We All Have Faith!

By Rev. Joseph P. Crowley CONTRIBUTOR

The words “faith” and “religion” are used interchangeably and with little distinction in news reports, articles, talks shows, and social media. Writers affirm that they are “people of faith” or “spiritual but not religious.” Editorial and Op-ed columnists opine regularly on faith and religion in politics and morality.

Our own Bluffton Sun offers excellent and thought-provoking articles on faith in every issue. I’ve had the privilege of contributing regular articles on faith here. Since I write from a Christian perspective, I have – hoping to engage a broader audience – added a phrase of encouragement, “whether you are a person of faith or not …” But upon reflection, I realize that – contrary to what I might have implied – everyone has faith.

Oxford Languages distinguishes between religion as “a particular system of faith and worship” versus faith as “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” Most other dictionaries have similar primary definitions. It might be helpful to distinguish religion” as the “practice of one’s faith.” Almost two thousand years ago, an early Christian writer provided an excelled definition of faith, “… faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1a).

One problem is that idea of certainty in the absence of what we want as “proof” or,

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All are welcome to the Lord’s Table as the ancient writer put it, “what we do not see.” Before we dismiss faith because we want proof (or “science”), consider how often we act confidently without rigorous proof. As a multi-million-mile flyer on a major airline and on corporate aircraft, I have always assumed that the aircraft was airworthy, that the flight deck crew was competent, and that air traffic control would orchestrate orderliness in the skies. Never once did I have any specific proof that all those conditions were, in fact, as I trusted.

Perhaps you are facing surgery or chemotherapy or other drug protocols. You trust that professionals, equipment, and pharmaceutical manufacturers will deliver “what we hope for.” I’m pretty sure that there is some aspect of your life where we all proceed with complete trust or confidence without specific “proof.” In fact, we couldn’t function productively without faith. When we are willing to have faith, it is because of past performance, safely statistics, academic degrees, or certification – something that tells us that we can have hope and be certain. We all have faith. The question is, “in what do you have faith?” The ancient writer argued that in the past God proved trustworthy and I agree. Where do you place your trust?

Rev. Joseph P. Crowley, D. Div., D. Min. (ABD) Founder, Pastor, and Executive Director The Berean Institute