be understood as a process under providential grace. It is often assumed that that process can achieve ‘closure’ in a completed set of infallibly known creedal propositions. But this assumption about how divine inspiration operates may be contested, both on the theological grounds that it reflects the all-too-human desire to gain control over God’s self-revelation (to ‘pin God down once and for all’), and on the wider epistemological grounds that any attempt to grasp independent reality in human language will be in principle limited and fallible, subject to revision in the light of future experience.

Not all models of faith, however, identify it as primarily a matter of knowing or believing a proposition or a set of them, even with the addition of some affective or evaluative component. What is most central to theistic faith may seem better expressed as believing in God, rather than as believing that God exists. The Christian Nicene creed begins ‘Credo in unum Deum …’ and it is arguable that in this context ‘belief in’ is neither merely an idiomatic variant on, nor reducible to, ‘belief that’ (Price 1965). It may thus be held that theists’ acceptance of propositional truths as divinely revealed rests on believing in God—and it is this ‘believing in’, or ‘having faith in’, which is, fundamentally, the nature of faith. Noting that, while faith is held to be a virtue, believing as such is not, Wilfred Cantwell Smith argues that ‘faith is not belief’, ‘but something of a quite different order’ (Smith 1979, 128), requiring ‘assent’ ‘in the dynamic and personal sense of rallying to [what one takes to be the truth] with delight and engagement’ (142). Arguably, to put or to maintain faith in God involves a readiness to act, perhaps by relying on God in relevant ways and/or grounded in a practical commitment. Our considerations now shift, then, from propositional-attitude-focussed models of faith to those focussed on action, or what J. L. Schellenberg calls ‘operational’ models (2005, 126).

Judeo-Christian scripture envisions humans as actively engaged in a covenantal relationship with God. Their ongoing participation in, and commitment to, such a relationship paradigmatically involves both faith in God and faithfulness to God (McKaughan and Howard-Snyder 2022a and 2023a; Pace and McKaughan 2020). The kind of faith of which Christian faith is a paradigm case, then, may be understood as ‘action-centred commitment’ (McKaughan 2016, 78), e.g., to the Christian ‘way’. Arguably, faith understood as a combination of affective and cognitive elements would miss its essential active component. We now turn, then, to consider a fiducial model—a model of faith as trust, understood not simply as an affective state but as an action .

On a fiducial model, having faith in God is making a practical commitment —the kind involved in trusting God , or, trusting in God. (The root meaning of the Greek pistis , ‘faith’, is ‘trust’ (see Morgan 2015).) On such a model, faith’s active, practical component takes central place, though a cognitive component may be presupposed by it. Swinburne calls it the ‘Lutheran’ model, and defines it thus: ‘the person of faith does not merely believe that there is a God (and believe certain propositions about him)—he trusts Him and commits himself to Him’ (2005, 142). Yet, as noted earlier, Aquinas too takes the ultimate object of faith to be God, ‘the first reality’, and, furthermore, understands ‘formed’ faith as trusting commitment to God, motivated by, and directed towards, love of God as one’s true end (see Summa Theologiae 2a2ae, 4, 3; Aquinas [2006], 123–7). It is true that Aquinas allows that the devils have faith in a certain sense, but this ‘faith’ amounts only to their belief that what the Church teaches is the truth, arrived at not by grace but ‘forced from them’ reluctantly by ‘the acumen of their natural intelligence’ ( Summa Theologiae 2a2ae, 5, 2; Aquinas [2006], 155 & 157). Aquinas’s account of ‘saving’ faith is thus also a fiducial model.

The venture of trust

As noted at the outset, there is a usage of ‘faith’ for which ‘having/placing faith in’ is (near enough) synonymous with ‘trusting’ or ‘trusting in’. (For discussion of how faith relates to a range of contemporary theories of trust, see McKaughan and Howard-Snyder 2022b.) If, moreover, faith of the religious kind is itself a type of trust, then we may expect our understanding of religious faith to profit from an analysis of trust in general. It is therefore worth considering what follows about the nature of faith of the sort exemplified in theistic faith from holding it to be a kind of active trust.

Conceptually fundamental to trust is the notion of a person (or persons)—the truster—trusting in some agent or agency—the trustee— for some (assumedly) favourable outcome (though what the trustee is trusted for is often only implicit in the context). Trust involves a venture ; so too—it is widely agreed—does faith. So, if faith is trust, the venture of faith might be presumed to be the type of venture implicated in trust. A venture is an action that places the agent and outcomes of concern to the agent significantly beyond the agent’s own control. Trust implies venture. When we trust we commit ourselves to another’s control, accepting—and, when necessary, co-operating as ‘patient’—with the decisions of the trustee. Venturing in trust is usually assumed to be essentially risky, making oneself vulnerable to adverse outcomes or betrayal. Swinburne makes the point this way: ‘To trust someone is to act on the assumption that she will do for you what she knows that you want or need, when the evidence gives some reason for supposing that she may not and where there will be bad consequences if the assumption is false’ (2005, 143). Annette Baier makes no requirement for evidence that the trustee may prove untrustworthy, but nevertheless takes trust to involve ‘accepted vulnerability to another’s possible but not expected ill will (or lack of good will) toward one’ (Baier 1986, 235, our emphasis). Accordingly, it seems sensible to hold that one should trust only with good reason. But if, as is plausible, good reason to trust requires sufficient evidence of the trustee’s trustworthiness, reasonable trust appears both to have its venturesomeness diminished and, at the same time, to become more difficult to achieve than we normally suppose. For we often lack adequate—or even, any—evidence of a trustee’s trustworthiness in advance of our venture, yet in many such cases we suppose that our trust is reasonable (see, for example, Adams 1987). But, if adequate evidence of trustworthiness is not required for reasonable trust, how is reasonable trust different from ‘blind’ trust?

The answer seems clear: reasonable trust is practically rational trust. The question of when one may rationally trust another may thus be resolved by a decision-theoretic calculation, factoring in the extent to which one’s evidence supports the potential trustee’s trustworthiness and the utilities of the possible outcomes, given one’s intended aims. The exercise of practical reasoning does include mental acts which are epistemically evaluable, however. When one takes it to be true in practical reasoning that someone will prove trustworthy, that mental act may be more or less epistemically rational: it would break the evidentialist norm to employ in a decision-theoretic calculation a credence that does not match one’s available evidence. In many situations, it will be practically rational, given one’s intentions, to trust another person only if one believes, or, at least, believes with high probability, that the person will prove trustworthy. In such situations it is also often the case, as already noted, that we don’t have adequate evidence in advance that this person will be trustworthy in this particular respect. Yet, affording high credence to a person’s trustworthiness may still be epistemically rational given wider available evidence of, for example, the person’s past friendliness and trustworthiness in other matters, or, if the person is a stranger, of our shared social experience that trusting others generally elicits a trustworthy response. Nevertheless, it can still be rational— practically rational, that is—to trust another when we don’t have adequate evidence that they will prove trustworthy. In a life-threatening situation, for example, it may be rational to trust unlikely rescuers if they are the only ones available. Or, when we have wider aims, it may be practically rational to trust those without a record of trustworthiness, as with ‘educative’ and ‘therapeutic’ trust where people are trusted for the sake of their development or rehabilitation as trustworthy persons. Being in established relationships of friendship with others, too, can also require commitment to continue to trust them even in the face of evidence that, otherwise, would make it reasonable to believe them unworthy of trust.

On models that take faith of the theist kind to consist fundamentally in an act of trust, the analogy with interpersonal trust is suggestive. When one person trusts another there seems typically (though not uniformly) to be a doxastic aspect (the truster’s belief that the trustee is trustworthy). But what’s essential is the fiducial aspect, which consists in an active commitment or ‘entrusting’ to the other. Paul Helm proposes that theist faith similarly has importantly distinct doxastic and fiducial aspects: in addition to belief about God’s existence and trustworthiness for salvation held with a degree of strength proportional to the believer’s evidence, persons of faith must also entrust themselves to the one on whom they rely (Helm 2000). While it is widely agreed that theist faith must have a cognitive aspect, some philosophers hold that this need not be doxastic (as we shall see in Section 8).

There are significant differences, however, between the trusting involved in theistic faith and that involved in interpersonal trust. For one thing, trusting would seem not to risk any possibility of disappointment if God really is the trustee. Given the existence of the God of unchanging love, one trusts in ultimately perfect safety. But the venture of actually entrusting oneself to God seems to begin with the challenge of being able to believe or accept that, indeed, there is such a God. While some affirm that this claim is a matter of basic knowledge, and some that there is sufficient evidence to justify it, others, as already noted, hold that everyone has to confront the evidential ambiguity of foundational theistic claims. For those who reject the model of theist faith as basic knowledge and also think that the question of God’s existence cannot be settled intellectually on the basis of the available evidence, the venture involved in trusting in God (if such there be) may seem to include a doxastic venture: those who trust already venture beyond the available evidence, in their very believing or accepting that God exists and may be relied on for salvation. Trusting in God seems to presuppose, in other words, trusting that God exists. But, if so, the question becomes pressing whether, and under what conditions, one may be entitled to such an evidence-transcending venture in practical commitment to a particular view of ultimate reality and its implications for how we should live.

Theological non-realism

One way to relieve this pressure is to offer a non-realist analysis of theological claims. Trusting God will then not entail any commitment to reality’s being a certain way. Rather, on arguably the most sophisticated kind of non-realist view, theological beliefs arise because living ‘trustingly’ comes to be expressed and reinforced through a culturally constructed fiction about God and his great saving acts. This existential confidence may then be described, using the language of the fiction, as ‘trusting God’ (Cupitt 1980, Geering 1994). On such a non-realist account, the model of faith as trust brackets the cognitive component of faith, and risks becoming, in effect, a model of faith as purely a certain kind of affective state. But, in any case, non-realist models will be rejected by those who take faith to have a cognitive component that functions as a grasping—or would-be grasping—of how things really are.

Defending doxastic venture by analogy with interpersonal trust?

Assuming, then, that theist faith does include (under realist assumptions) a venture in practical commitment to truth-claims about ultimate reality, the justifiability of such a venture might yet be thought defensible by analogy with interpersonal situations where practical commitment seems justifiably to be made beyond one’s evidence to the claim that a person will prove trustworthy in some relevant respect. Reflecting on that proposal discloses further points of disanalogy, however. In cases of interpersonal trust, a venture is often needed in initially taking the trustee to be trustworthy, but evidence will inevitably later emerge which will either confirm or disconfirm the truth of that claim, and trust may, and rationally should, be withdrawn if the news is bad. But if—as we are here assuming—one ventures beyond evidential support in taking it to be true in practical reasoning that God exists and may be trusted for salvation, this may be a venture that is not confined to initial commitment but rather persists in needing to be made. This will be the case on accounts of the evidential ambiguity of theism that take the ambiguity to hold in principle, ruling out any possibility of evidential disambiguation. Those accounts may grant, of course, that continuing to journey in theistic faith may psychologically reinforce one’s commitment, providing subjective confirmation that the theist view of reality is correct. Yet these reinforcing experiences, which often involve faith renewed in the face of apparent failures of divine love, do not possess the uncontroversial status of evidence that independently and inter-subjectively confirms the initial venture.

Doxastic venture without doxastic voluntarism

Many dismiss the idea that one may venture in one’s very believing that God exists as committing a category error: ventures are voluntary, but propositional belief is not directly under voluntary control. Trusting God, however, entails practical commitment to the truth of theological faith-propositions , and commitment to the truth of a proposition in one’s practical reasoning may be under direct voluntary control.

It is one thing to be in the mental state of holding that the proposition that p is true; it is another to take it to be true that p in one’s practical reasoning (although these typically go together, since to hold that p is true is to be disposed to take it to be true that p in practical reasoning whenever the question whether p becomes salient). Practical commitment to a faith-proposition’s truth therefore could be a venture: there is no category error in allowing this possibility. Doxastic venturing—venturing in believing—is thus not a matter of willing oneself to believe without adequate evidential support; rather it is a matter of taking an already held belief to be true in one’s practical reasoning even though (as one may oneself recognise) its truth lacks such support.

The psychological possibility of doxastic venture

Some philosophers have argued, however, that one cannot (in full reflective awareness, anyway) believe that p while accepting that one has insufficient evidence for p ’s truth (Adler 2002). The counterclaim that this is possible is defended by William James, in his controversial 1896 lecture, ‘The Will to Believe’ (James 1896 [1956]). James agrees that belief cannot be directly willed and must be otherwise causally evoked (he later came to wish that he had used ‘The Right to Believe’ as his lecture’s title). James observes, however, that many beliefs have causes that do not constitute or imply an evidential grounding of their truth. James labels such causes ‘passional’—again, a potentially misleading term, since its intended referents include much more than emotional causes of belief. In particular, beliefs may be caused by ‘the circumpressure of one’s caste or set,’ of which one’s inherited religious tradition is a paradigm case (James 1896 [1956, 9]). James is thus able to explain the psychological possibility of doxastic venture: one already has a ‘passionally’ caused belief, which one then takes to be true in practical reasoning despite its lack of adequate evidential grounding (compare Creel 1994, who similarly describes ‘faith’ as a ‘non-evidential doxastic passion’).

Note that a doxastic venture model of theistic faith reconciles faith as gift with faith’s active components: taking a faith-proposition to be true in practical reasoning is a basic (mental) action (which leads on to further actions involved in trusting God and seeking to do God’s will); the gift provides the motivational resources for this basic action, namely a firm belief in the truth of the faith-proposition, despite its lack of adequate evidential support. (In the next section, the possibility is considered that the gift of these motivational resources might be effective yet not amount to actual belief.) It is also worth noting that those who find the focus on the individual something of a deficiency in analytical accounts of faith (Eklund 2015) may perceive in James’ account some acknowledgment of the social aspect of faith. Arguably, the standard ‘passional’ or ‘non-evidential’ cause of religious belief is cultural immersion within an historical faith-tradition. The motivational resources for faith-commitment may thus be an essentially social possession.

Examples of doxastic venture models

On the doxastic venture model, faith involves full practical commitment to a faith-proposition’s truth, despite the recognition that this is not ‘objectively’ justified on the evidence. Kierkegaard’s definition of faith as ‘an objective uncertainty held fast in an appropriation process of the most passionate inwardness’ in Concluding Unscientific Postscript (Kierkegaard 1846 [1968, 180]) is an example of a doxastic venture model. So too is Paul Tillich’s account of faith as ‘the state of being ultimately concerned’, since the claim of the object of one’s ultimate concern to ‘promise total fulfilment even if all other claims have to be subjected to it or rejected in its name’ cannot in principle be established on the basis of the evidence (Tillich 1957 [2001, 1 and 21]).

Aquinas’s model of faith, though widely thought of as conforming to an evidential requirement on belief, may arguably be open to interpretation as a doxastic venture model. As noted in Section 5, Aquinas holds that the available evidence, though it supports the truth of foundational faith-propositions, does not provide what Aquinas counts as sufficient (i.e., demonstrative) support to justify inner assent (in addition to references to the Summa Theologiae given previously, see 2a2ae. 2, 1 (Aquinas [2006], 63); and compare also Penelhum 1989, 120). Now, whether practical commitment to the truth of a given faith-proposition does or does not venture beyond adequate evidential support will be relative to assumptions about (a) where the level of evidential support required for ‘adequacy’ should be set, and (b) just how firm and decisive propositional faith-commitment needs to be. On some such assumptions, for example those made by Bayesians, the support provided by the evidence Aquinas adduces—or, by a suitable contemporary upgrading of that evidence such as that provided in the works of Richard Swinburne—may be considered enough to make reasonable a sufficiently high degree of belief (or credence) in the truth of theistic faith-propositions so that believers need not venture beyond the support of their evidence. Interpreting Aquinas’s model of faith as conforming to evidentialism may thus be viable. Nevertheless, Aquinas’s own assumptions on these matters may leave him closer to Kierkegaard and Tillich than is commonly thought (consider Summa Theologiae 2a2ae 4, 1 and, once again, 2a2ae 6, 1 (Aquinas [2006], 117–9 & 167)).

