I've heard this question many a time, from believers and non-belivers alike.
Before I share my thoughts on this question, I point you to a post I published in response to the novel by C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity. This post explains the basis for having any sort of faith at all: Atheism is Too Simple .
Reflect on the point of the standard humanity acknowledges. One reason I believe in a deeper purpose for living-a higher calling for human beings-is because of the presence of a higher standard in this world. This argument, often used in favor of the existence of God, is called the Argument of the Moral Law and is discussed in depth in Mere Christianity and referenced in Francis Collins', The Language of God. We, as humans, acknowledge a higher standard that shows our souls admit to a concept of right and wrong, and if each of us is honest, we all break this standard with astounding regularity. This is what I'm referring to when I type of my brokenness and imperfections, because it is so clear to me that I break this universally grasped concept of a moral code. I daily fail to live up to such a code.
Now, questions have been raised as to whether or not this code applies to only humans, if the Moral Code is an intrinsic quality of being human, or if this idea of a Moral Code is a mere evolutionary product of cultural tradition, but I do not have the time or will to go into all of that here. In the future I will address such questions, but that is for another time.
In order to continue on, we will consider this quote:
'If there is no right and wrong, then there is no reason to argue for the discipline of ethics in the first place'. -Francis Collins
Because I believe not only in the existence of a God-ordained standard but in arguing for the discipline of the ethics of such a code, we will take the stance that a Moral Law exists and that every human being stands in violation of it.
What hope, then, is there for the condemned?
Enter faith.
Another word for the hope Christians have in Jesus Christ is solution. We believe we are broken. We believe we need fixing. Thankfully, we believe we have a Savior. Strong arguments can be made regarding what makes Jesus so unique, what makes His story a credible one, and what causes believers to follow Him (aside from being raised to do so), but again, I have not the time to deeply discuss those points here. For further reading on such questions, I direct you to a novel by perhaps the best theologian in history N.T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God.
There is reason to have a faith in Jesus. To those who may argue it is a psychological crutch, I argue this: if faith is merely a psychological crutch, then it must have a breaking point. However, if faith is a power-a strong, unexplainable, spiritual force-then it must have the potential to stand forever. It faith consists of unfaltering stuff, then the parts that make it up must prove to hold up. Faith in Jesus is founded in virtues-the attributes of love-such as hope, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and the like, all of which are not only powerful but lasting, as they can never cease to exist.
Perhaps Christians do have a great need for a Savior-we need a crutch to hold us up-but thankfully our faith is not in sinking sand. As Charles Spurgeon says,
'I have a great need for Christ. I have a great Christ for my needs'.Many view the religious as weak, thus we make up an idea to bring us strength. This is true, to some extent, but it is not merely an idea. Faith is indeed the shoulder I lean on, but what gives it significance is the truth behind it and the basis for belief in it. Christians are weak-but the joy of the Lord is our strength, and His love endures forever.
There is one more aspect to all of this, and it is the focus of grace. Being a Christian means to accept grace. The entire foundation of our faith is in admitting our flaws. Before grace can be accepted, the need for grace must first be acknowledged. In confession-simply bringing darkness to light-redemption is able to come.
This is what hope is. This is what having faith in the unseen means. Christians are broken, but we have a hope that we can be made whole. We believe in the potential of beauty, but we believe it must come from somewhere outside of ourselves, because, as mentioned earlier, we fail to achieve perfection on our own. We cannot meet the high standard of God, unless He reaches down to bring us up to His holy level. Grace upon grace.
Faith is not wishful thinking. Faith is withstanding truth.
His love does not exist because we want it to. God exists whether we want Him to or not. Humans have a yearning for faith instilled inside each of us, and when we trust in our faith-when we trust in Christ-we experience healing, restoration, and satisfaction.
One of my dear friends and girls from a bible study Amy has published a beautifully written and honest post regarding this idea as a crutch in the form of faith, and I encourage you to read it for further thoughts and discussion: God is for the Weak .
In the future I will discuss specific reason for belief in Jesus as the Christ, but for today this is where we end. Thank you for reading.
