I’ve been thinking a bit more deeply about my analysis of faith, specifically my (c) condition. This was borne over the question whether we’ll have faith in heaven. If (c) is a requirement on faith, it seems not, for we will see “face to face.” This position is the one taken by the Scholastics--we do not have faith in heaven, but vision. Vision and faith are exclusive of one another. The Scholastics also took this condition to imply that Jesus did not have faith either, as he had perfect vision of the Father. But I think we can avoid these consequences if we amend (c) so that faith can obtain even in situations where we do possess vision, and I think we can do this without violating verses such as Hebrews 11:1 and 2 Cor. 5:7.
Amended (C): Faith possesses the property able to know without sight.
But this ability is not necessarily exercised. So those in heaven have faith with sight even though those on earth know some things by faith that are invisible or future.
How well does this fit with Hebrews 11:1? Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. On the amended (C) account, a property of faith becomes actualized in the Hebrews verse. It enables us to see invisible things. I think amended (C) melds well with the verse.
Now we may ask: How does faith possess this property, and why would it be a virtue as Hebrews 11 has it?
How?: Amended (C) flows from the basic account of faith as trust. So it reduces to a more fundamental property of faith (reductions are always nice). This makes (C) second order and often latent. In trusting a person, we rely on what we know about their character and goals. If my wife tells me she’ll pick me up from the airport and she’s running a bit late, I don’t lose hope. I know she’s stuck in traffic and that she’ll be there. This is an example of faith giving me the ability to see in the future--I can see my wife arriving in 5 minutes on the basis of her character. This, of course, does not mean that faith is opposed or absent evidence. I have plenty of evidence that my wife is true to her word. Hebrews makes much the same point: “This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (Heb. 2:3b-4)
Why?: Because it demonstrates our dedication and focus even in the absence of visual immediacy. It works our dependence on God and his character and draws our attention to it. These bring out the personal relational aspect of faith as trust.
But it’s important to keep in mind these two points: Faith with actualized (C) encompasses (1) A limited domain of Christian belief, those for which visual immediacy is lacking. This would encompass truths such as the second coming of Christ, the future resurrection, and so on. And (2), even with actualized (C), faith is not exclusive of rational evaluation or support, as shown by Heb. 2:3b-4.
"[Hebrews 11:1] is talking about the promises of God and trusting in the promises of God even though they haven't been actualized yet. We, for example, have faith in God for the resurrection of the dead, for heaven, and eternal life. These are things that we hold to, trusting in God for these future promises. This is not an irrational faith; it is a faith which is rooted in good grounds and therefore is rational to trust in God for these things." (WLC)
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