The special role of faith-propositions

Bayesians might argue that there is no occasion for faith as doxastic venture since, once practical commitment to the truth of propositions is recognised as a matter of degree, whatever the state of the available evidence relating to a given proposition, there will always (given initial credences) be a rational credence properly associated with that evidence, and hence there are no possible circumstances where ‘the evidence does not decide’, so that an evidentialist requirement can indeed apply universally. Note, however, Lara Buchak’s (2012, 2018) discussion of ways in which Bayesians might understand faith as going beyond the evidence, and her own proposal that faith-ventures essentially include an additional practical commitment, which may be rational under certain conditions, not to inquire further into evidence relevant to the truth of the propositions concerned for the sole purpose of deciding what to do. (For critical discussion of this kind of restriction on inquiry in connection with faith commitments, see Dormandy 2018 and Howard-Snyder and McKaughan 2022a. Katherine Dormandy has recently proposed a positive defence of evidentialism in considering the question of what makes it good to form positive beliefs about those you have faith in, including God (Dormandy 2022).)

If the domain of faith is, as Stephen Evans puts it, ‘the assumptions, convictions and attitudes which the believer brings to the evidence for and against religious truth’ (Evans 1985, 178), and faith’s cognitive component offers a ‘total interpretation’ of the world of our experience (Hick 1966, 154), then (foundational) faith-propositions function as ‘highest-order framing principles’ which necessarily cannot have their truth settled by appeal to the force of a body of independent evidence (Bishop 2007a, 139–44). Taking such a faith-proposition to be true, then, is not something that comes in degrees: either one ‘buys into’ the overall worldview (foundational) faith-propositions propose, or one does not. Such a choice is existentially important, and settling it raises anxiety about exercising a responsibility that cannot—without ‘bad faith’—be transferred onto the relatively impersonal function of one’s reason, since a venture beyond any inter-subjectively rational evidential confirmation is required. The doxastic venture model may thus be regarded as capturing the spiritual challenge of faith more satisfactorily than do models that conform to evidentialism. This is because, on the doxastic venture model, faith involves a deeper surrender of self-reliant control, not only in trusting God, but in accepting at the level of practical commitment that there is a God—indeed, this God—who is to be trusted.

Doxastic venture models of faith and epistemic concern

Doxastic venture in relation to faith-propositions can be justifiable, of course, only if there are legitimate exceptions to the evidentialist requirement to take a proposition to be true just to the extent of its evidential support—and only if the legitimate exceptions include the kind of case involved in religious, theistic, faith-commitment.

A possible view of theistic faith-commitment is that it is wholly independent of the epistemic concern that cares about evidential support. On this view, faith reveals its authenticity most clearly when it takes faith-propositions to be true contrary to the weight of the evidence. This view is widely described as ‘fideist’, but ought more fairly to be called arational fideism, or, where commitment contrary to the evidence is positively favoured, irrational or counter-rational fideism. Despite its popular attribution both to the church father Tertullian and to ‘the father of existentialism’, Kierkegaard, counter-rational fideism does not seem to have been espoused by any significant theist philosophers (passages in Tertullian and Kierkegaard that appear to endorse this position may be interpreted as emphasizing that Christian faith requires accepting, not logical contradiction, but ‘contradiction’ of our ‘natural’ expectations, wholly overturned in the revelation that the power of divine love is triumphant in the Crucified One).

Serious philosophical defence of a doxastic venture model of faith thus implies a moderate version of fideism, for which epistemic concern is not overridden and for which, therefore, it is a constraint on faith-commitment that it not accept what is known, or justifiably believed on the evidence, to be false. Rather, faith commits itself only beyond , and not against, the evidence—and it does so out of epistemic concern to grasp truth on matters of vital existential importance. The thought that one may be entitled to commit to an existentially momentous truth-claim in principle undecidable on the evidence when forced to decide either to do so or not is what motivates William James’s ‘justification of faith’ in ‘The Will to Believe’ (James 1896 [1956]). If such faith is to be justified, its cognitive content will (on realist assumptions) have to cohere with our best evidence-based theories about the real world. Faith may extend our scientific grasp of the real, but may not counter it. Whether the desire to grasp more truth about the real than science can supply is a noble aspiration or a dangerous delusion is at the heart of the debate about entitlement to faith on this moderate fideist doxastic venture model.

A discussion of the debate between the moderate, Jamesian, fideist and the evidentialist is beyond this entry’s scope. Still, it is worth remarking that those who think that faith understood as doxastic venture may be justified as reasonable face the challenge of providing the tools for weeding out intuitively unreasonable forms of faith. On the other side, those evidentialists who reject doxastic venture as always impermissible have to consider whether taking a stance on the nature of reality beyond anything science can even in principle confirm may not, in the end, be unavoidable, and potentially implicated in the commitments required for science itself (see Bishop 2007a, Chapters 8 and 9; Bishop 2023). For a useful recent collection of articles on the wider theme of the relation of religious faith to intellectual virtue, see Callahan and O’Connor 2014.

Some accounts allow that faith centrally involves practical commitment venturing beyond evidential support, yet do not require (or, even, permit) that the venturer actually believes the faith-proposition assumed to be true. Such accounts may be described as proposing a ‘non-doxastic’ venture model of faith. F. R. Tennant holds a view of this kind: he takes faith to be the adoption of a line of conduct not warranted by present facts, that involves experimenting with the possible or ideal, venturing into the unknown and taking the risk of disappointment and defeat. Faith is not an attempt to will something into existence but rather treating hoped for and unseen things as if they were real and then acting accordingly (Tennant 1943 [1989, 104]). Swinburne refers to this as the ‘pragmatist’ model of faith (Swinburne 2005, 147–8; Swinburne 2001, 211; compare also Golding 1990, 2003 and McKaughan 2016). The origins of Swinburne’s pragmatist model are to be found in a much earlier paper, Swinburne 1969.

William Alston (1996) suggests that faith may involve an active ‘acceptance’ rather than purely receptive belief. A clearly non-doxastic venture model results if acceptance is understood on Jonathan Cohen’s account under which to accept that p is ‘to have or adopt a policy of deeming, positing, or postulating that p —i.e. of including that proposition … among one’s premisses for deciding what to do or think in a particular context, whether or not one feels it to be true that p ’ (Cohen 1992, 4, our emphasis). The firmness of faith-commitment is then just the firmness of one’s ‘ resolve to use [faith-claims] as a basis for one’s thought, attitude and behaviour’ (Alston 1996, 17): there is no firm assurance of their truth . Decisive commitment in the absence of such assurance may nevertheless be possible, motivated (as Swinburne suggested in the first edition of his Faith and Reason ) by the evaluative belief that ‘unless [faith-propositions are true], that which is most worthwhile is not to be had’ (Swinburne, 1981, 117). A faith venture that lacks belief in the faith-proposition to which commitment is made need not, and probably could not, lack cognitive components altogether, as this suggestion of Swinburne’s indicates.

Andrei Buckareff (2005) and J. L. Schellenberg (2005, 138–9) propose non-doxastic (or, ‘sub-doxastic’) venture models of propositional faith, with Schellenberg emphasising the positive evaluation that persons of faith make of the truth-claim to which they commit themselves. In response to Daniel Howard-Snyder (2013a) Schellenberg allows that faith may in some instances involve belief while still maintaining that ‘non-doxastic religious faith … will turn out to be a particularly important way of having religious faith as we head into the future’ (2013, 262). Bishop (2005), in response to Buckareff, also agrees that authentic faith need not always be a specifically doxastic venture. There may, then, be an emerging consensus amongst proponents of venture models that faith, at its core, consists in suitably motivated persistent practical commitment ‘beyond the evidence’ to the positively evaluated truth of foundational faith-claims which may, but need not, actually be believed to be true.

Robert Audi (2011) has also defended a non-doxastic account of faith, contrasting ‘fiducial faith’ and ‘doxastic faith’, and arguing that authentic religious faith need only amount to the former. Audi’s account is not strictly a ‘venture’ model, however, since he does not take commitment beyond the support of adequate evidence to be essential. Audi’s account suggests that religious faith is sui generis , but capable of being understood through its relations with other psychological states and actions, such as beliefs, evaluations and practical commitments. Rational assessment of religious faith, Audi thinks, must avoid treating it as implying belief, while recognising that greater confidence attaches to it than to religious hope. For another version of a non-doxastic account of faith, as a person’s ‘affective orientation or stance’, see Jonathan Kvanvig (2013, 2018). The question whether faith entails belief (even if it may not consist purely in beliefs) remains a lively focus of debate. For defence of the view that faith entails belief, see Malcolm and Scott 2016 and Mugg 2021; for criticism see Howard-Snyder 2019.

Some philosophers have suggested that the epistemological challenges faced by accounts of faith as involving belief beyond the evidence may be avoided by construing theist commitment as hope. Theist hope seems not to be mere tenacity (‘clinging to one’s hopes’) (Taylor 1961), but a more complex attitude. James Muyskens suggests, for example, that one who hopes ‘keep[s] his life open or fluid with respect to [a faith-proposition] p —where (a) neither p nor not- p is certain for him, (b) he wants p and (c) he sees p as constructively connected with his own well-being and/or concept of himself as a person’ (1979, 35). Muyskens contrasts hope with faith (understood as belief), arguing that a religion of hope is both epistemically and religiously superior to a religion of faith. But faith is not generally understood as competing with hope (Creel 1993), and some philosophers identify faith with hoping that the claims of faith are true (Pojman 1986; 2003). Hope as such is an attitude rather than an active commitment, and, as Audi observes, it contrasts with the attitude of faith at least in this respect, namely, that surprise makes little sense as a response to discovering that the object of one’s faith is indeed the case, whereas there need be nothing inappropriate in surprise at the fulfilment of one’s hopes (see Audi 2011, 74).

A more adequate model of faith as hope, then, may rather take faith to be acting in, or from, hope. Such a model then comes close to a non-doxastic venture model of faith, differing only in so far as acting from hope that God exists differs from taking this claim to be true (albeit without belief) in one’s practical reasoning, but this difference may be undetectable at the level of behavioral outcomes (see McKaughan 2013). A model of faith as acting in hope shares with the doxastic and non-doxastic venture models in rejecting the view that faith requires cognitive certainty. But one can act in hope with firmness and resilience, given a strong affective/evaluative stance, even if one lacks belief that one’s hopes will be fulfilled. Hoping that p , however, does not involve taking a stand on its being true that p , which is widely thought to be essential to faith.

The ‘venture’ models of faith (with or without belief) and the model of faith as a venture in hope all fit the view that faith is consistent with doubt, and, indeed, impossible without doubt of some kind, though they allow that persons who have faith may give firm and sustained commitment to the truth of faith-propositions in practice (for discussion of different kinds of doubt and their compatibility or incompatibility with faith and belief see Howard-Snyder 2013b, 359). The ‘certainty’ of faith on these models is more a matter of the certainty that persons of faith find themselves conferring on the foundational claims of their faith, rather than a matter of discovering in themselves a certain knowledge or intellectual conviction of the truth of these claims. It is possible, then, on these accounts of faith, to be a committed person of faith and also an ‘agnostic’ in Thomas Huxley’s original sense of someone who does not claim as knowledge the commitments he or she nevertheless makes as a foundational practical orientation to reality. (For discussion of the compatibility of Muslim faith and doubt, see Aijaz 2023.)

Faith is traditionally regarded as one of the ‘theological’ virtues. If a virtue is a ‘disposition of character which instantiates or promotes responsiveness to one or more basic goods’, then theistic faith qualifies since it is ‘a responsiveness to practical hope and truth’, provided theistic faith-claims are indeed true (Chappell 1996, 27). Faith will not, however, be a virtue as such , if it is accepted that faith can be misplaced or, even, ‘demonic’, directed upon a ‘false ultimate’ (Tillich 1957 [2001, 21]). To be virtuous, faith must be faith in a worthy object: it is faith in God that is the theological virtue. More generally, faith is virtuous only when it is faith to which one is entitled. An account of the conditions under which faith is permissible is thus the key to an ethics of faith.

On models of faith as a (special) kind of knowledge, or as firmly held belief, it may seem puzzling how faith could be a virtue—unless some implicit practical component emerges when such models are further explicated, or, alternatively, a case may be made for the claim that what is involuntary may nevertheless be praiseworthy, with theist faith as a case in point (Adams 1987). (For discussion of how faith might be voluntary, even if faith entails belief, or indeed is a type of belief, and belief is not under our direct voluntary control, see Rettler 2018.) Furthermore, as already suggested (Sections 4 & 5 above), models of faith as knowledge or belief fail to provide non-circular conditions sufficient for entitlement, unless the truth of faith-propositions is established by independent argument and evidence. If faith is understood as, or as essentially including, beliefs held on insufficient evidence, it is also hard to understand why Abrahamic religious traditions have valued it so highly, let alone why God might be thought to make salvation contingent on such belief (Kvanvig 2018, 106; McKaughan and Howard-Snyder 2021).

Fiducial models of faith seem more attuned to exhibiting faith as a virtue, though a defence of the trustworthiness of the one who is trusted for salvation may be required. Doxastic and non-doxastic venture models of faith can vindicate faith as a virtue, provided they provide robust entitlement conditions, to ensure that not just any ‘leap of faith’ is permissible. The Jamesian account already mentioned (Section 7) aims to meet this need. James’s own view of what suffices to justify a faith-venture arguably needs an ethical supplement: both the non-evidential motivation for the venture and its content must be morally acceptable (Bishop 2007a, 163–6).

If faith of the religious kind is to count as valuable and/or virtuous, it seems there must be a suitable degree of resilience in the commitment made (see Howard-Snyder and McKaughan 2022b for arguments that faith requires resilience; for discussion of the value and potential virtuousness or viciousness of resilient faith see McKaughan and Howard-Snyder 2023a; on the rationality of resilient faith see Buchak 2017, Jackson 2021, and McKaughan 2016). Persons of religious faith and faithfulness both put their faith in and are faith ful to the object of their commitment, though the salient kind of faithfulness may be a matter of the continual renewal of faith rather than of maintaining it unchanged (Pace and McKaughan 2020). (See Audi 2014 for a discussion of faith and faithfulness in relation to virtue. Audi defends faithfulness as, like courage, an ‘adjunctive’ virtue, and argues that being ‘a person of faith’ counts as a ‘virtue of personality’.)

Faith is only one of the Christian theological virtues, of course, the others being hope and charity (or love, agapē ): St. Paul famously affirms that the greatest of these is love (I Cor. 13:13). The question thus arises how these three virtues are related. One suggestion is that faith is taking it to be true that there are grounds for the hope that love is supreme—not simply in the sense that love constitutes the ideal of the supreme good, but in the sense that living in accordance with this ideal constitutes an ultimate salvation, fulfilment or consummation that is, in reality, victorious over all that may undermine it (in a word, over evil). The supremacy of love is linked to the supremacy of the divine itself, since love is the essential nature of the divine. What is hoped for, and what faith assures us is properly hoped for, is a sharing in the divine itself, loving as God loves (see Brian Davies on Aquinas, 2002). On this understanding, reducing faith to a kind of hope (Section 9 above) would eradicate an important relation between the two—namely that people of faith take reality to be such that their hope (for salvation, the triumph of the good) is well founded, and not merely an attractive fantasy or inspiring ideal. (See Jeffrey 2017 for discussion of the moral permissibility of faith, particularly in connection with hope.)

What is the potential scope of faith? On some models, the kind of faith exemplified by theistic faith is found only there. On models which take faith to consist in knowledge or belief, faith is intrinsically linked to theological content—indeed, in the case of Christian faith, to orthodox Christian theological content, specifiable as one unified set of doctrines conveyed to receptive human minds by the operation of divine grace. The venture models, however, allow for the possibility that authentic faith may be variously realised, and be directed upon different, and mutually incompatible, intentional objects. This pluralism is an important feature of accounts of faith in the American pragmatist tradition. John Dewey strongly rejected the notion of faith as a special kind of knowledge (Dewey 1934, 20), as did William James, whose ‘justification of faith’ rests on a permissibility thesis, under which varied and conflicting faith-commitments may equally have a place in the ‘intellectual republic’ (James 1896 [1956, 30]). Charles S. Peirce, another influential American pragmatist, arguably held a non-doxastic view of faith (Pope 2018).

Both Dewey and James defend models of faith with a view to advancing the idea that authentic religious faith may be found outside what is generally supposed to be theological orthodoxy. Furthermore, they suggest that ‘un-orthodox’ faith may be more authentic than ‘orthodox’ faith. ‘The faith that is religious’, says Dewey, ‘[I should describe as] the unification of the self through allegiance to inclusive ideal ends, which imagination presents to us and to which the human will responds as worthy of controlling our desires and choices’ (1934, 33). And James: ‘Religion says essentially two things: First, she says that the best things are the more eternal things, the overlapping things, the things in the universe that throw the last stone, so to speak, and say the final word. ... [and] the second affirmation of religion is that we are better off now if we believe her first affirmation to be true’ (James 1896 [1956, 25–6]). While some of what Dewey and James say about justifiable faith may appear non-realist, in fact they both preserve the idea that religious faith aspires to grasp, beyond the evidence, vital truth about reality. For example, Dewey holds that religious belief grounds hope because it takes something to be true about the real world ‘which carr[ies] one through periods of darkness and despair to such an extent that they lose their usual depressive character’ (1934, 14–5).

