Faith and Reason

English Standard Version Chapter 11

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Introduction

As we’ve been looking at the book of Hebrews one thing we’ve kept in mind is that the author has been trying to prepare them for hardship. Up to this point in history, for large measure, the Christian faith has been wrapped inside the Jewish faith. The first Christians were Jewish. Jesus is Jewish. When Paul set out on his missionary journeys, he always went first to the Jewish synagogues to talk them about the Jewish scriptures. But that was changing. Those that identify with Christ are being pushed away from their places of worship and places of community.

At the same time the Jewish people themselves are facing a grave threat as the Roman army marches to wipe them out. The writer of Hebrews has been teaching them to see the significance of Jesus within the context of the Old Testament. And as they face this new revelation, and the turmoil that has been brewing, they are in desperate need of a mature faith. Without it, they won’t survive. What does that look like? This next chapter in the book of Hebrews really spells this out. Faith, saving faith, enduring faith, is more than just a recognition and ascent to doctrinal truth. It is more than saying the Apostle’s creed on Sunday morning or agreeing with the material taught in Sunday School. Faith in God is trusting God. And trust has all kinds of facets to it and it affects you in a variety of ways. As we pour over this chapter we begin to see some of those facets.

Perhaps the first, that we begin to see right off the bat, is that faith impacts all of life. It can’t be relegated to certain activities. It is not, as common thought in the public square would have you believe, something private and personal.

For example, many, if not most, people in Western culture have bought into the idea that science gives us empirical facts, and religion can only give us personal belief. Faith, in other words, is thought to be a personally held belief that a person has in spite of scientific facts that may say otherwise. Most Christians do one of two things.

One, they simply accept the apparent contradictions. For example, science tells us that it is impossible for a person to be resurrected from the dead and the Bible says that Jesus did. Many will simply say, “I know that people don’t come back from the dead yet I believe it anyway.” It is this kind of thing that leads many to conclude things like HBO host Bill Maher,

“We are a nation that is unenlightened because of religion. I do believe that. I think that religion stops people from thinking…I am just embarrassed that [America] has been taken over by people like evangelicals, by people who do not believe in science and rationality. It is the 21st century.”

Or like Jesse Ventura, “Christianity is a crutch for weak-minded people.”

Or two, they simply adjust their understanding of the Bible to what science can verify. Many theologians did this in Academic circles when the enlightenment period came along. Because science tells us that people cannot rise from the dead, many reinterpreted the Bible’s resurrection account of Jesus saying it was a “spiritual” rather than a physical resurrection. Jesus wasn’t any more God than you or I, he just was an excellent moral teacher that modeled how one could be spiritually raised.

The problem with both of these positions is that they have both bought into this idea that faith can’t speak to the real world we live in. One believes in spite of the claims of scientists, the other modifies his belief because of the claims of scientists.

Because God exists, we must let faith lead to understanding.

Understanding

Science overlaps its realm by leading to ethics – the natural selection ethic

Even if we submit to the idea of separate realms of validity, then we must come down on science every bit as much as some scientists want to come down on religion, because science oversteps its bounds, too. According to Stephen Gould, the net of science doesn’t just cover the question of what the empirical universe is made of – what he calls fact – but why does it work the way it does – which he calls theory. These theories cross over into the religious realm quite often, however.

For example, materialism (ie. only the physical world exists), has implications for moral meaning and value. If the world that we see is all there is, then one person’s view of morality is just as valid as another person’s morality. If I see nothing wrong with stealing and you do, who is to say that you are right and I am wrong? In fact, if natural selection is really responsible for the development and progress of life, then if stealing gives me an advantage over you then we’re one step closer to the survival of the fittest, aren’t we? Hitler carried this view forward by decreeing euthanasia – the mercy killing of those with incurable diseases. But he didn’t stop there, he also forced sterilization of those with handicaps (physical or mental) and the murder of infants with handicaps. Later, he didn’t stop at sterilization but began murdering such handicapped. This was all in keeping with an ethic derived from the idea of natural selection and the survival of the fittest. (By the way, Margaret Sanger and the founding of Planned Parenthood was established on this ethic.)

Does the realm of science have sole ownership of “theory”?

