Why Defend Faith?

[starlightfound]

Hi Amanda! Welcome to Worthy! I'm a little confused as to your definition of faith and belief. Are you saying faith comes only from what we've experienced, and belief is something we think but don't know for sure? I'm just trying to get straight in my mind where you're coming from !

Hi there! Thank you for the welcome.

Sorry if my last post was confusing... but nope, that's not what I meant by faith. I'll try to explain:

When you find God you no longer have to believe, because you know God. Faith (openness to truth) can help lead one to this realization, but it can also be an incidental effect of knowing God (because sometimes God finds you whether or not you are open to it.).

For me it was a mix of both. It was openness to truth that lead to my experience of finding God, but I would say I have become much more open to truth since I came to know God.

I hope that makes sense. ^^

[zecha51]

Starlight don't take this the wrong way, but you tend to discredit "belief" when it can serve the same purpose of faith.

"For God so loved the World, that He sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,

but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"You are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus." -Galations 3:26

So there can basically be faith and belief in the same definition, or belief in a totally other way of looking at it. Do you see

what I am saying. These two scriptures are in agreement. The belief is just different than the type of belief you were talking about. On an aside, it takes more than intellectual faith in Jesus to be saved. It is really beliving in His person and His sin sacrifice that paid for our sins. : )

[hupo]

As you can probably guess, the subtitle of this board, "Defending The Faith" inspired this thread.

My question is this: Why does one feel the need to defend his or her faith? Isn't trust the very definition of faith? If so, isn't faith the armor and not that which needs protecting? Why would one need to protect his shield?

To have faith is to trust in the truth, whatever that truth may turn out to be; it is openness. Nothing can challenge or destroy true faith, because nothing can challenge or destroy the truth.

Belief, on the other hand, seems to me to be in opposition of faith. Belief is conviction of what one thinks is the truth, and rejection of all else. Beliefs can be shaken and destroyed, because convictions can change over time.

The more you cling to beliefs and protect them, the less open you are to other possible truths. When you let go of your convictions and instead rely on faith -- true faith -- there is no longer anything to defend.

Peace and Love be with you.

-Amanda

I'm glad you asked this question, a question that keeps coming up for me every so often.

After many debates (with myself mainly) I am at the place that says it isn't realy defending the faith.

The truth doesn't need defending.

All our arguments, thoughts, deeds, actions and theories will not make the slightest dent in the TRUTH !

The truth is the truth whether we know it or not.

So what about the defending of the faith?

My feeling is we need the discussion as part of our fellowship with each other. I mean, one of the most common ways of communication is by discussion, verbaly or in writing. How else can we fullfill God's two main requests: To love Him with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves?

Without communication we wouldn't even know our neighbor exists! As for the topic of discussion. It is one that directs us to God's path, rather than discussion the weather (with all due respect to the weather of course)

God bless

[systemstrike_7]

I used to be an atheist. If no one would have defended the faith, I honestly doubt I would have ever come to the faith. At the time, I just found so many things wrong. Yes, understanding the faith is merely the first (and small) step to Jesus, but it is a much-needed step just the same. If the folks here on worthy, the christian scholars, my believing professors, and of course my own desire to prove the Christian faith wrong then I probably never would have came to believe, at least not anytime in the near future.

So, as you can see, in today's day and age the Christian faith does depend upon a good defense. I also believe it is time for some long-held beliefs to be looked at more closely and maybe reconsidered. But a good defense is much needed, and will be greatly appreciated by alot of people when they look in the eyes of God on judgement day (and this includes me).

[MorningGlory]

I used to be an atheist. If no one would have defended the faith, I honestly doubt I would have ever come to the faith. At the time, I just found so many things wrong. Yes, understanding the faith is merely the first (and small) step to Jesus, but it is a much-needed step just the same. If the folks here on worthy, the christian scholars, my believing professors, and of course my own desire to prove the Christian faith wrong then I probably never would have came to believe, at least not anytime in the near future.