A general—i.e., non-theologically specific—account of the religious kind of faith may have potential as a tool for criticising specific philosophical formulations of the content of religious faith. The conditions for permissible faith-venture may exclude faith in God under certain inadequate conceptions of who or what God is. Arguably, the ‘personal omniGod’ of much contemporary philosophy of religion is just such an inadequate conception (Bishop 2007b). An understanding of what faith is, then, may motivate radical explorations into the concept of God as held in the theistic traditions (Bishop 1998; Johnston 2009; Bishop and Perszyk 2014, 2023).

Can there be faith of the same general kind as found in theistic religious faith yet without adherence to any theistic tradition? Those who agree with F. R. Tennant that ‘faith is an outcome of the inborn propensity to self-conservation and self-betterment which is a part of human nature, and is no more a miraculously superadded endowment than is sensation or understanding’ (1943 [1989, 111]) will consider that this must be a possibility. Tennant himself suggests that ‘much of the belief which underlies knowledge’—and he has scientific knowledge in mind—‘is the outcome of faith which ventures beyond the apprehension and treatment of data to supposition, imagination and creation of ideal objects, and justifies its audacity and irrationality (in accounting them to be also real) by practical actualization’ (1943 [1989, 100]). Faith in this sense, however, may not seem quite on a par with faith of the religious kind. True, scientists must act as if their ‘ideal objects’ are real in putting their theories to the empirical test; but they will ‘account them to be also real’ only when these tests do provide confirmation in accordance with the applicable inter-subjective norms.

If faith is understood as commitment beyond independent inter-subjective evidential support to the truth of some overall interpretation of experience and reality, then all who commit themselves (with sufficient steadfastness) to such a Weltanschauung or worldview will be people of faith. Faith of this kind may be religious, and it may be religious without being theistic, of course, as in classical Buddhism or Taoism. Some have argued that faith is a human universal: Cantwell Smith, for example, describes it as ‘a planetary human characteristic [involving the] capacity to perceive, to symbolize, and live loyally and richly in terms of, a transcendent dimension to [human] life’ (1979, 140–141). There may also, arguably, be non-religious faith: for example, ‘scientific atheists’ or ‘naturalists’ may be making a faith-venture when they take there to be no more to reality than is in principle discoverable by the natural sciences. The suggestion that atheism rests on a faith-venture will, however, be resisted by those who maintain ‘the presumption of atheism’ (Flew, 1976): if atheism is rationally the default position, then adopting it requires no venture.

An atheist’s faith-venture may, in any case, seem oddly so described on the grounds that it provides no basis for practical hope or trust. Providing such a basis may plausibly be thought necessary for faith—the truth to which the venturer commits must be existentially important in this way. (Note James’s requirement that faith-commitment is permissible only for resolving a ‘genuine option’, where a genuine option has inter alia to be ‘momentous’, that is, existentially significant and pressing (James 1896 [1956, 3–4]).) Truth-claims accepted by faith of the religious kind seem essentially to be ‘saving’ truths—solutions to deep problems about the human situation. And there may thus be arguments as to which religious tradition offers the best solutions to human problems (see, for example, Yandell 1990, 1999). J. L. Schellenberg (2009) argues that the only kind of religious faith that could be justified (if any is) is a sceptical ‘ultimism’, in which one ‘assents’ to and treats as real an imaginatively grasped conception of a metaphysically, axiologically and soteriologically ultimate reality.

Some may nevertheless argue that an existentially vital faith that grounds hope can belong within a wholly secular context—that is, without counting in any recognisable sense as ‘religious’. Cantwell Smith claims, for example, that ‘the Graeco-Roman heritage … and its fecundating role in Western life [can] be seen as one of the major spiritual traditions of our world’ (1979, 139). Annette Baier suggests that ‘the secular equivalent of faith in God, which we need in morality as well as in science or knowledge acquisition, is faith in the human community and its evolving procedures – in the prospects for many-handed cognitive ambitions and moral hopes’ (Baier 1980, 133). More broadly, some maintain that a meaningful spirituality is consistent with a non-religious atheist naturalism, and include something akin to faith as essential to spirituality. For example, Robert Solomon takes spirituality to mean ‘the grand and thoughtful passions of life’, and holds that ‘a life lived in accordance with those passions’ entails choosing to see the world as ‘benign and life [as] meaningful’, with the tragic not to be denied but accepted (Solomon 2002, 6 & 51). (For further discussion of faith in secular contexts, see Preston-Roedder 2018, Tsai 2017, and Ichikawa 2020; for special journal issues addressing a variety of issues in the philosophy of faith in both religious and secular contexts, see Rice et al. 2017; Malcolm 2023; McKaughan and Howard-Snyder 2023b.)

Adams, Robert Merrihew, 1987, “The virtue of faith”, in The Virtue of Faith and Other Essays in Philosophical Theology , Oxford: Oxford University Press, 9–24.
Adler, Jonathan Eric, 2002, Belief’s Own Ethics , Cambridge MA: MIT Press.
al-Ghazâlî, circa 1107 [2001], Deliverance from Error and Mystical Union with the Almighty: Al-Munquidh Min Al-Dalâl , G. F. McLean (trans.), Washington, D.C.: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy.
Aijaz, Imran, 2023, “The Skeptical Muslim”, Religious Studies , 59: 495–514.
Allison, Henry E., 1969, “Faith and falsifiability”, Review of Metaphysics , 22: 499–522.
Alston, William P., 1991, Perceiving God: The Epistemology of Religious Experience , Ithaca NY: Cornell University Press.
–––, 1996, “Belief, Acceptance, and Religious Faith”, in J. Jordan and D. Howard-Snyder (eds.), Faith, Freedom, and Rationality: Philosophy of Religion Today , London: Rowman & Littlefield, 3–27, 241–244.
Anscombe, G.E.M., 2008, “Faith”, in M. Geach and L. Gormally (eds.), Faith in a Hard Ground: Essays on Religion, Philosophy and Ethics , Exeter: Imprint Academic, 11–20.
Aquinas, Thomas, 1265–1273 [2006], Summa Theologiae (Volume 31: Faith; 2a2ae, 1–7), Latin text and English Translation, T. C. O’Brien (trans.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Audi, Robert, 2011, Rationality and Religious Commitment , Oxford: Clarendon Press.
–––, 2014, “Faith as Attitude, Trait and Virtue,” in Kevin Timpe and Craig Boyd (eds), Virtues and their Vices , Oxford: Oxford University Press, 327–347.
Baier, Annette, 1980, “Secular Faith”, Canadian Journal of Philosophy , 10: 131–148.
–––, 1986, “Trust and Antitrust”, Ethics , 96: 231–260.
Bishop, John, 1998, “Can There be Alternative Concepts of God?” Noûs , 32: 174–188.
–––, 2005, “On the Possibility of Doxastic Venture: A Reply to Buckareff”, Religious Studies , 41, 447–451.
–––, 2007a, Believing by Faith: An Essay in the Epistemology and Ethics of Religious Belief , Oxford: Clarendon Press.
–––, 2007b, “How a Modest Fideism May Constrain Concepts of God: a Christian Alternative to Classical Theism”, Philosophia , 35: 387–402.
–––, 2023, “Reasonable Faith and Reasonable Fideism”, Religious Studies , 59: 394–409.
Bishop, John, and Imran Aijaz, 2004, “How to Answer the De Jure Question about Christian Belief”, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion , 56: 109–129.
Bishop, John, and Ken Perszyk, 2014, “Divine Action beyond the Personal OmniGod”, in J. Kvanvig (ed.) Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Religion , Volume 5, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1–21.
–––, 2023, God, Purpose, and Reality: A Euteleological Understanding of Theism , Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Buchak, Lara, 2012, “Can it be Rational to Have Faith?” in J. Chandler and V. Harrison (eds.), Probability in the Philosophy of Religion , Oxford: Oxford University Press, 225–247.
–––, 2017, “Faith and Steadfastness in the Face of Counter-evidence”, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion , 81: 113–133.
–––, 2018, “When is Faith Rational?”, in Gideon Rosen, Alex Byrne, Joshua Cohen, Elizabeth Harman, and Seana Shiffrin (eds.) Norton Introduction to Philosophy , 2nd edition, New York: W. W. Norton, 115–129.
Buckareff, Andrei, 2005, “Can Faith be a Doxastic Venture?” Religious Studies , 41: 435–445.
Callahan, Laura and Timothy O’Connor (eds.), 2014, Religious Faith and Intellectual Virtue , Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Chappell, Tim, 1996, “Why is Faith a Virtue?” Religious Studies , 32: 27–36.
Clegg, J. S., 1979, “Faith”, American Philosophical Quarterly , 16: 225–232.
Clifford, William K., 1877 [1999], “The Ethics of Belief”, in T. J. Madigan (ed.), The Ethics of Belief and Other Essays , Amherst: Prometheus, 70–96.
Cohen, L. Jonathan, 1992, An Essay on Belief and Acceptance , Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Creel, Richard, 1993, “Faith, Hope, and Faithfulness”, Faith and Philosophy , 10: 330–344.
–––, 1994, “Propositional Faith as a Mode of Belief and a Gift of God”, Journal of Philosophical Research , 19: 243–256.
Cupitt, Don, 1980, Taking Leave of God , London: SCM Press.
Davies, Brian, 2002, Aquinas , New York: Continuum.
Davis, Stephen T., 1978, Faith, Skepticism, and Evidence: an Essay in Religious Epistemology , Lewisburg: Bucknell University Press.
Descartes, René, 1641 [1984], “Meditations on First Philosophy”, in 1984–91, Philosophical Writings of Descartes (Volume 2), John Cottingham, Robert Stoothoff, and Dugald Murdoch (trans.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 3–62.
Dewey, John, 1934, A Common Faith , New Haven: Yale University Press.
Dormandy, Katherine, 2018, “Evidence-Seeking as an Expression of Faith”, American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly , 92: 409–428.
–––, 2021, “True Faith: Against Doxastic Partiality about Daith (in God and Religious Communities) and in Defence of Evidentialism”, Australasian Philosophical Review , 5:4–28.
Eklund, Dan-Johan, 2016, “The Nature of Faith in Analytic Theistic Philosophy”, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion , 80: 85–99.
Evans, C. Stephen, 1985, Philosophy of Religion: Thinking About Faith , Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.
–––, 1998, Faith Beyond Reason: A Kierkegaardian Account , Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans.
Flew, Antony, 1976, “The Presumption of Atheism”, in The Presumption of Atheism, and other Philosophical Essays on God, Freedom and Immortality , London: Elek for Pemberton, 13–30.
Geering, Lloyd, 1994, Tomorrow’s God: How We Create Our Worlds , Wellington: Bridget Williams Books.
Golding, Joshua L., 1990, “Toward a Pragmatic Conception of Religious Faith”, Faith and Philosophy , 7: 486–503.
–––, 2003, Rationality and Religious Theism , Aldershot: Ashgate.
Helm, Paul, 1998, “John Calvin, the Sensus Divinitatis , and the Noetic Effects of sin”, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion , 43: 87–107.
–––, 2000, Faith with Reason , Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hick, John, 1966, Faith and Knowledge , 2nd edition, Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
–––, 1989, An Interpretation of Religion: Human Responses to the Transcendent , New Haven: Yale University Press.
Howard-Snyder, Daniel, 2013a, “Schellenberg on propositional faith”, Religious Studies , 49: 181–194.
–––, 2013b, “Propositional faith: What it is and what it is not”, American Philosophical Quarterly , 50: 357–372.
–––, 2018, “Three Arguments to Think that Faith does not Entail Belief”, Pacific Philosophical Quarterly , 100:114–128.
Howard-Snyder, Daniel, and Daniel J. McKaughan, 2021, “Faith and Humility: Conflict or Concord?”, in Handbook of the Philosophy of Humility , Mark Alfano, Michael Lynch, and Alessandra Tanesini (eds.) New York: Routledge, 212–224.
–––, 2022a, “Theorizing about Faith with Lara Buchak”, Religious Studies , 58: 297–326.
–––, 2022b, “Faith and Resilience”, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion , 91: 205–241.
Howard-Snyder, Daniel, and Paul K. Moser (eds.), 2002, Divine Hiddenness: New Essays , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hume, David, 1748 [2007], An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding , P. Millican (ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ichikawa, Jonathan Jenkins, 2020, “Faith and Epistemology”, Episteme , 17: 121–140.
Jackson, Elizabeth, 2021, “Belief, Faith, and Hope: On the Rationality of Long-Term Commitment”, Mind , 130: 35–57.
James, William, 1896 [1956], The Will to Believe and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy, and Human Immortality , New York: Dover.
Jeffrey, Anne, 2017, “Does Hope Morally Vindicate Faith?”, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion , 81: 193–211.
Jeffreys, Derek S., 1997, “How Reformed is Reformed epistemology? Alvin Plantinga and Calvin’s ‘Sensus Divinitatis’”, Religious Studies , 33: 419–431.
Johnston, Mark, 2009, Saving God: Religion after Idolatry , Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Kant, Immanuel, 1787 [1933], Critique of Pure Reason , 2nd edition, Norman Kemp Smith (trans.), London: Macmillan.
Kenny, Anthony, 1992, What is Faith? , Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kierkegaard, Søren, 1846 [1968], Concluding Unscientific Postscript , D. F. Swenson and W. Lowrie (trans.), Princeton: Princeton University Press.
King, Rolfe, 2008, Obstacles to Divine Revelation: God and the Reorientation of Human Reason , London: Continuum.
Kvanvig, Jonathan, 2013, “Affective Theism and People of Faith”, Midwest Studies in Philosophy , 37, 109–128.
–––, 2018, Faith and Humility , Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Lakatos, Imre, 1970, “Falsification and the Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes”, in I. Lakatos and A. Musgrave (eds.), Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 91–196.
Lebens, Sam, 2023, “Amen to Daat: On the Foundations of Jewish Epistemology”, Religious Studies , 59: 465–478.
Locke, John, 1695 [1999], The Reasonableness of Christianity: As Delivered in the Scriptures , J. C. Higgins-Biddle (ed.), Oxford: Clarendon.
–––, 1698 [1924], Essay Concerning Human Understanding , A.S. Pringle-Pattison (ed.), Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Malcolm, Finlay (ed.), 2023, “Faith, Hope and Trust,” The Monist , 106: 1–103.
Malcolm, Finlay, and Michael Scott, 2016, “Faith, belief, and fictionalism”, Pacific Philosophical Quarterly , 98: 257–274.
McKaughan, Daniel J., 2013, “Authentic Faith and Acknowledged Risk: Dissolving the Problem of Faith and Reason”, Religious Studies , 49: 101–124.
–––, 2016, “Action-Centered Faith, Doubt, and Rationality”, Journal of Philosophical Research , 41: 71–90.
McKaughan, Daniel J., and Daniel Howard-Snyder, 2022a. “Theorizing about Faith and Faithfulness with Jonathan Kvanvig,” Religious Studies , 58: 628–648. doi:10.1017/S0034412521000202
–––, 2022b, “How Does Trust Relate to Faith?” Canadian Journal of Philosophy , 52: 411–427. doi:10.1017/can.2022.34
–––, 2023a, “Faith and Faithfulness”, Faith and Philosophy , 39: 1–25. doi:10.37977/faithphil.2022.39.1.1
McKaughan, Daniel J, and Daniel Howard-Snyder (eds.), 2023b. “Normative appraisals of faith in God” Religious Studies , 59: 383–569. doi:10.1017/S0034412523000367
McKim, Robert, 2001, Religious Ambiguity and Religious Diversity , Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Morgan, Teresa, 2015, Roman Faith and Christian Faith: Pistis and Fides in the Early Roman Empire , Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Moser, Paul K., 2008, The Elusive God: Reorienting Religious Epistemology , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mugg, Joshua, 2022, “Faith Entails Belief: Three Avenues of Defense against the Argument from Doubt”, Pacific Philosophical Quarterly , 103, 816–836.
Muyskens, James L., 1979, The Sufficiency of Hope: The Conceptual Foundations of Religion , Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Niebuhr, H. Richard, 1961, “On the Nature of Faith”, in S. Hook (ed.), Religious Experience and Truth , New York: New York University Press, 93–102.
Pace, Michael, and Daniel J. McKaughan, 2020. “Judaeo-Christian Faith as Trust and Loyalty”, Religious Studies , 58: 30–60.
Penelhum, Terence, 1983, God and Skepticism: A Study in Skepticism and Fideism , Dordrecht: Reidel.
–––, 1989, “The Analysis of Faith in St. Thomas Aquinas”, in T. Penelhum (ed.), Faith , London: Collier Macmillan, 113–133.
Plantinga, Alvin, 1983, “Reason and Belief in God”, in A. Plantinga and N. Wolterstorff (eds), Faith and Rationality: Reason and Belief in God , Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 16–93.
–––, 2000, Warranted Christian Belief , New York: Oxford University Press.
Pojman, Louis, 1986, “Faith without Belief?”, Faith and Philosophy , 3: 157–176.
–––, 2003, “Faith, Doubt and Belief, or does Faith Entail Belief?”, in R. M. Gale and A. R. Pruss (eds.), The Existence of God , Aldershot: Ashgate.
Pope, Michael, 2018, “Peircean Faith: Perception, Trust, and Religious Belief in the Conduct of Life”, Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society , 54: 457–479.
Preston-Roedder, Ryan, 2018, “Three Varieties of Faith”, Philosophical Topics , 46: 173–199.
Price, H. H., 1965, “Belief ‘in’ and Belief ‘that’”, Religious Studies , 65: 5–28.
Rettler, Lindsay, 2018, “Faith, Belief, and Control”, American Philosophical Quarterly , 55: 95–109.
Rice, Rebekah L.H., Daniel J. McKaughan, and Howard-Snyder (eds.), 2017, Special (double) issue: approaches to faith, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion , 81: 1–227. doi:10.1007/s11153-016-9610-1
Schellenberg, J. L., 1993, Divine Hiddenness and Human Reason , Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
–––, 2005, Prolegomena to a Philosophy of Religion , Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
–––, 2009, The Will to Imagine: A Justification of Sceptical Religion , Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
–––, 2013, “Replies to my Colleagues”, Religious Studies , 49: 257–285.
Sessions, William Lad, 1994, The Concept of Faith: A Philosophical Investigation , Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Smith, Wilfred Cantwell, 1979, Faith and Belief , Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Solomon, Robert C., 2002, Spirituality for the Skeptic: The Thoughtful Love of Life , Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Swinburne, Richard, 1969, “The Christian Wager”, Religious Studies , 4: 217–228.
–––, 1983, Faith and Reason , 1st edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
–––, 1992, Revelation: From Metaphor to Analogy , Oxford: Clarendon Press.
–––, 2001, “Plantinga on Warrant”, Religious Studies , 37: 203–214.
–––, 2003, The Resurrection of God Incarnate , Oxford: Clarendon Press.
–––, 2005, Faith and Reason , 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Taylor, Richard, 1961, “Faith”, in S. Hook (ed.), Religious Experience and Truth , New York: New York University, 165–169.
Tennant, F. R., 1943, The Nature of Belief , London: Centenary Press.
–––, 1989, “Faith”, [Tennant, 1943, Chapter 6] in T. Penelhum (ed.), Faith , London: Collier Macmillan, 99–112.
Tillich, Paul, 1957 [2001], Dynamics of Faith , New York: HarperCollins.
Tsai, George, 2017, “Supporting Intimates on Faith”, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion , 81: 99–112.
Yandell, Keith E., 1990, “The Nature of Faith: Religious, Monotheistic, and Christian”, Faith and Philosophy , 7:451–469.
Yandell, Keith E., 1999, Philosophy of Religion: A Contemporary Introduction , New York: Routledge.
Zagzebski, Linda, 2010, “Religious Knowledge”, in S.Bernecker and D.Pritchard (eds.), The Routledge Companion to Epistemology , New York: Routledge, 393–400.