But let’s take a step backward for a minute. These ethics are derived not from empirical fact but theory, something that Stephen Gould claims belongs in the realm of science and not religion. But is it justified to keep religion from the table when theories are being formulated? I would tend to agree if religion was only the result of philosophically-minded men trying to find meaning. While some religions are certainly just that, not all are. In fact, the major religions in the West are rooted in real time and space history. The resurrection of Jesus, for example, is claimed by the Bible to be a real historical event that happened during the reign of Pontius Pilate. It you want to formulate a theory on resurrection, scientific evidence isn’t the only evidence. There are also historical witnesses. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians that Jesus’ made appearances after his resurrection to many different groups, including over 500 people that were still alive at the time of his writing. This is testimony that shouldn’t be ignored. Does this contradict science? Science cannot disprove the resurrection, it simply cannot recreate the resurrection. They eye-witness’s testimony and science are actually not incompatible.

Faith leads to understanding

But let’s look further. It isn’t just that science and faith are compatible. Faith actually has a role to play in understanding science. This is what we learn from verse 3,

English Standard Version Chapter 11

3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

There are many different theories as to how the world came to be. All of them must take into account the scientific evidence of what we call the Big Bang. The Big Bang says that the universe that we know came into existence from a singularity – starting from something no bigger than a marble. This is deduced from observing that the universe is expanding according to mathematical precision. Given this data, theories seek to answer the question, “what caused the Big Bang?” What happened before? Christians say that it was God. In fact, for the most part every scientist up until a certain point in time also credited God with creation. But when the enlightenment period began and this idea of separation, or “non-overlapping magisteria” was bought into, the theory that God is responsible for creation was rejected. But without explaining creation by God, there is no viable theory. Every theory that has been suggested has been viewed as mere conjecture. In fact, every theory that has been formulated did not come from additional evidence but rather a presupposed materialistic worldview. In other words, theories to explain the Big Bang are all formed from faith positions.

3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

There are many different theories as to how the world came to be. All of them must take into account the scientific evidence of what we call the Big Bang. The Big Bang says that the universe that we know came into existence from a singularity – starting from something no bigger than a marble. This is deduced from observing that the universe is expanding according to mathematical precision. Given this data, theories seek to answer the question, “what caused the Big Bang?” What happened before? Christians say that it was God. In fact, for the most part every scientist up until a certain point in time also credited God with creation. But when the enlightenment period began and this idea of separation, or “non-overlapping magisteria” was bought into, the theory that God is responsible for creation was rejected. But without explaining creation by God, there is no viable theory. Every theory that has been suggested has been viewed as mere conjecture. In fact, every theory that has been formulated did not come from additional evidence but rather a presupposed materialistic worldview. In other words, theories to explain the Big Bang are all formed from faith positions.

This is exactly what verse 3 is saying, “by faith we understand…” Faith, in other words, isn’t opposed to science or reason, but actually informs science and reason, whether it is Christian faith or an atheistic faith. Once a theory is formed, we must ask two questions: One, which theory is most reasonable given the evidence and two, which theory has the most explanatory power.

1. Most Reasonable. Let’s consider reasonableness. In addition to having to account for the Big Bang, scientists must also account for the finely tuned nature of the universe. It is finely tuned in the sense that all of the many variables are exactly right to produce life. Tweak any one of the variables and life is impossible. When scientists seek to explain this, they have come up with some interesting theories. One has to do with multiple universes.[1] The theory tries to explain that if there are lots of universes, then the odds increase that eventually one that can sustain life will emerge. But the idea of parallel universes is something that we only know of through science fiction. Is there any evidence at all that points to other universes? None. But scientists write that off by assuming that that is only because they haven’t been discovered yet.

On the other hand, by analogy we know that complex, functioning things have creators. You wouldn’t come into a kitchen, for example, and assume that your toaster came into existence by some force that has yet to be discovered. No, you would say that someone must have built it, even more so if it actually makes you toast. While materialists must postulate ideas that have no evidence or analogy to explain the existence of the universe, the Christian does. While neither can prove his theory scientifically, the God-theory is much more reasonable.

2. Most Explanatory Power. The other question has to do with which theory has the most explanatory power. If faith in a materialistic worldview drives your theory, then you live in a world without meaning and no authority to define right and wrong. But no one can live that way. We have an innate sense of justice. We have an innate sense that there is such a thing as right and wrong – even if we differ as to what that is. The very notion that there is right and wrong and the argument for justice cannot be explained satisfactorily without God. If faith in God drives your theory, then life makes sense. There can be such a thing as real right and wrong and justice. There can be such a thing as reason. There is more explanatory power for the world I live in from the God-theory.

