The word “Faith” is generally used in two distinct ways.

1.      The first use connotes religious belief, such as “The Catholic Faith.”

This use refers to that which is believed and taught as truth. The use includes all that is reliable for belief. The use of the word this way indicates the tenets of the faith. This includes parts of the “faith” which are given as revelation, discerned through reason as being consistent with the revelation and mysteries such as the Holy Trinity. 

 2.      The second use refers to a gift (The Gift of Faith) from God:

This gift from God is freely given by Him. It allows you to know God and what God has planned for you. As a gift it requires you to use it. With faith you undertake into your understanding of belief certain things about God and what is commanded by Him for you to do. This belief does not contradict reason, nor does it violate or contradict moral precepts.

The gift of Faith is meant for you as a means to draw closer to God. As we believe and take certain things on faith, we nurture our faith. Faith grows when nurtured and shared. With this aspect of faith; we can say faith can grow and does indeed matures the Christian. 

What is Faith?

Faith or having faith is a trust or trusting what is taught with little or no imperative conditions. It can also be seen as having trust and confidence in something or someone. These are essential aspects of faith. You can ‘have faith’ in people or very common things. Although you are not to place an inordinate amount of faith on people and things.  

Faith deals with ‘belief.’ For the Christian this would be a belief in God and the Doctrines which are proclaimed as truths about God. This faith deals more with revealed truth which is grasped from a spiritual point of view rather than empirical physical proofs. True faith never contradicts reason.

Typically

… typically we have faith when there is some authority or authentication which indicates, with not so many details, that a thing is what it says it is.

So, how do you come to “trust?”  From the ordinary, you typically begin to trust (or have faith) when there is some authority or authentication which indicates, with not so many details or perhaps a specific set of details, that a thing is what it says it is. You may see evidence which supports this, although you may not have a full understanding of the evidence. Sensible trust comes from a responsible relationship. As a child you believed many things on faith from your parents, elder relationships and those responsible for your care. This is why a violation of such trust is considered a heinous violation of a person. Violation of such trust is also a grave sin in the eyes of God.

As you mature, you might expand your input of empirical data, sort through it and use it as a baseline of thinking to determine if something is trustworthy or not. New things learned are tested against other things you know and may have assumed to be true. Sometimes your trust or faith grows from more knowledge or a growing familiarity. Other times your faith grows when you realize there is only so much, you can know. So, you hope and trust that what cannot be known is consistent with your basic belief.

Often, your faith or belief in things is based on a reasonable assertion or at least consistent observation of things. For example, you enter a building or room for a meeting, and do so without questioning, doubting or become paranoid about the room’s structural soundness. However, if you had seen large cracks in the walls and ceiling tiles in disarray, you might think differently about the safety of the building or room, and therefore question its structural integrity. 

When considering the example above, there may or may not be the physical presence or representation of an authority or authentication to determine the soundness of the building/ classroom such as a fireman or structural engineer. Let’s suppose a Fire Marshall or building official had come by earlier and posted a notice indicating the building or room was unsafe. Whether the Fire Marshal or other building safety authority is physically present, a warning notice from an authority figure would still be considered an authoritative statement of truth. 

Suppose again that there is no notice, but you are able to deduce from the unsafe look of the building or room that it may not be safe to occupy. You would still be operating on the authority or authentication of truth because somehow you would know that things or not as they ought to be and that deduction would be coming from a known truth or norm of how the building or room ought to be.  Certainly of course this is only a simple example, but it is meant to bring an understanding to the point that faith operates based on there being an original presence of authority or authenticating norm. 

There are other examples of operating our lives based on faith. You trust when someone provides directions on how to get somewhere. You trust the surgeon and his team when you must be anesthetized and undergo surgery. You have faith in them. Even from a day to day point of view you operate at many levels using faith. 

Faith in God for the Christian is a must. You operate and should extend your spiritual lives by placing more of your lives into God’s hands. 

….. without faith it is impossible to please him,  for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6)

You cannot physically see faith. Nor can you hear, taste or smell faith; yet it is there. Some have expressed that a person can “feel” faith (But not like a cozy blanket or warm puppy). It is not so much that a person experiences an outward “feeling” (nor inward). It is more so “felt” as a yearning. This yearning is a sense of wanting a completion or fulfillment. You know or can come to know through your many experiences, there is no material good that can fulfill this deep longing.   

8 Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,  9  as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9)

This yearning or deep longing comes from the gift of faith. It is termed as a spiritual longing and is part of your human nature (This, by the way, for some people, is considered as a proof for the existence of God – And they are right; but that is another topic). .[1]  Yes, you were made this way. Saint Augustine conveys the yearning this way:

“You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”[2]                                                                              (Saint Augustine)

One way of understanding this yearning is put this way. You have a God size hole in you that only God can fill. It may sound as a simplistic explanation, but it is very accurate. 

Faith while a gift given freely from God, is not meant to be abused by ignoring it, or drowning it out through the pursuits of by worldly desires. As faith is freely given, so you must return faith. It is by faith and in faith you are able to freely respond to God’s call and invitation. 

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[1] CCC 44

[2] Saint Augustine - Confessions 1.1

Faith is an Action Word

Faith or having faith, positions the believer to act based on that faith. Faith is not something you receive than put it away in a closet for safe keeping.  It doesn’t work that way. The Christian acts based on what is believed (Faith as taught through doctrines of religion) and faith as trust and confidence in what God has revealed. This extends to absolute surrender by the believer who places their trust in God above all things. 