How to cite this entry . Preview the PDF version of this entry at the Friends of the SEP Society . Look up topics and thinkers related to this entry at the Internet Philosophy Ontology Project (InPhO). Enhanced bibliography for this entry at PhilPapers , with links to its database.

Jackson, E., “ Faith: Contemporary Perspectives ” and Swindal, J., “ Faith: Historical Perspectives ”, The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy .
Pope, H., 1909, “ Faith ”, in The Catholic Encyclopedia , New York: Robert Appleton Company.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Sophie Milne and Selwyn Fraser for research assistance on this entry, and Imran Aijaz, Robert Audi, Thomas Harvey, Daniel Howard-Snyder, Katherine Munn Dormandy, Glen Pettigrove and John Schellenberg for helpful comments on drafts.

Accessibility

Support SEP

Mirror sites.

View this site from another server:

Info about mirror sites

Library of Congress Catalog Data: ISSN 1095-5054

Answering 10 Questions about the Christian Faith

Corporate,Meeting,Asian,Group,A,Question,Or,Answers,Class,Audience

As a college instructor and a Christian apologist, I have been asked thousands of questions in my 35 years of teaching and doing apologetics professionally. In fact, back in the early 1990s I worked at the Christian Research Institute (CRI) and was one of the cohosts of the Bible Answer Man radio program, which has a question and answer format.

Today I answer questions online and on social media. I appreciate receiving a variety of questions from people of all backgrounds and stages of life. What follows are ten selected questions I was asked online over the last couple of years. My answers are intentionally concise, which reflects how I respond online. Much more could be said on each of these topics, so please see the resource section for further information. I hope these brief answers will help you in your engagements with people who ask similar questions.

Question #1 If God exists, why doesn’t the universe unambiguously point to any kind of Creator God? I think it is fair to say that a large majority of people throughout history have believed in God and that many of them thought God’s existence was just a matter of common sense (in other words, they thought life unambiguously pointed to God). Concerning the origin of the cosmos, of fine-tuning, and of consciousness, I think atheistic naturalism’s explanatory power is quite limited. But Christian theism seems to provide the best explanation for these profound mysteries. Question #2 How does Jesus’s incarnation relate to his atonement on the cross? Jesus Christ could only do what he did soteriologically (in terms of salvation) because he was who he was ontologically (in terms of being). Representing both God and man in his two natures as the God-man, Jesus could reconcile God and man. Thus, the incarnation grounds the atonement.

Question #3 Is RTB’s statement of faith based on a Reformed theology similar to what John Calvin advocated? RTB’s statement of faith, which I helped write, reflects a Protestant evangelical viewpoint. Theologically conservative Christians who are Baptist, Lutheran, Wesleyan, Pentecostal, Anglican, or nondenominational could affirm and have affirmed the statement. Many denominations within Christendom are represented among RTB’s staff scholars and scholar community. Question #4 Isn’t Protestantism’s major flaw that it leads to constant splintering and dividing? What do we do about it? Protestantism as a branch of Christendom has its challenges like all other ecclesiastical bodies do. But the common ground on doctrine, values, and worldview shared by the three branches of Christendom (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant) is robust. I encourage all Christians to contend for truth, promote unity, and always strive to practice charity among their fellow believers. Question #5 Aren’t all religions the same, just calling the same god by different names? All religions are not the same. Consider their disagreement about the existence of God or gods as just one of many examples demonstrating that fact:

Islam affirms one God.
Popular Hinduism affirms 330 million gods.
Philosophical Hinduism affirms all as god.
Original Buddhism affirms no god.

So the world’s religions collectively can’t agree on whether there is a god or how many there are. Question #6 How can Jesus be God when the Gospels say he was born, was tempted, and died? None of these limitations are true of God. The historic Christian doctrine of the incarnation teaches that Jesus was both God and man (a single person with both a divine and human nature). Thus, Jesus encountered limitations and challenges through his human nature, not his divine nature. Question #7 Which branch of Christendom is the right one? I don’t think any specific branch or tradition within Christendom has a lock on all Christian truth. They all share the truths revealed in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. Therefore, I try to learn and discern from Christendom’s wealth of theological resources. Personally, I attend a Reformed Anglican church. Question #8 What forms of logical reasoning do scientists employ in their work? Scientists use deductive, inductive, and abductive forms of reasoning. Abductive reasoning (inference to the best explanation) is often used in hypothesis formation. But the enterprise of science (that is, the scientific method) is an inductive process involving observation and testing (empiricism) and generally weighing probabilities. There is a difference between the method of science (induction) and the forms of reasoning or arguments used in applying the data (deductive, inductive, abductive).

Question #9 Could beauty be explained as an evolutionary survival advantage?

Beauty seems a major compulsion for humankind. Any possible survival advantages seem inconsistent with the amount of beauty in the world and humankind’s profound obsession with it.

Even if beauty has some survival advantages, beauty as a whole is still best explained in a world with God rather than in a world without him.

Question #10 Shouldn’t Christians worship on the Sabbath (Saturday) instead of Sunday? Virtually all of Christendom (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant) observes the Lord’s Day on Sunday—the day commemorating Jesus Christ’s bodily resurrection that took place on the first day of the week. The majority of New Testament scholars see Sunday as a day of worship—again, honoring Christ’s resurrection. Thus, the Sunday Lord’s Day distinguishes historic Christian observance from traditional Judaism. Some people keep the Sabbath out of conscience, but Sabbatarianism is an outlier position in historic Christian theology.

I hope these questions and my brief answers will motivate you to think carefully about the historic Christian faith.

Reflections: Your Turn Which question are you most interested in? Visit Reflections on WordPress to comment.

Here are five books I’ve written to address various questions about the Christian faith:

Christianity Cross-Examined (Covina, CA: RTB Press, 2021) . In this book I answer twelve questions about historic Christianity’s truth, relevance, and goodness.
Without a Doubt: Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2004). In this book I answer twenty common questions and objections about God, Christ, and Christianity.
A World of Difference (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2007). In this book I address issues pertaining to the Christian worldview and its relationship to other competing worldviews.
Classic Christian Thinkers: An Introduction (Covina, CA: RTB Press, 2019). In this book I address topics relating to church history and historical theology.
God among Sages: Why Jesus Is Not Just Another Religious Leader (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2017). In this book I address issues relating to Jesus and Christianity in comparison with the world’s religions and their leaders.

Reflections on Social Media: Is Digital Networking a Good Phenomenon? Part 2

Does Ockham’s Razor Support Naturalism?

Reading, Human Exceptionalism, and Dyslexia

Share full article

Supported by

George Fox University

What My Faith in God Looks Like

By Dustin Junkert

July 20, 2009

I grew up quietly and without thought. My mom was a secretary at the Baptist church, and I led the worship team senior year of high school. My youth pastor was one of my best friends. I believed in God and my parents, my friends, and the four walls of my house. All things were within reach, simple and inspiring. And I told my girlfriend I wanted to be a writer.

She told me I was very smart and of course I’d be a writer. I wrote a rhyming 12-line poem over the course of three days, a maze of abstraction. I read it over and over until I had it memorized. In high school English, I dazed off reciting my poem in my head, the poem that would soon be recited by everyone in 12th-grade English across the country, once I settled on a publisher. Soon after, I began work on my first novel, a period piece about a 17th-century Huguenot family fleeing the Inquisition.

Eager to continue my spiritual journey, I went to a private Christian college in Oregon complete with a lifestyle contract. Freshman year, I met Frank, a lifelong philosopher. He was a couple rooms down from me. He asked me all sorts of wild questions I had never thought about before, like, “Well, why do you believe that?” Everything I said that year, Frank would ask me that question. Then I started asking myself that question about every thought I had. It was a sort of game, which most of the time sounded like this:

Why shouldn’t I have sex before I marry?

Because the Bible says it’s a sin.

Because it keeps you from Him.

Why doesn’t all sex keep you from Him?

Because premarital sex does not require any commitment.

Why do you need commitment?

Because sex is special.

Why do you think that?

Because it says so in the Bible.

Why do you believe the Bible?

Because it’s God’s word.

How do you know that?

Because it says it in there.

Well, I am speaking the words of God right now, do you believe me?

Because. . . .

The game generally started with a question, cycled through my beliefs, and ended with “because. . . .” Soon it was ending in just “. . . .”

I took a class called “The Problem of Religious Diversity” that quickly had me believing that just about any belief system could be true and that no one could prove anything. It never occurred to me until then that people who believed something other than Christianity had the same reason for believing their faith as I did for believing mine.

How about that?

I ran into an old Sunday school teacher sophomore year and told him I’d been thinking that maybe it’s not true that everyone who’s not a Baptist will go to Hell. He looked me straight in the eye with saintly gravity and said: “The Bible is very clear: if you believe that, you aren’t a Christian. In fact, if we were in the 17th century right now, you’d be burned at the stake.” I, of course, knew this from all the research I’d done for my novel. But the way he said it put me in a state of fear at first, then repentance, then confusion, and lastly anger. I rebelled from the religion that contained all the smallness of my childhood. I cursed my Baptist teacher, God and the novel, and fled to Russia for a study-abroad semester sponsored by a coalition of Christian colleges.

The first person I talked to there was Dan, a student at Grace College in Michigan. He immediately asked the last question I wanted to hear: “So what’s your faith look like?” I went cold. I wanted to bleat my usual Jesus-story and be done with it, but the ice on my ribs wouldn’t let me lie. I reluctantly collapsed and told him that honestly, I didn’t know anything anymore and nothing was real. Turns out, Dan was in the same place I was.

Together we raved and doubted and yelled and trembled all semester long. We felt the black blood of Dostoevsky and descended the dark stairs of Derrida and Sartre. Some nights, we would just sit across from each other and stare, estranged by the cold of a new, uncertain world. After one of these nights of existential fog, as I got up to go, I turned to Dan and said, “The only meaningful thing left to do in this world, it seems, is to sit quietly with a friend until dark and then say goodnight.”

Then, on a snow-gray Russian day, riding a packed bus, a song came on my iPod that froze me in time. In a sense, I’m still there on that bus listening to that song with watering eyes. It was a song called “Clouds” by As Cities Burn that said: “Is your god really God? / Is my god really God? / I think our god isn’t God / If he fits inside our heads.”

With the terrifying pull of rubber bands, I expanded beyond the length of the bus, grew from the street to the sky. Then I snapped and everything came undone. I resigned entirely. God won’t fit inside our heads, and if He does, we’re missing something. And I knew all I’d been waiting for was to know that to admit doubt was not to lose faith. A few simple lines of an Indie rock song pushed me to see hope amid uncertainty.

It snowed continually my last two weeks in Russia. I met Dan one morning at a small cafe, Biblioteca, where we drank bottomless black tea and watched the snow pile up on the street. He said he had prayed the night before. I said I was ready to step back into a church.

Our last Sunday in Moscow, we attended Mass, an Orthodox church, then a mosque. Dan said we were a Protestant service away from a monotheistic grand slam. At Mass, I wrote in my journal, “God, see that I’m trying.”

It was the first time I had prayed in more than a year.

Dustin Junkert, George Fox University, class of 2009, writing/literature major

May 27, 2022

What does faith mean?

Written by grace theological seminary.

Tagged With Master of Divinity

Faith is one of those words that is commonly used but not always understood. Some of that confusion comes from the many different ways the word faith is used in everyday conversation; a quick look at Dictionary.com shows seven different uses! One common way that people use the word faith is to refer to belief in something despite lacking any evidence for it. But is that what the Bible means by faith? The answer is a resounding no! So what does faith mean?

What does faith mean according to the Bible?

The closest that the Bible comes to offering an exact definition is Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” From this particular passage we see that the central feature of faith is confidence or trust. In the Bible, the object of faith is God and his promises. A clear example of this is Abram’s encounter with God in Genesis 15. In response to God’s promise of countless descendants, Abram “believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (Gen 15:6). Commenting on this, the Apostle Paul writes, “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” (Rom 4:20-21). Thus faith means putting your trust in God and having confidence that he will fulfill his promises.

Faith is more than intellectual agreement. To use an old illustration, imagine you are at Niagara Falls watching a tightrope walker push a wheelbarrow across the rope high above the falls. After watching him go back and forth several times, he asks for a volunteer to sit in the wheelbarrow as he pushes it across the falls. At an intellectual level you may believe that he could successfully push you across the rope over the falls, but you are not exercising biblical faith until you get in the wheelbarrow and entrust yourself to the tightrope walker.

Genuine biblical faith expresses itself in everyday life. James writes that “faith by itself, apart from works, is dead” (James 2:17). Faith works through love to produce tangible evidence of its existence in a person’s life (Gal 5:6). Put another way, the obedience that pleases God comes from faith (Rom 1:5; 16:26) rather than a mere sense of duty or obligation. There is all the difference in the world between the husband who buys his wife flowers out of delight and one who buys them simply out of duty.

