Question about "faith"

[John 6IX Breezy]

The REASON I think faith isn't sensible is on the same tier as you seem to hold (although I think I have a different perspective, IDK for sure), which is the complete inability to apply any test for faith.

I agree and disagree.

I agree because trust by it's very nature rests upon varying degrees of uncertainty. For trust to occur there must be something that's unknown to you but known to someone else, etc. There may be no direct test for faith/trust, but faith/trust should always be built on some reason or merit. Christians often distinguish faith from presumption. Faith is virtuous, presumption is not.

But I disagree that faith can't be tested, in the sense that faith/trust are often about something that can eventually be known. If your friend says to wait outside the mall and he'll pick you up at 6pm. You are exhibiting faith/trust by waiting outside. There is no test to know whether your faith will payoff, only the merit of your friend's word. That being said, the clock will eventually hit 6pm, and you'll know whether or not faith paid off.

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To use a biblical analogy consider: "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family." (Hebrews 11:7)

1. Note that in this story God spoke to Noah directly about the flood. This shows that faith has nothing to do with believing God exists. God is real in the story. Noah has a conversation with him.

2. Noah exercises faith by trusting the reliability of God's warning and building the ark. This is the uncertainty factor that defines trust. He built the ark before any sign of rain, as he must, if you wait till the flood comes to build the ark you're dead.

3. Notice that eventually it either rains or it doesn't. Faith is not indefinite and open-ended. It culminates in some conclusion that tells you whether or not your faith was accurate. You get your test results.