by Matthew K. Clifton

Often Christians are painted as people who believe in things for which they have no evidence. It is sometimes suggested by atheists that believers “just go on blind faith.” But is this the kind of faith the Bible encourages in the people of God?

Interestingly enough, the Bible does not teach about a “blind faith.” Throughout the scriptures, we see that the presentation of evidence is a big part of the delivery of God’s word. Moses took God’s word to Pharaoh to set the Israelites free, but God also gave him the power to give a sign proving the message was from the Lord, not man. In fact, God gave guidelines for identifying whether or not a prophet was truly from God in Deuteronomy 18:21-22. It was based on the evidence of whether or not the thing prophesied actually came to pass.

God has also left evidence for His existence in nature. By the things that have been created, man can see that God exists, and therefore there is no excuse for denying Him (Rom. 1:18-20). He has left evidence in the inkling of morality that is naturally ingrained in men (Rom. 2:12-15), and in history as well through revelation (Acts 17:30-31; Heb. 1:1). God has not left Himself without a witness to His creative power (Acts 14:17).

Jesus Himself, the greatest teacher to every walk this earth, used evidence to support His teachings. One example is the “fourfold witness” in John chapter 5. In these passages, Jesus says that John the baptizer, the works Jesus was doing, God the Father, and the scriptures all witnessed to the fact that Jesus was the Son of God (John 5:31-47).

So is Christianity based on blind faith? Not at all! In fact, the Bible tells Christians to be able to give a defense of our faith when anyone asks us a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15). Are you confident that you can give a reason for what you believe?

Often Christians are painted as people who believe in things for which they have no evidence. It is sometimes suggested by atheists that believers “just go on blind faith.” But is this the kind of faith the Bible attributes to the people of God?

Interestingly enough, the Bible does not teach about a “blind faith.” Throughout the scriptures, we see that the presentation of evidence is a big part of the delivery of God’s word. Moses took God’s word to Pharaoh to set the Israelites free, but God also gave him the power to give a sign proving the message was from the Lord, not man. In fact, God gave guidelines for identifying whether or not a prophet was truly from God in Deuteronomy 18:21-22. It was based on the evidence of whether or not the thing prophesied actually came to pass.

God has also left evidence for His existence in nature. By the things that have been created, man can see that God exists, and therefore there is no excuse for denying Him (Rom. 1:18-20). He has left evidence in the inkling of morality that is naturally ingrained in men (Rom. 2:12-15), and in history as well through revelation (Acts 17:30-31; Heb. 1:1). God has not left Himself without a witness to His creative power (Acts 14:17).

Jesus Himself, the greatest teacher to every walk this earth, used evidence to support His teachings. One example is the “fourfold witness” in John chapter 5. In these passages, Jesus says that John the baptizer, the works Jesus was doing, God the Father, and the scriptures all witnessed to the fact that Jesus was the Son of God (John 5:31-47).

So is Christianity based on blind faith? Not at all! In fact, the Bible tells Christians to be able to give a defense of our faith when anyone asks us a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15). Are you confident that you can give a reason for what you believe?