A Matter of Faith

This past week I was reading a column by Anne Lamott in AARP Magazine, who quoted the theologian Paul Tillch: "The opposite of faith isn't doubt, but certainty."

My first response was, under normal circumstances, I'm prone to view doubt exactly that way (as the opposite of faith). I don't see any real benefit from doubting - other than to fuel a healthy stream of cynicism.

Webster's defines doubt as "to be uncertain about, to lack confidence in, distrust."

If doubt can be defined as being uncertain, then why does Tillch say that certainty is the opposite of faith (being defined by Wesbter as "loyalty, fidelity to one's promises, belief and trust in and loyalty to God.")

It would seem that faith implies trust and trust is usually based on at least implied assurance.And all of these things are built on some form of certainty, aren't they?

Spiritually speaking, the apostle Paul defined faith as "the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen" (Hebrews 11:1 NLT). Another translation of that same passage (NKJ) puts it this way: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen."

So it seems like hope or confidence is the key to spiritual faith. Webster's says hope is "to desire with expectation of fulfillment." And that confidence is "faith and trust, a consciousness of feeling sure.." And Webster's goes on to further define confidence as "a relation of trust, or intimacy."

This whole business of faith is wrapped up in relationship. It's also interesting to note that intimacy can be defined as "marked by very close association, or familiarity; marked by a warm friendship developing through long association."

Putting all of the ingredients of faith together, Tillch's quote starts to make sense. Faith depends upon an ever-growing relationship. One that is deep and long-standing. Such relationships undergo times of testing and testing of faith always includes times of uncertainty. Uncertainty as in not knowing the outcome ahead of time. Uncertainty that moves us ahead despite our feelings or evidence at the time. Uncertainty that clouds our ability to discern at times. Uncertainty that can test our very confidence in whatever or whomever we choose to give our faith. When you think about it, true faith can't really grow and deepen without times of uncertainty.

Maybe Tillch's point is that faith is built on relationships, and life being what it is, loyalty and fidelity in relationships will be tested. So faith is going to rely on hope and trust in the "things we cannot see...," yet.

That takes courage on a level that can't exist without uncertainty.