"He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield
and buckler" (Psalm 91:4).
Correction from the last blog: It was Solomon Spaulding, not Samuel Spaulding wrote; The Manuscript Found." Regardless who wrote it, it was not written, but changed in certain areas to fit Joseph Smith' and other' goal of producing a book, a religious book, and many people have put their faith in a such a book.
In the examination of faith a second definition of faith is founded on its nature, one that makes it a voluntary conviction or persuasion of the truth. Theodoret of Cyrus, (c. 393-c. 457 A.D.) was an influential author, theologian, and Christian bishop of Cryrrhus, Syria, in the writings: Graecorum Affectionum Curatio, sermo i. edit. Commelinus, Heidelbert (?)1592, p. 16, lines 11,12; he is quoted as having said that faith "is a voluntary assent of the mind." Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 A.D.) in: summa,II, ii, quaest, ii. art. 9, edit. cologne, 1640, p. 8b, of third set; distinguishes between knowledge and faith by representing the former as the conviction produced by the object itself seen intuitively or discursively to be true; whereas in the latter the mind is not sufficiently moved to assent.
What a way to begin this blog; two views or definitions of faith and by two men who were influential in the Church, especially the Church of Rome, and more especially of Thomas Aquinas who is regarded highly by Roman Catholics. What has been learned up to this point is that there are differing definitions to the word "faith." Faith is an important aspect of daily living, and important in religion. Therefore to come to an understanding of the word, an understanding that is Biblical, we must travel this deep rutted road, at least when we try to uncover its meaning by those who are deemed theologians, it will take a careful traversing of this road and not be diverted because it is too rough or deep.
Currently, at least for the last several hundred years, a form of Christianity has been taught and accepted by many that a person can choose to have faith. One can choose to believe or not to believe. The problem that immediately confronts is that faith and belief are not the same thing. Belief is not faith, and faith is not belief, even though they may be entwined according to degrees. This mistaken identity of faith has led to various functions in the church to accept a person's condescension, or a remarking of their belief, yet have not true saving faith and in their practices of this supposed faith their object of faith is not Biblical, even when purported to be of Jesus Christ. We must remember Jesus' strong words, "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew 8:22-23). Can a person voluntarily by conviction assent to faith?
The wide determining definition of the word "voluntary" if it is of "will" includes every operation of the mind not purely intellectual. the conclusion to be drawn from that definition that faith is a voluntary assent; that faith is not merely a speculative assent, an act of the judgment declaring a thing to be true; it includes feeling. Nietzsche (1844-1900 A.D.) defines faith to be "a knowledge or persuasion of truth combined with feeling, --the unity of feeling and knowledge." Problem with this is that if the word "will" be taken in the sense of the power of self-determination, then nothing is voluntary which does not involve the exercise of that power. If we use that definition by Nietzsche, it will require that we have the power being that it be voluntary by self-determination, or having a unity of feeling and knowledge, in order to believe or not believe. If this be true then to reach a decision of faith that decision was neither determined by the nature of the object or by any degree of evidence. This is a major problem being taught and preached in many churches that of a combining of these two definitions, one of faith, the other of belief as being the same and to be a voluntary assent of the mind, or an assent of a determined intellect that is derived by the will. This mislead definition causes a person to act in ways that seem to have evolved from their faith, but is more an element of their belief, and those acts are the defining aspects of their faith. It must be remembered that our beliefs will determine our theology, and our theology our religion and our religion our character and our character will act so-so towards the will of God.
Some will argue that faith is a virtue and being so it must include love because love being the form or principle of all the virtues must be self-determined because without love and without being self-determined there could be no virtue in faith being the inevitable effect of the evidence or testimony. If virtue is to include or be self-determined we then must decide and act upon this self-determined virtue or faith even when we don't have the power to do so.
At this juncture I will stop and allow anyone who would and should take time to review what has been written as the using of quotes from men of the church and even of a philosopher who is accredited the term: "God is dead" will require some innermost thinking. In the next blog I will attempt to clear the air, so to speak and remark on these definitions of faith. That I write everyday, there is time with intent to unwrap this thing called faith assuring that the faith we profess is the faith of the Bible. Let me end with a quote from the Apostle Paul:
For if we died with Him,
What a way to begin this blog; two views or definitions of faith and by two men who were influential in the Church, especially the Church of Rome, and more especially of Thomas Aquinas who is regarded highly by Roman Catholics. What has been learned up to this point is that there are differing definitions to the word "faith." Faith is an important aspect of daily living, and important in religion. Therefore to come to an understanding of the word, an understanding that is Biblical, we must travel this deep rutted road, at least when we try to uncover its meaning by those who are deemed theologians, it will take a careful traversing of this road and not be diverted because it is too rough or deep.
Currently, at least for the last several hundred years, a form of Christianity has been taught and accepted by many that a person can choose to have faith. One can choose to believe or not to believe. The problem that immediately confronts is that faith and belief are not the same thing. Belief is not faith, and faith is not belief, even though they may be entwined according to degrees. This mistaken identity of faith has led to various functions in the church to accept a person's condescension, or a remarking of their belief, yet have not true saving faith and in their practices of this supposed faith their object of faith is not Biblical, even when purported to be of Jesus Christ. We must remember Jesus' strong words, "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew 8:22-23). Can a person voluntarily by conviction assent to faith?
The wide determining definition of the word "voluntary" if it is of "will" includes every operation of the mind not purely intellectual. the conclusion to be drawn from that definition that faith is a voluntary assent; that faith is not merely a speculative assent, an act of the judgment declaring a thing to be true; it includes feeling. Nietzsche (1844-1900 A.D.) defines faith to be "a knowledge or persuasion of truth combined with feeling, --the unity of feeling and knowledge." Problem with this is that if the word "will" be taken in the sense of the power of self-determination, then nothing is voluntary which does not involve the exercise of that power. If we use that definition by Nietzsche, it will require that we have the power being that it be voluntary by self-determination, or having a unity of feeling and knowledge, in order to believe or not believe. If this be true then to reach a decision of faith that decision was neither determined by the nature of the object or by any degree of evidence. This is a major problem being taught and preached in many churches that of a combining of these two definitions, one of faith, the other of belief as being the same and to be a voluntary assent of the mind, or an assent of a determined intellect that is derived by the will. This mislead definition causes a person to act in ways that seem to have evolved from their faith, but is more an element of their belief, and those acts are the defining aspects of their faith. It must be remembered that our beliefs will determine our theology, and our theology our religion and our religion our character and our character will act so-so towards the will of God.
Some will argue that faith is a virtue and being so it must include love because love being the form or principle of all the virtues must be self-determined because without love and without being self-determined there could be no virtue in faith being the inevitable effect of the evidence or testimony. If virtue is to include or be self-determined we then must decide and act upon this self-determined virtue or faith even when we don't have the power to do so.
At this juncture I will stop and allow anyone who would and should take time to review what has been written as the using of quotes from men of the church and even of a philosopher who is accredited the term: "God is dead" will require some innermost thinking. In the next blog I will attempt to clear the air, so to speak and remark on these definitions of faith. That I write everyday, there is time with intent to unwrap this thing called faith assuring that the faith we profess is the faith of the Bible. Let me end with a quote from the Apostle Paul:
"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus..."
"therefore, I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."
"This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him
He will deny us.
If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself."
(2 Timothy 2:1; 10-13)
The driving force of Scripture is relevant to all, especially have I taken this seriously. It is the force behind this blog:
"Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord no to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
(2 Timothy 2:14-15).
"Teach me Your way, O LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your
name." (Psalm 86:11)
Richard L. Crumb
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