Faith as gift from God is something you cherish but must use in order to mature in your relationship with God. You receive it from God only to return it to as a way for faith to grow. Catholicism insist that action in faith is necessary. This is not saying that your actions meritoriously insist on or guarantees any type of credibility or self-implied righteousness before God. What it is saying is; faith as part of what God has given you, is the very same calling He gives to follow Him and do His will. This requires a response. Some Christian sects say this is not so. Let’s see what Scripture has to say about this.

“……Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
(Matthew 17:20)

The above passage implies action. Faith must respond to God with action. By the way, the above passage are the words of Jesus. He is God therefore you must believe and follow what He says.

19 Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.  20 A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak.  21 She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” 22 Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.[1]
(Matthew 9:19 -22)

In this story the woman is acting on faith. As such Jesus responds and heals her. Notice Jesus doesn’t say ‘Your Faith has healed you,’ but imparts her with saving grace because she acted in faith and therefore is healed. This is faith in action. 

5  When he entered Capernaum,  a centurion approached him and appealed to him,  6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”  7 He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”  8  The centurion said in reply,  “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.9 For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”  

10  When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel  have I found such faith.  11  I say to you,  many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven,  12  but the children of the kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”  13  And Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And at that very hour [his] servant was healed.[2]     (Matthew 8:10-13) 

A Roman Centurion who is not even a Jew or member of the Jewish faith goes to Jesus for help. Knowing the Jews of the day did not like Romans, he could have easily thought perhaps Jesus felt the same way. Being a Centurion meant he had a great deal of responsibilities with a good sense of the current events in Judea. He would have had at least been exposed to some news about Jesus. He had hope (faith) that Jesus would at least listen to him. He goes to Jesus and makes his need known. This is faith in action. 

The Centurion respects Jesus Holiness, “I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.” He is not looking for a visible miracle; “only say the word and my servant will be healed.” In turn Jesus remarks at His faith; “in no one in Israel  have I found such faith.” Jesus fulfills the Centurion’s request and says, “as you have believed, let it be done for you.” You might say, “well he believed in Jesus,” leaving it as just some sublime thought about faith. Instead the Centurion acted. His actions were consistent with his belief. 

35  Now as he approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,  36  and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. 37  They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”  38  He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David,* have pity on me!”  39  The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” 

40  Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him,  41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.”  42 Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”  43 He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

(Luke 18: 35-43)

Like the woman with the hemorrhage, the blind man is acting on faith. Jesus responds and heals him. Once again notice Jesus doesn’t say ‘Your Faith has healed you,’ but imparts him with saving grace because he acted in faith and therefore is healed. This is faith in action.

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[1] This story is found in two Gospels : (Matthew 9:19-22) and (Mark 5:25-34)

[2] This story is found in two of the Gospels (Matthew 8:10-13) and (Luke 7:2-10)

When you have doubts.

Regardless if you are at the beginning of your faith journey or have been on it for a longer period in life, it is not uncommon to have some questions or doubts. After all you are growing in Faith. Having faith does not mean you will never have some questions or doubts. However, to not address these questions or doubts can be unhealthy and in some cases an act against faith. Questions about faith are normal. With the exception of obtuse questions or those subjective in nature which really do not belong in any search for truth nor do they serve to seek a true faithful relationship with God. 

Having questions and being inquisitive is part of your created nature. Having Faith does not mean you turn your back on proper lessons of deduction or learning addressed by proper science with proper empirical data as well as proper thought. 

Having doubts may point out an area where you need direction. You should seek someone more experienced in matters of faith to help you. This is normal. 

Individuals having questions or doubts while maintaining a predetermined outcome as to how the question should be answered are those with a prejudice. Those who only acceptable answer is “Can only be one which appeals to the persons liking,” is a prejudice as well. To argue with them or suggest real truth only means you are speaking to someone who presents a stacked deck argument and one might as well be talking to a wall. This behavior indicates the thinking of a disordered skeptic. For the skeptic, this is both unhealthy and dangerous especially when it comes to truths about salvation. 

Obtuse Questions

Obtuse questions are questions whose nature are for the purpose to act as a deliberate annoyance to those you are directing the question to. They also tend to be subjective in nature and are simply not intended as a way to honestly seek the truth concerning the subject at hand.

Questions about life and faith you will always have. This is often the way God chooses to have you search out deeper truths. God may choose this way to draw you closer to Him. Many of the great saints were challenged by questions and doubts. Sometimes these questions and doubts were there to keep them humble. Other times they searched some of the deeper truths of God, Faith and morality in order to edify the body of Christ. 

There are those who call themselves Christian who think they have it all figured out but follow the path of a skeptic because they are closed to spiritual direction for growth in true holiness.  To follow the path of a skeptic is one of disorder and leads you to becoming a person who thinks or believes they have it (faith) all figured out . This leads to or ends in bitterness. 

Christian faith doesn’t present the journey as a self-made perfection while here  on earth. The journey is revealed as if you are climbing a ladder and go up one rung at a time. Each rung of the ladder is a new learning opportunity which draws you closer to God. 

The believer does not seek to understand so that he may believe, but he believes that he may understand.[1]                                                                                                            (Saint Anselm)

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[1]  Saint Anselm of Canterbury. Proslogium, Chapter 1)