Faith is so important because it is the means by which we have a relationship with God: “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Eph 2:8). Faith is how we receive the benefits of what Jesus has done for us. He lived a life of perfect obedience to God, died to pay the penalty for our sinful rebellion against God, and rose from the dead to defeat sin, death, and the devil. By putting our faith in him, we receive forgiveness for our sins and the gift of eternal life.

So what does faith mean? Simply put, faith means relying completely on who Jesus is and what he has done to be made right with God. Are you considering a faith-filled call to Christian ministry ? The programs at Grace Theological Seminary will ensure you grow in your faith on your way to equipping others to do the same.

Matthew S. Harmon

Matthew S. Harmon, Professor of New Testament studies, loves to help people understand the beauty of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures, seeing it as the key to life transformation (2 Corinthians 3:18). As a result, the focus of his ministry is teaching and preaching God’s word in various contexts. He has a passion for research and writing, specializing in the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament, biblical theology, commentary writing and the Pauline epistles. He is an active member of Christ’s Covenant Church, where he serves on the preaching team and regularly teaches Sunday School.

CV – Matthew S Harmon

Related News & Updates

Dedicated to teaching, training, and transforming the whole person for local church and global ministry

Pursuing Open Doors: David Benzel Reflects on Walking with God

Interested in a Master's Degree in Divinity? Read about Grace Theological Seminary Alumnus and get started on an M. div degree today.

Master’s Degree in Divinity Alumnus Ethan Bunce Chases Unpredictable Holiness

Now Trending: 100 things to put in your purse

XO, Christine

How to write a statement of faith in 5 easy steps.

Hey there! If you’ve landed here, odds are you are looking at how to write a statement of faith. I’m so glad you’re here!

This article is designed to guide you step by step, making sharing your foundational beliefs in your own words not only manageable but deeply rewarding.

Let’s dive in.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure here

What is a Statement of Faith?

Think of it as a heartfelt letter to yourself or others, laying out the core beliefs that light up your spiritual world.

A statement of faith is a formal declaration of an individual’s or organization’s core beliefs and doctrines regarding religious or spiritual matters.

For believers in Christ, it often outlines foundational beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, salvation, and other central tenets of the faith.

Why Write a Statement of Faith

A statement of faith acts as a guide, helping you (and others) understand you and your belief system or foundational beliefs.

Christians author faith statements for confirmation, job applications, entrance into a church ministry, and Christian college and university applications.

Writing a statement of faith can be a transformative experience, personally and communally.

Reasons why you might consider crafting a personal statement of faith:

Self-reflection.

Writing a statement of faith encourages deep introspection. It pushes you to clarify and articulate your beliefs, leading to a better understanding of your spiritual journey.

Solidify Beliefs

The process can help you solidify and reaffirm your beliefs.

A statement of faith can act as a spiritual compass. When faced with moral or ethical dilemmas, referring to your statement can provide clarity and direction.

Communication

It offers a clear way to share your beliefs with others. A written statement can be invaluable, whether discussing faith with friends or introducing yourself to a new religious community.

University or Job application

Some jobs and universities require a statement of faith to ensure applicants align with the institution’s religious values, foster community unity, and uphold their faith-based mission.

Teaching and Mentorship

If you’re in a position of spiritual leadership or mentorship, a statement of faith can guide your teachings and clarify those you’re guiding.

It can serve as a testament to your beliefs, something you can pass down to future generations, helping them understand your spiritual journey and perhaps inspiring their own.

Personal Growth

Writing, reflecting, and revising can lead to personal growth. You might discover new insights about your beliefs or find answers to lingering questions.

Accountability

By writing down and sharing your beliefs, you’re holding yourself accountable.

It’s a commitment to uphold and live by the values and ideas you’ve outlined.

Therapeutic Value

For many, writing can be therapeutic.

It can help them process past experiences, doubts, or faith-related challenges.

Before you Start Your Statement of Faith

Introspection and prayer.

Seek Divine Guidance: Before you begin, pray for clarity and wisdom to articulate your beliefs genuinely.

Meditate: Spend quiet moments in reflection, allowing your thoughts to align with your core beliefs.

Understand Your Convictions

Personal Reflection: Recall personal experiences that have shaped your faith journey.

Document Initial Thoughts: Jot down spontaneous beliefs that come to mind first; these often represent your core convictions.

Pinpoint What’s Essential

Prioritize Core Beliefs: Identify the non-negotiable foundational beliefs in your faith.

Consider Personal Experiences: Consider personal testimonies or experiences that have significantly impacted your faith journey.

Use Scripture to Back Up What You Believe

Reference Relevant Scriptures : Cite specific verses or teachings that resonate with and support your beliefs.

Interpretation: Briefly explain how you interpret these scriptures in the context of your beliefs.

Affirm Your Own Beliefs

Use definitive language to express your beliefs. (don’t forget to use scriptures to back it up) Share Personal Testimonies: Personal stories can be powerful affirmations of your beliefs.

Addressing Misconceptions

If there are popular beliefs or misconceptions your faith aligns with, think about ways to address them. Again, use scriptures to back what you say up.

Aim to clarify your stance: Consider how to explain why certain beliefs don’t resonate with your understanding of faith.

Seek Guidance

Share your thoughts regarding your personal faith statement with trusted friends or mentors who can provide insights or ask probing questions.

step by step guide to writing a faith statement

How to Write a Statement of Faith (Step-by-Step)

Set the right tone.

Your statement is a reflection of your innermost beliefs. A good statement of faith is intimate and genuine. Envision a heart-to-heart with a close friend in a cozy café. How would you convey your faith?

What questions might they have that you can answer using a genuine, authentic tone?

Structuring Your Personal Statement

Introduction.

Kick things off with a compelling start. Whether it’s a poignant personal story, a powerful quote, or a bible passage close to your heart, make it memorable.

This is the heart of your statement. Delve into the core of your beliefs. Explore your convictions about God, the essence of life, eternal life, heaven, and everything in between.

Bring your statement to a close. Reflect on your faith walk thus far and express your hope for the future.

Stay True to You

You know that old saying, “Be yourself; everyone else is taken”? When you’re penning down your beliefs, let the real you shine through. Authenticity is key.

Less is more

Let’s keep it simple and relatable. Toss out the heavy religious lingo that might leave some scratching their heads.

Dive deep, but keep it concise. Remember, this is a statement of faith, not your full testimony. Less is more.

how to write a personal statement of faith

Encouraging Quotes for Christian Women
How to Meditate as a Christian
Inspiring Bible Verses For Your Instagram
Big Prayers to Pray in the New Year
How to Practice Spiritual Self-care
My Personal Statement of Faith
Best Self-care Ideas for Women
Inspirational Books for Women
Prayers for Empty Nesters
The Five Love Languages for Couples

Essential Elements of a Faith Statement

If you’re a Christian crafting a statement of faith, there are foundational beliefs and statements that should be mentioned in your statement of faith. Use the following suggestions to guide you.

Key Points and examples of statements to consider:

The trinity:.

Affirm your belief in the triune nature of God – that God exists as three persons in one essence: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.

God the Father:

God the Father as the first person of the Holy Trinity a loving and compassionate Father to all of humanity.

His nature embodies perfect justice, mercy, and love. Throughout scripture, He is depicted as a guiding force, a protector, and the one who sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world.

God’s Creation

Emphasize the belief in God as the ultimate Creator of all things. God created the heavens and the earth, setting the stars in the sky and breathing life into every creature.

This wondrous act of creation reflects His majesty, power, and boundless love.

The Life of Jesus

Acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who came to Earth, born of the Virgin Mary, and lived among humans, teaching, performing miracles, and exemplifying perfect love and righteousness.

Be sure to include scripture from the New Testament describing.

The Death of Jesus

Recognize the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross as an atonement for the sins of humanity, emphasizing the significance of His sacrifice for salvation.

He is alive! (The Resurrection of Jesus)

Profess your belief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, conquering sin and death, and seated in Glory at the Father’s right hand.

It’s not about Religion.

Describe your faith walk as not about religion but about a personal and intimate relationship with your savior, Jesus.

Resource: Jesus calls us “friend” in the bible John 15:15

The Bible (God’s Word)

Affirm the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God, serving as the ultimate guide and authority in faith, doctrine, and Christian living and how it serves as a source of truth, wisdom, and instruction.

Forgiveness & Salvation

Declare the belief that salvation is a gift from God, attainable only through faith in Jesus Christ and not by human efforts or deeds. Ephesians 2:8-9

The Hope of Heaven

Share how salvation gives believers the hope of heaven. Yes! True believers in Jesus will spend eternity living in heaven with God for all eternity. You can find several beautiful verses about Heaven here .

The Holy Spirit

Recognize the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding, empowering, and sanctifying believers, helping them lead a Christian life.

Resource : This is a great article about understanding the Holy Spirit

Christian Living

Emphasize the importance of living a life that reflects the teachings of Jesus, including loving one’s neighbor, seeking justice, showing mercy, and walking humbly with God.

Acknowledge the church as the body of Christ, emphasizing the importance of community, fellowship, worship, and service.

The Second Coming

Profess your belief in the eventual return of Jesus Christ, the final judgment, and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.

Resource : 67 Bible Verses about the Second Coming of Jesus

Practical steps

Highlight the significance of prayer, Bible reading, community, service, baptism, etc.

Remember, while these are foundational beliefs for many Christians, it’s essential to articulate them in a way that genuinely reflects your personal relationship with God.

Conclusion: How to Write a Personal Statement of Faith

I hope this guide aids you in penning your personal statement of faith.

Before diving in, take a moment to pray, settle in with a coffee, and find your cozy spot.

Use the steps I’ve shared, drawing from your own personal faith walk. You’ll soon see the process isn’t just doable but truly enriching. Before long, you’ll have a statement reflecting your unique faith journey.

Happy writing!

In His Love,

I’ve been keeping it real since 1963. 🙂 I’m a child of God , a wifey, mama, grandma, full-time creative, domestic engineer, and self-care enthusiast .

I am obsessed with all things makeup and skincare and love getting my hands dirty out in the garden , my art room , or in the kitchen , whipping up something yummy for the fam. I’m always down to chat and love collaborating with other creatives and brands alike!

Feel free to reach out anytime!

DIY Homemade Hair Growth Oil Recipe: Natural Remedies

My (Morning) AM Skincare Routine in Just 5 Easy Steps

How to Make Pine Cone Bird Feeders with Peanut Butter

Awesome Bible Verses About Boundaries + Setting Clear Limits

how to transplant a fiddle leaf fig tree

Repotting a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree: In Less Than 10 Easy Steps

How to Start a Lifestyle Blog Using WordPress 2024

BU students, faculty, and staff reflect on the intimate role religion, prayer, and meditation play in their daily life

Cydney scott, bu today staff.

Boston University began as a Methodist seminary, the Newbury Biblical Institute, in Newbury, Vt., in 1839. And since its beginnings in Boston in 1869 as Boston University, it has been open to people of all sexes and all religions, many who carve out time from their daily studies and work to find moments to pray, meditate, and reflect.

BU photographer Cydney Scott has long wanted to capture the many ways members of the BU community express their faith.

“One of the great things about being a photographer is that I have the privilege of stepping into aspects of life that are unfamiliar to me,” Scott says. “Religious faith is one of them. Religion and faith give people solace, guidance, and a sense of community, among other things.”

Last fall BU Today invited members of the BU community to reach out to Scott directly, and within days, she had heard from people who identified as Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, and more. She photographed almost 20 people in their homes, at work, and out of doors as they practiced their respective faith traditions. The COVID pandemic made it impossible to photograph most of them in their churches, temples, mosques, and other places of worship, so instead, Scott sought to capture each one in ways that reflect how they pray, worship, and integrate their faith into their daily lives. Each participant also wrote a short essay describing what their faith means to them.

The resulting photos are deeply personal and intimate, speaking to the breadth and diversity of the BU community and the myriad ways people observe and celebrate faith in their lives.

Emily Mantz (Sargent’21,’23), Christian

Emily Manz (SAR’23) says grace over her dinner in her Stuvi2 apartment. A tan young woman with black curly hair bows her head over her clasped hands as she sits at her desk in her dorm room.

“There are many ways that I practice my faith on a daily basis. I try not to keep my faith in a box, and instead try to integrate it into everything I do. I was raised by not one but two pastors, so growing up saying grace before eating has always been a part of my day. During my undergraduate years I was heavily involved with BU’s Inner Strength Gospel Choir. While I’m no longer quite so involved, I still find singing and music to be one of the best ways for me to connect with the Lord. I attend church every Sunday and volunteer at the nursery there as well. Finally, I pray and read my Bible every day, twice a day. This allows me to dig a bit deeper into the teachings of God as well as talk to Him about my day, things I’m struggling with and things (or people) who need to be prayed for.

“To me, my faith is my lifeline. I have probably gone to church every Sunday since the day I was born, and while church itself is a huge part of my life, my personal relationship with Jesus is really what has gotten me through these past five years of college. Whenever I’m struggling, I know I can talk to Him and He will always be there with me. Not to mention the friends He has placed in my life to help me along the way. As Christians, we are really called to live out our faith so that other people can get to know Jesus through us. I try to exude that by upholding values of kindness, forgiveness, and patience in all aspects of my life, no matter how hard it may be.”

Aimee Mein (COM’22), Buddhist

A photo of Aimee Mein (COM’22) meditating in her room. A white woman wearing a dark blue cami and pants sits with legs crossed and hands placed in her lap.

“My faith is the lens through which I see the world. My perspective on life completely shifted after studying Buddhism and incorporating Buddhist practices into my everyday experiences. Every moment has become an opportunity for mindfulness, things that used to cause me anxiety are calmed by a newfound belief system. Even my struggles with mental health have improved. Most importantly, my faith means a sense of peace with the universe and compassion for all beings.”

Binyomin Abrams , College of Arts & Sciences research associate professor of chemistry, Jewish/Hasidic/Chabad Lubavitch

Photo of Rabbi Binyomin Abrams, left, learning the Torah with Rafael Kriger (CAS’22) in his Metcalf Science Center office. A Jewish man with a long beard and wearing a yarmulke sits on the other side of a desk and faces a younger Jewish man also wearing a yarmulke. The Torah sits between them

“I’m Jewish, specifically a Lubavitcher (Chabad) chossid. Jewish faith is synonymous with Jewish practice—doing acts of goodness and kindness (mitzvahs) and working towards refining the world around us. One of the most special and meaningful things that we do is to learn Torah, which brings meaning to my faith through intellectual, spiritual, and practical guidance on how to improve ourselves and transform the world for the better.”

Martha Schick (STH’22), United Church of Christ

Photo of Martha Schick (MDiv’22) lighting a candle in Gordon Chapel. A white woman with short hair wearing a mask lights a candle with a long match in a darkened chapel

“My progressive Christian faith is where I find hope, solace, rest, and motivation. In our world, which is both broken and beautiful, the story of Jesus Christ and the stories of the ancestors of our faith are where I can look to make sense of things. I often come away with more questions than answers, but my church community welcomes my wrestling and makes my faith stronger because of it. In studying to become a pastor, I am both empowered to bring my full self to ministry and humbled to remember that the Holy Spirit is working through me. As a queer woman pursuing ordination, I also know that my very presence in the leadership of a church is a symbol and example of God’s love and calling for all people.”

Muhammad Zaman , College of Engineering professor of biomedical engineering and of materials science and engineering and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, Muslim

Photo of Professor Muhammad Zaman during Zuhr (noon) prayers at the ISBU prayer room in GSU. a man wearing a white mask kneels on an ornate rug with hands in prayer in front of him.

“I am a practicing Muslim and consider my faith as a driver for my work. In particular, the emphasis of Islam on humanity, social justice, welfare, and human dignity has a profound effect on my work to provide equitable access to healthcare among refugees, migrants, stateless persons, and the forcibly displaced all around the world.”

Chloe McLaughlin (STH’22), United Methodist Church

Photo of Chloe McLaughlin standing with hands wide as she stands at a wooden podium in Marsh Chapel.

“Faith has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up attending church, going to youth group, and spending my summers at church camp. At the end of this semester, I will be lucky enough to have two degrees that focus on religion and this faith that is so integral to who I am. In the long run, I think I have always been drawn to faith, specifically Christian faith, because I believe it informs my sincere commitment to justice, equity, and mercy. Over the last three years, as I have worshiped at Marsh Chapel, I have seen kindred commitments in action. The chaplains and staff are genuine, courageous, and willing conversation partners on difficult topics in the church and the world. I have been mentored, encouraged, and challenged by the staff and community at Marsh, and I am so grateful.”