So, contrary to Bill Maher, religion – particularly Christianity – does not stop people from thinking. It invites us to think. The writer of Hebrews says, “by faith we understand…”

[1] Lee Strobel, Case for a Creator, chapter 6 “The Evidence of Physics” p. 145.

Conviction

Why reject the God-theory? Its implications…

The reason many people refuse to consider the God-theory is not because it isn’t reasonable, but because of all the implications behind it. If you accept the God theory to understand creation and make sense of the world you live in, then you must live with the implications of that faith. The Bible teaches us that God is not some distant and impersonal force, but a personal being that relates with people. If there is a God that establishes an ultimate right and wrong then you can’t just go through life and do what you want. You will have to give an account.

Conviction is proof – investing in a stock tip

Faith as a “conviction” means living in such a way as to “prove” that you believe. Imagine it like this. Let’s say that you learn information about a company that’s just about to launch a new product line that your source says will do far better than anyone might imagine, and you believe it. If you do nothing with this information this faith does nothing for you. But if you choose to tap into your savings or cash in your retirement money in order to invest in this stock then you “prove” that your faith in your source’s information is real. In this sense, your faith is a conviction of things not seen.

Do you live by convictions or feelings in the moment?

The truth is, all of us have faith in something. The kind of faith that the writer of Hebrews speaks of is one that is proved through conviction – by the way you live. When you look at the way you live, what does this reveal about where your faith really is? If you believe in God, would people know it by looking at your life? At the way you invest your time? At the way you invest your money? At the way you treat your neighbors? Your co-workers? Your family? Your boss?

Let’s press the question a bit further. What is your fallback when things get difficult? The recipients of this letter were facing grave persecutions. The writer of Hebrews wants to remind them to stand strong in their faith – to prove their faith in God is real. It will be hard. It may come at the cost of real things.

Assurance

Connecting assurance, conviction, and commendation

But there is more. There is understanding by faith. There is conviction in faith. But there is also assurance. The writer says that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for.” This isn’t just a blind faith – a brainwashing from being told or taught about heaven in the future. It is grounded faith. It is grounded in something real. Let’s look at the connection between verses 1 and 2.

English Standard Version Chapter 11

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.

Assurance flows out of conviction. What I want you to see is what that conviction is of. The text says “of things not seen.” What are the “things” not seen?

Assurance flows out of conviction. What I want you to see is what that conviction is of. The text says “of things not seen.” What are the “things” not seen?

“Things” not seen

“Things” comes from a Greek word that more specifically refers to accomplishments in the past, particularly things that have been accomplished in a forensic sense – in a courtroom. What might this have been? This connects us with verse 2, “by it the people of old received their commendation” The word for commendation is the word for witness. The whole picture is that of being approved by a credible witness in a courtroom. It is this commendation – this approval – that gives assurance of the things God has promised.

Faith that gives understanding leads to conviction and commitment and results in assurance. It is this kind of faith that gets you through the hard times in life. This is the kind of faith that the writer is urging the readers of Hebrews to embrace.

The “thing” Martin Luther discovered in his tower experience

Martin Luther had that conviction. After a close encounter with a lightning storm he vowed to give his life to God and become a monk. He tried to live what he considered to be a righteous life – to live in light of his belief (his conviction) that there is a Holy God and he will one day need to give an account. But the more he considered his life and how Holy God is, the more aware of his own failings he became. He spent increasing amounts of time with his confessor, at times up to six hours in a day, trying to sufficiently confess all of his sins and find absolution. Martin Luther believed in God and sought to live in light of this. His conviction was driving he and his confessor mad. His conviction was that God rewards those that measure up to His requirements. But his conviction was of something he hoped would happen in the future – that God would acquit him. It wasn’t enough. It was killing him.

But as he was studying the book of Romans he came across verse 17 that says, “the righteousness of God is revealed…” He had understood God’s righteousness to be his right judgments. He felt the weight of it upon him so much so that he hated God for it. Luther was all too aware of his sin and failings. He understood a person’s righteousness to be a result of his own living, of his own good works.

And yet, in his study one day he was struck by what comes next, “the righteous shall live by faith.” Those found righteous aren’t commended because they succeeded in being good enough for God to commend them, but because they believed in Christ. Jesus had lived perfectly. His righteousness was accomplished and perfected by his willingness to go to the cross. It was Christ’s righteousness that became his own through faith, so that now he could indeed be commended by God. Only those commended by God have a real assurance of the good things to come. Their assurance is grounded in a past deed – a thing not seen – that serves as the ground for Jesus’ own testimony that they are approved.