So, as you can see, in today's day and age the Christian faith does depend upon a good defense. I also believe it is time for some long-held beliefs to be looked at more closely and maybe reconsidered. But a good defense is much needed, and will be greatly appreciated by alot of people when they look in the eyes of God on judgement day (and this includes me).

Very well said, Systemstrike. I am so happy that you are where you are now.

[undone]

I used to be an atheist. If no one would have defended the faith, I honestly doubt I would have ever come to the faith. At the time, I just found so many things wrong. Yes, understanding the faith is merely the first (and small) step to Jesus, but it is a much-needed step just the same. If the folks here on worthy, the christian scholars, my believing professors, and of course my own desire to prove the Christian faith wrong then I probably never would have came to believe, at least not anytime in the near future.

So, as you can see, in today's day and age the Christian faith does depend upon a good defense. I also believe it is time for some long-held beliefs to be looked at more closely and maybe reconsidered. But a good defense is much needed, and will be greatly appreciated by alot of people when they look in the eyes of God on judgement day (and this includes me).

Very well said, Systemstrike. I am so happy that you are where you are now.

Systemstrike, have you posted your testimony?

[systemstrike_7]

I used to be an atheist. If no one would have defended the faith, I honestly doubt I would have ever come to the faith. At the time, I just found so many things wrong. Yes, understanding the faith is merely the first (and small) step to Jesus, but it is a much-needed step just the same. If the folks here on worthy, the christian scholars, my believing professors, and of course my own desire to prove the Christian faith wrong then I probably never would have came to believe, at least not anytime in the near future.

So, as you can see, in today's day and age the Christian faith does depend upon a good defense. I also believe it is time for some long-held beliefs to be looked at more closely and maybe reconsidered. But a good defense is much needed, and will be greatly appreciated by alot of people when they look in the eyes of God on judgement day (and this includes me).

Very well said, Systemstrike. I am so happy that you are where you are now.

Systemstrike, have you posted your testimony?

Haha, well this past year has been a little hectic for me spiritually. I'm afraid it would take up the entirety of my day if I decided to write the novel that is my testimony. I'm sure I'll get around to it at some point. I feel I owe to this board. I've given it hell since I showed up.

[MeCajunboy]

As you can probably guess, the subtitle of this board, "Defending The Faith" inspired this thread.

My question is this: Why does one feel the need to defend his or her faith? Isn't trust the very definition of faith? If so, isn't faith the armor and not that which needs protecting? Why would one need to protect his shield?

To have faith is to trust in the truth, whatever that truth may turn out to be; it is openness. Nothing can challenge or destroy true faith, because nothing can challenge or destroy the truth.

Belief, on the other hand, seems to me to be in opposition of faith. Belief is conviction of what one thinks is the truth, and rejection of all else. Beliefs can be shaken and destroyed, because convictions can change over time.

The more you cling to beliefs and protect them, the less open you are to other possible truths. When you let go of your convictions and instead rely on faith -- true faith -- there is no longer anything to defend.

Peace and Love be with you.

-Amanda

Blessings Amanda, Some very good points you have made here. I'm afraid if faith were all black and white we would have no problems and there would be no need to defend our faith. Unfortunately, we have many who contort or confuse others with God's word and if we don't correct or defend the truth of God's word, much will be lost in the confusion. Example: We now have a tremendous Homosexual movement in our country. These people are as human as you and I except that they depend on the facts in the Bible that "God loves all mankind" to stand on their "faith" and even have the gall to also state that they have morals, by reminding us that they pay taxes, they heal the sick, they go to work, they pass the laws, so why can't they have the same rights as we do since we are all equal. Now, do you see what can happen with a simple statement, and how it can be used by the enemy to gain momentum in the world. Yet, with all their self-righteous pompass sandbagging, they will still not be allowed the "keys" to Heaven. And somehow .......I THINK THEY ALREADY KNOW THIS! Just as the aethiest does!

[Phostenix]

Systemstrike, have you posted your testimony?

How 'bout this:

God pursued me.

He caught me.

Now I'm free.

[hupo]

Systemstrike, have you posted your testimony?

How 'bout this:

God pursued me.

He caught me.

Now I'm free.

he he he STP, I like it