Mich’lene Davis (SSW’25), Christian/Pentecostal

Photo of the Davis family. A Black man reads the bible to his wife and three children, two of which are seated on a sofa beside him

“‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1). The wind blows, no one can see it, but you feel it and know that it is there. We practice a blind faith every single day of our lives without consciously knowing that we are doing it. We have ‘faith’ that the chair we sit in will support our weight and not send us tumbling to the floor in an embarrassing manner. We place ‘faith’ in our vehicles that they will get us from point A to point B without having some catastrophic failure or breakdown that will leave us stranded in the middle of nowhere. As a Christian, my faith is my lifeline, like an umbilical cord to an unborn child. Everything I believe about God and His one and only son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, is what feeds my mind, soul, and spirit. I have faith to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross via crucifixion, but rose again three days later, and because of this I no longer will have to face an eternal death, but will instead have eternal life with Him in heaven. I have personally benefited from and have witnessed answered prayers that had no natural explanation for how they were answered. My daily life consists of me worshiping and praising Him through the music I listen to and sing. Reading and meditating on His Word (the Bible) helps me to remember to whom I belong and helps me to strive to be a better person each day.”

Caitlyn Wise (Sargent’23), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Photo of Caitlyn Wise (SAR’23), a young white white woman with long blonde hair, sitting in a chair amidst a circle of chairs all facing the center.

“Faith gives me the confidence to live courageously each day. Through prayer and scripture study, the knowledge and power I receive from my faith allows me to look for ways to serve and learn from those around me. Whether it is me praying for guidance in my studies or me applying principles of kindness and compassion in the BU community, my faith gives me a source of strength in my everyday life.”

Adit Mehta (CAS’22), Jainism

Photo of Adit Mehta, a tan man with black hair and beard, sitting cross-legged and wearing a white top and pants, on the floor in his room. He reads a book using the light from the window.

“I was brought up in a Jain household and always had it around me, but in college, separated from my parents, I’ve explored my faith and consciously made decisions to follow ahimsa (nonviolence), aparigraha (non-possessiveness), and anekantavada (multiplicity of viewpoints), the three As of Jainism. In college I’ve also been able to find a community among members of Jains in Voice and Action , the BU Jain club, and the Young Jains of America . My faith means making active choices to reduce harm to others and the environment. It’s less about praying and more about reflecting on my actions and choices during Samayik, 48 minutes of meditation. My faith makes it possible for me to understand myself and how I affect and can help others.”

Zowie Rico (CAS’23), Lunar Witchcraft

Photo of Zowie Rico (CAS’23), a white woman dressed in orange overalls, as she reads her Tarot and Prism Oracle cards in her Stuvi2 apartment

“My spirituality is something very new for me. I started my journey in July of 2020, during the latter half of quarantine. Before that, I wasn’t really a spiritual person. Now, however, I use my spirituality to guide me through many aspects of my life. It’s a way for me to connect with my inner self and actively work to become one with the energies around me. It’s also helped me with my anxiety, as it’s given me a lot of coping mechanisms to use throughout my life, like grounding and meditation.

“My spirituality is a part of many aspects of my daily life. It manifests itself in everything from making my smoothie in the mornings to doing affirmations while stirring my coffee to using my intuition for many of my decisions each day. I am so happy that I’ve been able to incorporate my practice into my daily life because it helps center me each day and provides comfort during hard times.”

Jewel Cash, BU Summer Term program manager, Christian

Photo of 7 Black women seated and holding hands around a rectangular dining table with an assortment of food on it

“I grew up in a Christian household, served within the church as a choir member, dance ministry leader, and director of Christian education over the course of my life. My faith has always been an important part of my life. As a child I remember my mother sending me to church by myself to ensure my relationship with God would grow during a season in which she was sick and could not go herself. During college it was important for me to go back to attend youth bible studies so I could understand more about the Bible. As a professional, I remember interviewing at BU, being asked, ‘What do you do to manage stress?’ and surprisingly responding without hesitation ‘Pray. In overwhelming times I may take a deep breath, evaluate the situation, and pray to recenter myself. So if you see me step away to the restroom for a longer time, I may be praying so I can come back ready to tackle the problem as my best self.’

“My religious faith means a lot to me. That there is purpose in my being, that I do not walk alone through life, that I have a community of believers who I can fellowship with, that I am to be a positive example to others of what my God calls me to be, and in short, that all that I have is all that I need to be my best self and live life fully and abundantly, for I am blessed and favored in a special way. It means I am not perfect, but as I pray, praise, and push, I am progressing. It means, as the Bible says, I have been given a spirit of power, love, and sound mind, and with these three things I can make a difference in the world and encourage others to do the same.”

Ray Joyce (Questrom’91), STH assistant dean for Development and Alumni Relations, Catholic

Photo of Ray Joyce, a white man with gray hair and black glasses, reading a daily devotional in his West Acton home.

“My faith really means everything to me. It’s how I live through each day, the good and the bad. In the current political climate, I find it’s essential to keep centered. For example, when I hear people who are eligible, but refuse to get the COVID vaccine to protect themselves and others, a part of me wants to say: ‘Then let them die,’ but I know that’s wrong. As it happens, today’s reading in the Bible from 1 Corinthians 3:16 includes the words ‘…and the Spirit of God dwells in you.’ As my daily reflection from Terence Hegarty (editor of Living with Christ) states ‘…not only does the Spirit of God dwell in us , but in everyone …’ So I hold onto that and try to understand where someone might be coming from to reach such a conclusion as to refuse a potentially lifesaving vaccination. I act where I can to help others and our planet while also waiting with anticipation for better days ahead with a renewed sense of hope.”

Mary Choe (CAS’24), Baptist

Photo of Mary Choe (CAS’24), an Asian woman wearing a black mask, as she reads her daily scriptures in a cafe

“Hebrews 11 states: ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’ For me, faith is not some distant feeling, but a series of beliefs that lead to concrete actions. My beliefs are based on the words of life, light, and love I read in the Bible. Much like life itself, faith is hardly easy or linear. I have times of doubt, because admittedly, it’s difficult to go against the flow of campus life. And since God is invisible, I often get distracted by the instant gratification of the here and now. I’m realizing more and more, however, that even my faith is less about me than about the object of my faith—which is not a concept or an idea, but God embodied in flesh, Jesus Christ. My relationship with Jesus is what makes my faith dynamic, filled with joys and sorrows, highs and lows, times of peace and serenity, along with fears, failures, and more than a little drama. But I take comfort in knowing I’m not on this journey alone. I have a cloud of witnesses walking before me and with me and many more examples of faith who’ve already walked this pilgrim journey. Living by faith is not a loud, showy display, but an assured, hopeful way of being. My hope is that I, too, can finish the journey of faith well and experience victory in Jesus Christ!”

Swati Gupta (SDM’23), Hindu

Photo of Swati Gupta (GSDM’23), a brown woman with neck-length black hair, in her prayer/meditation space in her Boston home. She holds a cup made of copper and has head bowed as multi-colored candles are lit in the space.

“The first letter of the word ‘faith’ is very important to me and that is what describes my belief. For me, ‘f’ stands for flaw. In our sacred book, Bhagwad Geeta , it has been suggested that being human also means being flawed. Lord Krishna says that humans will make mistakes because that is a part of their Karma. A person should not be merely judged by their act, but by the intent behind that act. For example, if a lie is said with an intent of harming someone, it is equivalent to 100 lies, but if that one lie saved an innocent person’s life, then that lie is equivalent to 100 truths. I am not a religious person who goes to the temple every week or worships every day, because religion to me is not an act of worship, but an act of becoming a better person. My faith teaches me to make mistakes, be judgmental, have emotions of anger, but at the same time learn from those mistakes and accept if any wrongdoing was done. Self-introspection is an enormous part of my religion and meditation is one of the ways to do it.”

Kristen Hydinger (STH’15), ordained minister and research fellow, Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute, Baptist

Photo of Rev. Kristen Hydinger, a white woman with brown hair and wearing a blue jacket, walking down a Boston street. Trees and leaves around her reflect Autumn in their color (yellow)

“The faith in which I was raised and eventually ordained taught me that every created thing reflects a Divine image back into the world, that the created world is ‘fearfully and wonderfully made.’ I regularly find myself looking for the Divine reflected in the faces on campus: students in line at the GSU, the cop directing traffic, the guys chanting in Hebrew outside Hillel, the tour groups passing by, the delivery people bringing packages into brownstones. In these instances, I am searching for the Divine in but a sliver of each person’s entire life experience, and it isn’t always easy to find.”

Kristian C. Kohler (STH’25), ordained minister, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Photo of Kristian, a white man wearing a dark green and black plaid shirt, singing in the Marsh Chapel choir.

“As a Lutheran, faith to me is a bold trust in the amazing grace of God. In short, God is love. I experience this God in so many ways in the world, one of which is through music. Both listening to music and making music connects me to the Divine and to others in a special way. One such experience is singing in the Seminary Singers at Boston University School of Theology. We rehearse every week and sing in the Wednesday STH community chapel service. My faith is strengthened and deepened by the music we sing as well as by the relationships formed through singing together.”

Jonathan Allen (LAW’19), BUild Lab Innovator-in-Residence, Interfaith

Photo of Interfaith leader Jonathan Allen sitting on a long stone bench along the Charles River. The sun can be seen peaking from behind the buildings in the background for a scenic photo.

“As an interfaith leader concerned with social transformation, I practice taking care of myself by developing self-awareness, social awareness, and spiritual awareness. Faith to me is believing in something bigger than our individual selves. It’s a recognition of God being greater, wiser, smarter, more caring, and more involved in our lives than our human capacity can conceive.

“Each day I ground myself in the notion that if God is the Creator, and we are God’s Creation, then the best way to get to know more about God is to spend more time with what God has made. I believe that we need each other regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, educational level, religious background, or even political party.

“Irrespective of our religious affirmations, God’s love and heart for justice transcends doctrine. We have an obligation, a collective responsibility, to treat all living things with dignity and respect. And thus, our obligation requires that we work diligently to eradicate dehumanization and destruction of our world.”

Kayla Marks (Pardee’23), Jewish

Photo of Kayla Marks (Pardee’23), a Jewish woman with long brown hair, demonstrating the lighting of one candle and the reciting of a blessing. She holds a lit match as she prepares for the lighting.

“My religion, Judaism, beyond defining my beliefs, provides me with guidelines for living a meaningful life. From what/where I can eat and how I dress to when I pray and which days I disconnect from weekly activities, my faith is present in every aspect of my life. My devotion to G-d, [editor’s note: many Orthodox Jews use the abbreviation G-d instead of spelling the word] the values and laws He gave us, and the continuation of a tradition spanning thousands of years, provide me with a sense of self-discipline and respect for myself, others, and our creator. Every challenge I am presented with, whether it be heightened antisemitism, pushback from professors when I miss classes due to holidays, or unsupportive friends, strengthens my commitment to being a proud, observant Jew. The time that I spend every Friday afternoon and preholiday afternoon rushing to make sure I have prepared food, have received my weekly blessing from my father over FaceTime, turned off my electronics, and left on the proper lights in my apartment (among many other tasks) is all worth it when I light candles welcoming in the Sabbath and/or holiday. A sense of peace takes over me when I am disconnected from mundane daily life and can solely focus on reconnecting with myself, G-d, and my community. Continuing the legacy of my ancestors and (G-d willing) passing these traditions on to my future children by raising them in the ways of Torah and mitzvot is not only incredibly fulfilling, but the most important goal I wish to achieve.”

Explore Related Topics:

Photography
Share this story
13 Comments Add

Photojournalist

Cydney Scott has been a professional photographer since graduating from the Ohio University VisCom program in 1998. She spent 10 years shooting for newspapers, first in upstate New York, then Palm Beach County, Fla., before moving back to her home city of Boston and joining BU Photography. Profile

BU Today staff Profile

Comments & Discussion

Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.

There are 13 comments on Photo Essay: What My Faith Means to Me

Beautifully done Cydney and all!

Thank you for the article. Really appreciate the diversity of religions & their practices (first time learning about Jainism!). Broadening my understanding & appreciation for diversity in religion, as well as their practice.

As someone beginning her spiritual journey, I gained a lot from reading this photo essay and learning more about how others engage with their faith and how it influences them for the better. Thank you for showing me a window into these different lifestyles. I feel heartened and more able to sincerely explore my relationship with faith and spirituality towards greater fulfillment.

This is the best article I’ve ever photo essay I’ve read in some time. Beautiful images that capture the spiritual lives of BU’s community.

Thank you for this great article and touching photos. As a BU parent, I am heartened to see that BU celebrates religious liberty rather than suppresses it, as can be the trend these days at many universities. Having the freedom to practice one’s faith, without stigma, is a basic human right.

Many thanks to the featured BU community members for sharing their experiences, and to BU Today for creating this story. I really enjoyed it!

Tremendous piece—wonderful photos and wonderful essays. Thank you for sharing!

Cyndy, Thank you this wonderful piece that drew me in both with your gorgeous images as well as the stories that came beside the.

Beautiful Spiritual revelations lighting a dark and disturbed world!

When I was a student at B.U. I took Greek and Hebrew at the STH (CLA ’77). I am thrilled to open up the B.U. Website and explore this article by Cyndy Scott. Exploring the faith of B.U. people has broaden my experience. I had not heard of Jainism. Thank you for this. Now, I am an ordained Presbyterian minister now living in Canada. I will share this article with my congregation.

Thank you for such an inspiring and wholesome article. Keep up the amazing work!

I really enjoyed reading through this. I am pentecostal holiness myself. I grew up in the bible-belt (GA). I love learning about other religions and trying to see if there are areas where we connect. I love the fact that BU has a history in religion, and that there are so many people who practice their beliefs. I love reading how their religion(s) help them in their daily lives. #Diversity

Latest from BU Today

Bu student archaeologists headed to peru and hungary this summer, frauds committed against bu students prompt police warning, introducing bu’s newest terriers: khalid karim, video: new terriers asked questions on instagram. we answered., did you win free tickets to see beetlejuice beetlejuice tonight, bu to suspend free room and meals for striking student ras, want to join a club find one at splash tomorrow, a college student’s guide to safer sex: tips from an intimacy coordinator, splash: what it means to me and why you should attend, talent, and scholarships, power boston public school students to bu, hugs, tears, and a lot of pride: parents bid their bu freshmen farewell, the weekender: september 5 to 8, oops terriers share what they forgot to bring, your everything guide to dropping off your freshman at college, introducing bu’s newest terriers: jonathan galdamez, pov: is it ok to stop worrying about covid, “class of 2028: today is the first day of a great adventure”, bu ras begin strike as move-in winds down, how do you run a city of 650,000 residents these terriers have some insights, celebrate labor day weekend and enjoy these local events.

You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site.

Faith Island

How to Apply Your Faith to Everyday Life

For every article I write or every lesson I teach on the subject of faith, I begin by reminding readers/listeners of what faith is. So…

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” ~ Hebrews 11:1

That’s faith—believing and knowing in your heart because you just know it’s the right thing to do.

Knowing what faith is, is one thing. Having faith and putting your faith to work? That’s something else altogether. But today I’m here to tell you that if you say you have faith but aren’t applying that faith in your life, you are lying. Harsh? Maybe. True? Definitely.

Think about it like this: If a man or woman possessing the qualifications and licensures to practice medicine went around calling themselves a doctor but never treated anyone and even refused to help someone in need of emergency care, is that person really a doctor? No. He or she is nothing more than someone with knowledge and potential—or rather, wasted knowledge and potential. The same thing applies to people who say they are Christians but don’t live by faith.

Christians , in the truest sense of the word, are people who:

Believe God is the only and almighty creator and master of the universe.
Believe that Jesus is God’s son in the flesh and that He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, was buried, resurrected back to life, and returned to heaven to be with God.
Believe that the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit, who is basically the conscience of God, is given to us when we accept Jesus as Savior according to scripture (Acts 2:37-38).
Live their lives according to scripture.
Seek God’s will and direction for their life and follow the direction he gives.
Believe and trust in God’s provision, comfort, protection, leadership, and wisdom in ALL things.

How many of those can you check off? Now I’m not saying you won’t ever have doubts, get scared, or hit the panic button and try doing things your way. We all do that and because God made us and knows us so intimately, he expects it to happen. Just like we expect our children to mess up now and then.

