The writer of Hebrews describes faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV). This is the most popular and most succinct definition of faith found in the Scriptures.
There are nevertheless many misunderstandings and misinterpretations emanating from this well-known verse, just as there are many Christians who are today confused over how the Bible defines faith.
“Evidence of Things Not Seen”
In order to understand Hebrews 11:1, one must first understand which word is properly modified by “not seen.” If one takes care to thoroughly study all of Hebrews 11, and to pay close attention to the sentence construction in Hebrews 11:1 specifically, it seems clear that the writer is referring NOT to the “evidence,” but to the word “things.”
In other words, we see the evidence, but we don’t see the “things” to which the evidence points or affirms.
Lest you think we’re splitting hairs, consider the implications. A person who sees the evidence, but not the things or thing to which the evidence points is not being asked to take a blind leap in the dark. Rather, a person who sees evidence is being asked to make an informed choice to extend his or her trust.
Yes, the Bible calls upon us to believe in God. The writer of Hebrews makes clear that we can’t “please God” unless we believe that God exists and that God is a “rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). But we are not asked to have this faith in some kind of intellectual vacuum.
We are not told to believe in something or someone for which we have little to no evidence. On the contrary, the evidence for God’s existence is all around us (Psalm 19:1, Romans 1-2), and it’s overwhelming when one honestly reflects on it. We can see this evidence. We can interact with this evidence – using most, if not all, of our senses. And based on this evidence, we are challenged in the Bible to make a decision to believe that God is real.
When it comes to the Christian faith specifically, the Apostle Paul doesn’t tell the first century churches to which he wrote to simply believe. He doesn’t tell them to simply have faith.
Rather, in I Corinthians 15, Paul stakes the validity of all Christianity on the resurrection of Jesus, and tells the Corinthian church that “if Christ be not risen, your faith is in vain” (I Corinthians 15:17).
And he doesn’t simply expect all of his readers to believe in the resurrection. He reminds them of the five hundred witnesses who saw Jesus alive after he was crucified and buried. And he practically dares any skeptics to seek out and interview those witnesses (I Corinthians 15:6)!
The existence of God and the resurrection of Christ serve as two excellent examples of the kind of faith of which the Bible speaks. It is not blind faith. It’s reasonable faith, and it’s precisely the kind of faith to which the Bible calls God’s followers.
Faith vs. Knowledge
Of course, we’re still called to faith. While we have access to incredible evidence for God’s existence, Jesus’ resurrection, and the Bible’s authenticity, we nevertheless are still left with some gaps in knowledge, some elements of uncertainty, and a few layers of mystery. Not to mention all the pain and suffering as well as the confusion and turmoil in the world in which we live.
The evidence for God is all around us, but so are the shadows of doubt, sin, confusion, and disappointment.
The late Carl Sagan, who reportedly went to his grave as an agnostic, is said to have told one of his Christian friends: “I don’t want to believe. I want to know!” This is not the way of things, however. While God has privileged a few over the years with certain levels of knowledge that many of us could be envious over, the vast majority of human beings are challenged not to know, but to believe.
“Faith Without Works is Dead”
And we are challenged to a loving, authentic, and active faith, not a passive faith. James, the half-brother of Jesus and likely author of the book which bears his name, wrote the following: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26, NKJV).
There’s a fairly popular sermon illustration that talks about an acrobat traversing the chasm of Niagara Falls with a wheelbarrow. As the story goes, this talented tightrope walker crossed the treacherous chasm, at one point, with his partner in the wheelbarrow! He then called out to the crowd if they thought he could do it again! One man responded: “I believe you can.” To which the acrobat replied: “Get in the wheelbarrow.”
The spectator of course refused, thus providing for all of us a perfect contrast between passive faith and active faith. The former is dead, according to James, while the latter reflects the faith to which we are called and the kind that pleases God.
And that leads to a question of personal reflection and application…
How’s your faith?
