An Atheist's Misconception of Faith

There are millions of people worldwide who have never developed faith in God, faith in Jesus Christ or faith in a life hereafter. Because their faith is undeveloped, they believe that all faith is nothing more than blind belief. ​But Paul explains that true faith is anything but blind. In fact, Paul teaches us that "faith is... evidence of things not seen." A friend recently explained the difference between true faith and blind faith this way:

Let's say you want an IPad. You go to bed at night and tell yourself, "I really want a new IPad. I hope I find one on my nightstand when I wake up in the morning." ​You want this new IPad more than you've ever wanted anything and you even deserve to have it. You hope with all your heart that when you wake up your new IPad will be waiting for you on the nightstand.

​To an atheist, this is what having faith means.

But to a believing Christian, faith is much more than just a blind hope that God exists or that Jesus Christ is the savior who died for our sins. True faith is much more than a blind hope. True faith looks more like this:

​You want a new IPad so you research the internet and find the one that's right for you. You fill out the online order form, complete with credit card information, and you receive a confirmation number for your order. You still don't have an IPad but you have some evidence (a confirmation number) that your IPad is coming in 7 to 10 days. The following morning you check your bank balance and you see the money for your IPad has been withdrawn from your account. You still don't have your IPad but you have further evidence that your order has been processed and your new device is coming.  Next you get an email from the company saying that your IPad has shipped. You still don't have your IPad but you have even further evidence that you soon will.

​Perhaps you get an email from UPS or Fedex saying they will be delivering your IPad and they give you a tracking number. More evidence. But you still don't have your IPad. The day your IPad arrives you get an email sent to your work from the carrier saying that your IPad has been delivered to your home. It's finally there! Of course, you don't see it because you're still at work but you have faith backed by evidence that your IPad has been delivered. Your spouse might even telephone you at work and tell you that your IPad has arrived and it's waiting for you when you get home.

​You still don't actually have your IPad. You haven't even seen it but you have plenty of evidence of something you hoped for and you can be certain that when you arrive home you will receive your reward.

​This is the true interpretation of faith. It is not just a blind wish that hopefully there is a God out there somewhere. It is "the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

As believing Christians there is substantial power available to us. It is the power of faith. The power available to us through Jesus Christ is very real. We are not alone on this earth, and the purpose God has for us is to ultimately return to Him.

Learn more about the power available to you, the power of faith, in Rich Nelson's book, Turning Faith into Power.

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