If the faith you have is genuine faith, you need to be applying it to all aspects of your life. And here’s how you can do just that:

#1: Your finances

It’s true, you know, what they say about your life-story being told by where you spend your money. So live by faith and tithe first. Even when you don’t think you can, faith says you can.

You can also live out your faith through your finances by giving over and above your tithe, trusting God to stretch your dollars if you want to become a one-income family so Mom can be a stay-at-home-mom, downsizing your house and other expensive non-essentials for the purpose of giving/ministry, and listening to God’s voice calling you to relocate, open your own business, or work less to have more time for family.

#2: Relationships

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen faith in action in my own life and the lives of others when it comes to relationships. The Bible is filled with examples of this as well (Esther, Job, Hannah, Mary, the Shunammite widow, Elijah, Peter, and Paul—to name a few).

Two people I dearly love had a bitter argument that turned into a two-and-a-half-year period of angry silence between them. I prayed non-stop that God would give me the words and opportunities to fix the situation but no matter how hard I prayed, nothing happened. Then one day as I was praying, I heard God say in my heart, “This isn’t yours to fix, but if you just have faith, I’ll fix it for you.”

From that day on I didn’t worry about the situation. It was still painful for me to watch but I knew it wouldn’t last forever. And sure enough, about a year later one of the parties involved decided the loss of the relationship wasn’t worth the pain it was causing and that if he didn’t forgive and move forward, he couldn’t ever be right with God.

Today the two are in a great place because I got out of God’s way and had faith in him to do what he said he would do.

Not all relationships can be fixed. I know that, but I also know that not all relationships should be fixed. When you are in a relationship with someone who is abusive or with someone who is pulling you away from God rather than encouraging you to grow in your faith, you shouldn’t be there. That’s where living by faith comes into play.

Living out your faith when it comes to your relationships happens when you:

Remove yourself from relationships with people you depend on in place of depending on God .
Trust God to take care of you and provide for your needs and safety when you leave an abusive relationship.
Give your rebellious child over to God in faith instead of wallowing in guilt, anger, frustration, and the stress of trying to fix something beyond your ability to fix.
Ask God for the measure of faith you need to forgive deceptions by a spouse, parent, child, or friend for the building up of the relationship.
Step out in faith that God will protect your job situation when you stand for Him at work.
Trust God to do what is ultimately best for you and your loved ones even when His plan isn’t yours.

#3: Your health and daily living

I could write a book on this category. Who knows—maybe I will, because this is where the “rubber meets the road” when it comes to living by faith. This is where it gets personal.

Living your everyday life in such a way that you apply your faith to every situation and circumstance is something that needs to develop into your character rather than something you do once in a while, e.g. when you’ve exhausted every other possibility.

So how does one go about making that happen?

Pray. A lot. When you spend time in prayer asking God for what you need/want and consulting God about the decisions you have to make, faith will grow because when you ask, you receive.
Listen and act. Remember the example of the doctor who was only a doctor in word but not deed? Your faith can’t grow if you don’t act on the answers you ask for and receive. God speaks and God provides the way to go, but He won’t drag you kicking and screaming down the road.
Know He has a reason for everything and that His reason is always in our best interest.
Know that God’s timing is perfect even though we may not understand it… or even like it.
Believe that God ALWAYS has your best interest at heart. And that includes those times when you hear words like “cancer”, “terminal”, “divorce”, “fatal”, “you’re fired” , “bankruptcy”, “foreclosure”, “I hate you”, “addict”, and so many other painful and potentially devastating words.
Your faith grows. When you see faith in action you can’t help but want more action.
Others can’t help but notice. When you live out your faith, people notice. When people notice, your faith and your words are a testimony to the Good News of the Gospel. And when that happens, you have faith in God and are faithful to

Faith is technically a noun, but in reality it is a verb—a call to action.

~ By Darla Noble

Letters From God: Kingship Airlines
Clean Up, Dinner’s Ready
HAVE YOU EMPTIED THE TRASH YET?
What is the Great Commission?
How to Make New Church Members Feel Welcome

, Prince Edward Island is a church where people from all walks of life join to grow in faith.

It’s not easy to live a life of faith in today’s fast-paced world.

That’s why we’ve created a 17-page, 3-part guide to Living By Faith.

Learn about how to strengthen your faith, follow Jesus’ command to love and serve others, and understand how love casts out fear.

Get your free guide by just entering your email address below!

Comments(9)

Chinwe C. Anowai says

How best can one explain biblical parenting and the synergy it has with faith with life examples in countries that are full of chaos?

Benjamin Joseph says

studies on faith lift my spirit and keep me going in Christ

Juliette Mcgill says

I feel so heartbroken and lonely I want to hear from the Lord I want my faith to be stronger I have such depression I cry all the time I don’t know if the Lord hears me I pray all the time I read my Bible my devotionals I don’t know what else to do

If there’s one thing you should know, it’s that God sees all you are doing and appreciates it. In fact, He speaks to you and I’m very sure you’ll hear Him if you will stay still. If you still feel you can’t hear Him, Ask The Holy Spirit to speak to you in such a way that you’ll hear Him clearly. God is most certainly with you

Draughon says

Best way to hear from God is to confess honestly. Read King David;s prayer of confession Psalm 51. I am not Catholic but as a born again Christian I know daily confession keeps me with the Lord so I have peace and His joy. It is essential for me to forgive the people who have wronged me. Also it is essential to give thanks daily. We find Him in our thanksgiving. Thank Him that you can read. Thank Him for enabling you to continue to look for Him. Etc

Been there. Count your blessing. Literally say them out loud so your brain hears them. Reach out to others.

Adong Fiona says

I thank God for this post , I felt it speaking straight to my heart . It’s taught me great values and not to lose trust in God nomatter what comes my way . Thank You, God bless your ministry

person says

how is it used in everyday life

Johane Banda says

I have loved your teachings on faith.i want to learn more and teach others

In this guide, we’ll cover the importance of writing a statement of faith, steps to follow in writing one, tips for crafting an engaging statement, common mistakes to avoid, examples of effective statements, and frequently asked questions about the process.

So, whether you’re a new Christian, a long-time believer, or a pastor leading your congregation through the process, keep reading to learn everything you need to know to write a powerful and meaningful statement of Christian faith.

Table of Contents

Importance of Writing a Statement of Christian Faith

Writing a statement of Christian faith is an essential part of many Christian traditions. A statement of faith outlines your beliefs and values, and it can serve as a powerful tool for personal reflection and growth. It can also be a means of connecting with others who share similar beliefs and values.

For some, writing a statement of faith can be a deeply personal and transformative experience. It forces individuals to contemplate their relationship with God and to articulate their understanding of God’s place in their life. For others, it can be a means of publicly proclaiming their faith and sharing it with others in their community.

Furthermore, a statement of faith can serve as a guide for making important life decisions. By putting into words what you believe and value, you can use your statement of faith as a reference point for staying true to your beliefs in all aspects of your life.

For those in leadership positions in the church or Christian organizations, a statement of faith can be particularly important. It can help to establish a shared understanding of the organization’s values and beliefs and ensure that all members are aligned with the same mission and purpose.

In summary, writing a statement of Christian faith is an important process for individuals and communities alike. It can help to deepen personal faith, connect with others, and provide guidance for important life decisions.

The Significance of Articulating Your Beliefs

Articulating your beliefs in a statement of Christian faith is a crucial step in the life of any Christian. It is a personal declaration of your faith that serves as a roadmap for your spiritual journey. Through your statement, you can reflect on your faith, clarify your beliefs, and create a foundation for your actions and decisions.

Writing your statement of faith can help you to understand your beliefs better and bring them into focus. It allows you to reflect on your personal experiences and the teachings of the Bible, which helps you to articulate what you believe and why you believe it. In turn, this can help you to live a more purposeful life as a Christian.

Articulating your beliefs can also be a way to strengthen your relationship with God. By expressing your faith in writing, you can gain a deeper understanding of the nature of God and His plan for your life. This can lead to a more profound and meaningful connection with Him.

Clarify your beliefs and values
Strengthen your relationship with God
Live a more purposeful life

As you write your statement of Christian faith, remember that it is a personal reflection of your beliefs. It is a way to honor God and the unique way He has worked in your life. In the following sections, we will discuss the steps you can take to craft a statement of faith that is authentic, meaningful, and true to who you are as a Christian.

The Role of a Statement of Christian Faith in Personal and Community Settings

A statement of Christian faith serves as a personal declaration of one’s beliefs and values. It helps individuals identify and articulate what they believe, and why they believe it, serving as a foundation for their spiritual journey.

In community settings, a statement of Christian faith can promote unity and understanding among members. It can help to clarify the beliefs and values that a community shares and guide them in decision-making and action.

A statement of Christian faith can also serve as a tool for evangelism, providing an opportunity to share one’s beliefs with others and explain the gospel message in a clear and concise manner.

Furthermore, a statement of Christian faith can be a source of comfort and inspiration during difficult times, reminding individuals of the hope and promises that their faith provides.

In summary, a statement of Christian faith plays an essential role in both personal and community settings, providing a foundation for one’s beliefs and values and promoting unity and understanding among members.

Benefits of Having a Well-Crafted Statement of Christian Faith

A well-crafted Statement of Christian Faith can have significant benefits for individuals and communities alike. Below are three ways in which having a clear and thoughtfully written statement can be beneficial:

Provides a foundation for personal beliefs: Crafting a statement of faith can help individuals clarify their beliefs and provide a foundation for their personal faith journey.
Strengthens community connections: A shared statement of faith can bring together a community of believers and create a sense of unity.
Communicates values to outsiders: A well-written statement of faith can help outsiders understand the beliefs and values of a particular community or denomination.

By crafting a well-written Statement of Christian Faith, individuals and communities can reap the benefits of a clear and articulate declaration of their beliefs and values.

Steps to Follow in Writing a Statement of Christian Faith

Step 1: Reflect on your beliefs. Spend some time reflecting on your faith and what it means to you. Think about what values and principles you hold dear and how they have impacted your life.

Step 2: Consider your audience. Think about who will be reading your statement of faith. Will it be a personal document or something you share with a larger community? This will help you tailor your writing to the appropriate audience.

Step 3: Write a draft. Start writing down your thoughts and beliefs in a rough draft. Don’t worry about making it perfect at this stage – just get your ideas down on paper.

Step 4: Edit and refine. Once you have a draft, go back through and edit your writing. Refine your language, clarify your points, and ensure that your statement is concise and well-organized.

Reflecting on Your Beliefs and Experiences

Before beginning to write your statement of Christian faith, it is important to take time to reflect on your personal beliefs and experiences. Take some time to consider the things you value most about your faith and the moments that have impacted your spiritual journey.

Reflecting on your beliefs and experiences can help you identify key themes and ideas that you want to include in your statement. It can also help you to articulate your beliefs in a clear and meaningful way.

Consider writing down your thoughts and reflections in a journal or notebook. This can be a helpful exercise as you begin to organize your thoughts and ideas for your statement.

Remember that your statement of Christian faith is a personal reflection of your beliefs and experiences. Take time to prayerfully consider what you want to include and how you want to communicate your faith to others.

Identifying Key Themes and Values

Once you have reflected on your beliefs and experiences, the next step is to identify key themes and values that you want to articulate in your statement of faith. Consider the following:

Biblical principles: What principles and teachings from the Bible are most important to you?
Personal values: What personal values guide your life and your faith?
Theology: What theological beliefs are most significant to you?

As you consider these questions, try to identify specific examples or experiences that illustrate these themes and values. This can help to make your statement of faith more concrete and personal.

Tips for Crafting an Engaging Statement of Christian Faith

Be clear and concise: Your statement should be easy to understand and communicate your beliefs in a straightforward manner. Avoid using complex language or jargon.

Use personal anecdotes: Share personal stories and experiences to illustrate your beliefs and make your statement more relatable.

Consider your audience: Think about who will be reading your statement and tailor it to their needs and interests. Make it relevant and engaging to them.

Use scripture and quotes: Incorporate relevant scripture passages and quotes from Christian leaders to support your beliefs and add depth to your statement.

Revise and edit: Take time to review and refine your statement. Ask for feedback from others and make necessary revisions to ensure it is well-crafted and effective.

Using Personal Stories and Examples to Illustrate Your Beliefs

One effective way to craft an engaging statement of Christian faith is to use personal stories and examples to illustrate your beliefs. Personal stories allow others to see how your faith has impacted your life and provide context for your beliefs. For example, you could share a story about how a particular Bible verse helped you through a difficult time.

Another way to illustrate your beliefs is to use examples from your life or the lives of others. For instance, you could describe a time when you saw God at work in the world or share how a friend’s faith inspired you. These examples help bring your beliefs to life and make them more relatable.

When sharing personal stories and examples, it’s important to be vulnerable and honest. Don’t be afraid to share moments of doubt or struggle, as these can make your faith journey more compelling. Additionally, try to use language that is inclusive and inviting, so that people from all walks of life can relate to your beliefs.

Remember, the goal of sharing personal stories and examples is not to boast or impress others, but to inspire and connect with them on a deeper level. By using these tools, you can craft a statement of Christian faith that is engaging, authentic, and meaningful to others.

Writing in a Clear and Concise Manner

One of the most important aspects of crafting a statement of Christian faith is to communicate your beliefs in a clear and concise manner. Clarity ensures that your message is easily understood, while conciseness ensures that it is not unnecessarily long-winded or repetitive.

To achieve clarity, use simple and straightforward language, avoid overly technical terms, and provide sufficient context for your beliefs. Avoid using jargon or phrases that may be misunderstood by those outside your faith community. Similarly, avoid repeating the same ideas or beliefs in multiple ways, as this can lead to confusion and detract from the impact of your message.

Conciseness is achieved by focusing on the most important aspects of your beliefs, and avoiding unnecessary details or tangents. It is also important to be mindful of the length of your statement, as overly long statements can be overwhelming for readers and may detract from the impact of your message. Consider using bullet points or subheadings to break up your text and make it more easily digestible.


Ensures that your message is easily understood	Using technical terms or jargon that may be misunderstood	Use simple and straightforward language, provide context for your beliefs
Ensures that your message is not unnecessarily long-winded or repetitive	Repeating the same ideas or beliefs in multiple ways	Focus on the most important aspects of your beliefs, avoid unnecessary details or tangents
Makes your statement more easily digestible for readers	Writing an overly long statement	Use bullet points or subheadings to break up your text, be mindful of the length of your statement

In summary, writing in a clear and concise manner is essential to crafting an engaging statement of Christian faith. By focusing on the most important aspects of your beliefs and communicating them in a simple and straightforward manner, you can ensure that your message is easily understood and impactful.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Statement of Christian Faith

Lack of clarity: It’s important to ensure that your statement is clear and easy to understand. Avoid using overly technical language or abstract concepts that may confuse readers.

Focusing on theology at the expense of personal experience: While theology is an important aspect of any statement of faith, it’s equally important to include personal stories and experiences that illustrate how your faith has impacted your life.

Ignoring the audience: When crafting your statement, it’s important to consider your audience. Tailor your language and examples to resonate with those who will be reading your statement.

Focusing Too Much on Technical Language and Jargon

One common mistake that people make when writing a statement of Christian faith is focusing too much on technical language and jargon. While it is important to be precise and clear in your language, using too much technical terminology can make your statement difficult for others to understand.

Remember that your statement of faith is meant to communicate your beliefs to others, not impress them with your knowledge of theology. Using plain language and avoiding technical jargon can help you to connect with a wider audience and ensure that your message is understood by all who read it.

If you feel that technical language is necessary to express a particular idea or concept, take the time to define the term and explain it in simpler terms. This will help ensure that your message is clear and accessible to everyone who reads your statement.

Not Being Authentic in Your Writing

Authenticity is key when it comes to writing a statement of Christian faith. Avoid copying what others have written or trying to sound overly impressive. Speak from your heart, and write in your own voice. Your statement should reflect your unique experiences, beliefs, and values.

Avoiding Vulnerability can also prevent authenticity in your writing. Don’t be afraid to share personal stories and experiences that have shaped your faith. Vulnerability can help connect you to your readers and make your statement more impactful.

Focusing Too Much on Perfection can also hinder authenticity. Remember that your statement does not have to be perfect, nor does it have to be a comprehensive summary of your entire faith journey. Focus on expressing your beliefs and values in an honest and authentic way.

Examples of Effective Statements of Christian Faith

Example 1: “I believe in the one true God who created the universe and all that is within it. I believe in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead, and in the Holy Spirit, who guides me in my daily life. I seek to live out my faith through acts of love, mercy, and justice, and to share the message of God’s grace with others.”

Example 2: “My faith is rooted in the belief that God is love, and that all people are created in God’s image and are deserving of dignity and respect. I strive to live out this belief by seeking justice for marginalized communities and by loving my neighbor as myself. I find strength and guidance in prayer, scripture, and community.”

Example 3: “As a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe in the power of forgiveness and redemption. I seek to live a life of humility and service, following Christ’s example of selflessness and sacrifice. I am committed to loving God with all my heart, soul, and mind, and to loving my neighbor as myself.”

Example 4: “My faith is grounded in the belief that God is present in all aspects of creation, and that all people are called to be co-creators with God in building a more just and compassionate world. I am inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and seek to follow his example of love, compassion, and service.”

Example 5: “I believe in the transforming power of God’s love and grace. I seek to live out this belief by loving and serving others, and by working towards a world where all people are valued and respected. I find strength and guidance in prayer, scripture, and community, and strive to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Statement of Faith Example: Personal Testimony and Values

As a follower of Jesus Christ, my faith is deeply rooted in my personal experiences and values. One of the most significant experiences in my faith journey was when I realized my need for a savior and accepted Jesus Christ into my life.

My core values are based on the teachings of Christ, such as love, forgiveness, and service to others. I believe that God created each of us with a unique purpose, and it is our responsibility to discover and fulfill that purpose with the gifts and talents He has given us.

Through my faith, I have learned the importance of seeking God’s will and living a life that honors Him. I strive to reflect His love and grace to others, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of a community of believers who support and encourage each other in our journey of faith.

Statement of Faith Example: Community Outreach and Social Justice

Community: As a Christian, I believe in the importance of building a strong and supportive community. I believe in the power of coming together to lift each other up and make a positive impact in our world.

Outreach: I am passionate about outreach and serving others, especially those who are marginalized and oppressed. I believe that as followers of Christ, it is our duty to serve and love our neighbors in practical ways.

Social Justice: I believe that social justice is an essential part of living out my faith. I am committed to working towards a more just and equitable society, and I believe that this work is central to the message of the gospel.

Statement of Faith Example: Theological Beliefs and Doctrines

As a Christian, I believe in the trinity , which means that there is one God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I believe in the infallibility of the Bible as the Word of God, which teaches that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. I believe in the resurrection of the dead and eternal life for those who put their trust in Christ.

My faith is founded on the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only way to salvation. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again on the third day. I believe that through faith in Him, we can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God.

I also believe in the importance of living a life that reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ. This includes loving our neighbors as ourselves, serving others, and sharing the good news of the gospel. I believe that the Holy Spirit enables us to live a life that is pleasing to God and empowers us to do His will.

Frequently Asked Questions About Writing a Statement of Christian Faith

What is a statement of Christian faith?

A statement of Christian faith is a personal or communal declaration of beliefs, values, and experiences that shape an individual or a community’s understanding of Christianity and their relationship with God.

Who should write a statement of Christian faith?

Anyone who identifies as a Christian and wants to articulate their beliefs and experiences can write a statement of Christian faith. It can be written by individuals, families, or communities of faith.

How long should a statement of Christian faith be?

There is no set length for a statement of Christian faith. It can be a few sentences or several pages long. The length depends on the writer’s goals, audience, and personal or communal experiences.

What are some tips for writing an effective statement of Christian faith?

Some tips for writing an effective statement of Christian faith include focusing on personal experiences, using clear and concise language, avoiding technical jargon, being authentic, and seeking feedback from others.

How can a statement of Christian faith be used?

A statement of Christian faith can be used for personal reflection and growth, as a tool for sharing one’s beliefs and values with others, as a way to connect with a community of faith, or as a means of discerning one’s call to ministry.

What Should I Include in My Statement of Christian Faith?

When crafting your statement of Christian faith, it is important to include your personal beliefs and experiences that have shaped your faith. This can include your understanding of the Bible, the teachings of Jesus, and the role of the church in your life.

You may also want to include any spiritual practices that are important to you, such as prayer, meditation, or participating in religious ceremonies or rituals. It can also be helpful to articulate your beliefs about the afterlife and your understanding of salvation.

Ultimately, your statement of Christian faith should reflect your unique relationship with God and your understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ. Don’t be afraid to be honest and vulnerable about your struggles and doubts, as well as your joys and blessings.

How Long Should My Statement of Christian Faith Be?

The length of your statement of Christian faith can vary, but it is generally recommended to keep it concise and focused. It should be long enough to express your beliefs and values clearly, but not so long that it becomes tedious or overwhelming to read.

Most statements of faith are between 500 and 1000 words, but some may be shorter or longer depending on the individual and the purpose of the statement. If you are writing a statement of faith for a specific purpose, such as for a job application or ministry opportunity, be sure to follow any guidelines or requirements provided by the organization.

Remember, the most important thing is not the length of your statement, but the authenticity and clarity of your beliefs. Focus on expressing your faith in a way that is meaningful and impactful to yourself and others.

Do I Need to Consult with a Pastor or Theologian Before Writing My Statement of Christian Faith?

While it is not necessary to consult with a pastor or theologian before writing your statement of Christian faith, it can be helpful to do so. They can provide guidance and feedback to ensure that your statement accurately reflects your beliefs and aligns with the teachings of Christianity.

Consulting with a pastor or theologian can also help you gain a deeper understanding of the theological concepts and doctrines that are central to your faith. This can lead to a stronger and more coherent statement that effectively conveys your beliefs to others.

Ultimately, the decision to consult with a pastor or theologian is up to you. If you feel confident in your ability to write a strong statement on your own, then you may not feel the need to seek outside help. However, if you have any doubts or concerns, it may be worthwhile to reach out to a trusted spiritual advisor for guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it important to write a statement of christian faith.

Writing a statement of Christian faith is an important way to clarify your own beliefs and share them with others. It can also help you to articulate your values and convictions, and to identify areas where you may need further growth or study.

Some tips for writing an effective statement of Christian faith include: being authentic and honest about your beliefs and experiences, using clear and accessible language, focusing on the most important aspects of your faith, and seeking feedback and guidance from others.

There is no set length for a statement of Christian faith, but it should be long enough to clearly articulate your beliefs and values. It’s generally a good idea to keep it concise and focused, avoiding unnecessary technical language or extraneous details.

Do I need to have a deep understanding of theology to write a statement of Christian faith?

While a deep understanding of theology can be helpful in writing a statement of Christian faith, it is not necessarily required. What is most important is that you are honest about your beliefs and experiences, and that you use clear and accessible language to communicate your values and convictions.

How can I use my statement of Christian faith in my personal and spiritual life?

Your statement of Christian faith can serve as a guidepost for your personal and spiritual life, reminding you of your core values and beliefs. You can use it as a basis for prayer and reflection, and as a tool for seeking feedback and guidance from others in your community of faith.

Craving More Content?

Read our latest blog posts

What really happened to family christian stores.

Christian bookstores have always been a haven for Christians, offering them access to literature that caters to their spiritual growth. However, Family Christian Stores, the largest…

How to Get an ID Card at Trinity Christian College: A Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to Trinity Christian College, where you’ll find a vibrant community of learners that takes pride in its traditions and student life. If you’re new to…

What Christians Think About Immigration: Insights from the Church

Welcome to our blog post exploring the Christian perspective on one of the most debated issues of our time – immigration. This topic has been at…

24/7 writing help on your phone

To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”

My Personal Experience of Faith In God

Save to my list

Remove from my list

My Personal Experience of Faith In God. (2019, Aug 20). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/my-personal-experience-of-faith-in-god-essay

"My Personal Experience of Faith In God." StudyMoose , 20 Aug 2019, https://studymoose.com/my-personal-experience-of-faith-in-god-essay

StudyMoose. (2019). My Personal Experience of Faith In God . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/my-personal-experience-of-faith-in-god-essay [Accessed: 8 Sep. 2024]

"My Personal Experience of Faith In God." StudyMoose, Aug 20, 2019. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://studymoose.com/my-personal-experience-of-faith-in-god-essay

"My Personal Experience of Faith In God," StudyMoose , 20-Aug-2019. [Online]. Available: https://studymoose.com/my-personal-experience-of-faith-in-god-essay. [Accessed: 8-Sep-2024]

StudyMoose. (2019). My Personal Experience of Faith In God . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/my-personal-experience-of-faith-in-god-essay [Accessed: 8-Sep-2024]

Exploring the Depths of Faith: A Personal Narrative on My Belief in God Pages: 3 (719 words)
Joseph and His Faith In God Pages: 11 (3166 words)
Faith In God in Shadows by Lawrence Pages: 3 (631 words)
Mankind's Unconditional Faith and Trust in God Pages: 1 (283 words)
Faith in God Prevails Failure Pages: 3 (690 words)
One Man's Discovery of Love and Faith in God Pages: 2 (512 words)
My Faith in God: A Profound Connection Pages: 2 (538 words)
Life Experience With God Pages: 5 (1328 words)
Experience God's Artistry in Nature for Sustainable Beauty Pages: 4 (1093 words)
Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God: Plot, Themes, Characters, Structure, and Personal Opinion Pages: 9 (2573 words)

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

Counting My Blessings

At the Intersection of Faith and Life

5 Simple Prayers When You Want Stronger Faith

Sharing is caring!

What do you do when you want stronger faith? Here are five words, verses, and prayers to focus your heart and mind and grow closer to God through faith.

If you’re a frequent visitor here, you know the five words I use to describe faith (SEEK, KNOW, LOVE, TRUST, & OBEY). They are essential if growing stronger faith is our heart’s desire.

David wrote…

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4

And Isaiah wrote…

Lord, we show our trust in You by obeying Your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify Your name. In the night I search for You; in the morning I earnestly seek You. Isaiah 26:8–9a

Receiving Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior is just the beginning … like all great relationships, our closeness to the Lord grows when we spend time with Him. That’s SEEKing Him!

And Jesus promised that when we SEEK the Kingdom of God above all else, He will give us everything we need.

So, when you and I want stronger faith, we start by SEEKing with a desire to KNOW the Lord, His will, and things that are important to Him. Then we ask Him to work in us through the power of His Spirit.

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Philippians 2:13

I’ve listed the five words and verses for growing stronger faith along with simple prayers to go with them…

Verses and Prayers to Help You Grow Stronger Faith

It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Father, I often think of the father in the Bible, who said, “I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.” I can relate to his prayer. I want a faith that never doubts but when life’s struggles are hard to understand and the enemy taunts me with lies … my mind is filled with questions that have no worldly answers. That’s when I need to SEEK You. It’s when I need to search Your Word because it tells me about TRUSTing Jesus. And it’s when I need to pray and invite Your Spirit to speak to my heart. By the power of Your Spirit, please make SEEKing You my greatest desire. I want to KNOW You. Amen.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10

Father God, I want to KNOW You as You desire. People have created many ideas and opinions making You who they say You are rather than who You have told us You are. I want to KNOW everything You want me to KNOW about You. I want to experience the peace that passes understanding confident that I have been forgiven and that You are with me. I want to KNOW who You say I am and live with the confidence that You will help me do whatever You ask because Your Son and my Savior, Jesus, will give me the strength I need. Please fill me with Your Spirit and give me the wisdom to KNOW You and Your will. Amen.

Jesus replied, “’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37–38

Lord, Please help me LOVE You completely. The world tells me I need prestige, power, and possessions to have worth and value. But Your Word tells me those things are temporary and that we are just stewards of this world’s resources. I want to care for and use the blessings You have entrusted to me in ways that honor You and show my love for You. With Your help, I surrender my all to You, please help me live every moment mindful of Your presence and living for Your glory. Amen.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5–6

Father, I believe You are who You say You are. I believe Jesus is my Lord and Savior and the Spirit is with and within me. I trust You for my eternal future but sometimes amid daily frustrations and confusing messages, I lose my focus. Please forgive me and help me. I know You want so much more for me. So, I surrender myself to Your care and ask You to help me trust You completely. Please guide me along the path You have prepared for me and give me the courage and strength I need to follow where You lead fully trusting Your presence and love. Amen.

Lord, we show our trust in You by obeying Your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify Your name. Isaiah 26:8

Gracious Lord, You inspired Isaiah to write these powerful words. I want to show my love for and trust in You by obeying Your commands to love to love You and my neighbor. Your Word tells me that … Love conquers. Love heals. Love unites. Love restores. Love forgives. Love saves. Your love has done all of those things and more for me. Thank you for loving me and making it possible for me to love You. I do love You, Lord. My greatest desire is to trust and obey You living my life for Your glory . Please help me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

I don’t believe there will ever be a time, this side of heaven, when I won’t want stronger faith. I want to have deep roots in the soil of God’s love giving me the strength I need to live for His glory.

I invite you to pray these prayers often and ask God to help you SEEK, KNOW, LOVE, TRUST, and OBEY Him.

We would love to pray for you. You can leave your prayer requests here …

and even take a few minutes to pray over the list left by our friends.

Never Miss an Update

Leave your email address and I’ll send you a short email every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to alert you to each new devotion. Plus you’ll receive a copy of 30 Ways to Bless Your Marriage and Keep the Spark Burning

Type your email…

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi” and share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…

Thanks again for visiting! Don’t forget to check out the links below to find additional posts that will bless you…

What Is God: My Personal Faith Reflection

Category: Religion , Life
Topic: God , Self Reflection

Pages: 1 (641 words)

Downloads: -->

--> ⚠️ Remember: This essay was written and uploaded by an--> click here.

Found a great essay sample but want a unique one?

are ready to help you with your essay

You won’t be charged yet!

Suffering Essays

Passion Essays

Loneliness Essays

Nostalgia Essays

Tolerance Essays

Related Essays

We are glad that you like it, but you cannot copy from our website. Just insert your email and this sample will be sent to you.

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Your essay sample has been sent.

In fact, there is a way to get an original essay! Turn to our writers and order a plagiarism-free paper.

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->

100-Word Faith Stories: (Very) short essays about unexpectedly experiencing God in the world today

Most popular

The latest from america

Christian Faith: Ancient Religion Essay

Spiritual Growth and Christian Living Resources

What Is Faith and Why Is it Important?

What Does the Bible Say About Faith?

Where Does Faith Come From?

What’s the Difference Between Faith and Belief?

5 Examples of People in the Bible Who Had Faith

How to Grow in Faith

How Do We Live by Faith and Not By Sight?

How to Keep the Faith in Times of Trouble

Recently On Spiritual Life

Editor's Picks

Popular Today

Essay on Faith | Faith Essay for Students and Children in English

Long and Short Essays on Faith for Students and Kids in English

Long Essay on Faith 500 Words in English

Short Essay on Faith 150 Words in English

10 Lines on Faith in English

FAQ’s on Faith Essay

What Is Faith and Why Is It So Important?

But exactly what is faith ?

What Is Faith?

Faith Is Believing In God’s Character

Faith Is Believing In God’s Promises

Why Is Faith So Important?

Helpful Tools and Resources on Christian Foundations

We Don’t Rely On The Strength Of Our Faith

Our faith is in God and only God.

Who Is A Child of God? Key Questions Answered

What Is Baptism and Why Does It Matter?

Related Articles and Sermons on Faith

Believing Is Seeing (1646)

CONNECT WITH LWF

How Does the Bible Define Faith?

What Is Faith?

Faith Defined

Why We Need Faith

How to Get Faith

Essay on Faith

Introduction

Understanding Faith

Historical Perspectives on Faith

The Role of Faith in Religion

Faith in Everyday Life

Challenges to Faith

Benefits of Faith

The Power of Faith

Viktor Frankl’s Search for Meaning

Mother Teresa’s Compassionate Mission

Critiques and Controversies

My Journey towards Faith

The Importance of Faith: Conclusion

Did you find this material to be helpful?

Join Our Mailing List

My Latest Book

Recent Posts

PBT Podcast

Social Media Links

Browse the Archives

What Is Faith? Definition, Biblical Examples, And How To Have Faith In Christianity

Last Updated:

Understanding the Biblical definition of faith

What does faith in God mean?

The Importance of Faith in Christianity

Examples of faith in the Bible

How to develop and strengthen your faith in God

Different Types Of Faith

The Role of Faith in Daily Christian Life

Faith and Doubt: Overcoming Obstacles to Faith

The Impact of Faith on personal growth and spiritual development

Common Misconceptions About Faith

Conclusion: Embracing faith in your Christian journey

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I have enough faith?

How do I increase my faith?

What is the difference between faith and hope?

Similar Posts