Everyone is at least somewhat familiar with what the Christians regard as faith. It is communicated boldly in countless sermons, sung with passion in numerous songs, and finds itself as a pivotal word in the religious world. However, I think this topic has been overlooked and poorly understood by many people today (including myself). Throughout his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis has shed some light on this topic in a way that has helped me to further understand what having faith truly means. As simple as it may seem, faith is one of the most complex topics I know; it is able to weave itself into one’s daily life without being recognized immediately, it can be lost in less than a blink of the eye, and it is simply difficult (and nearly impossible without Help) to master. Lewis has been helpful by providing an analogy saturated with truth and applicability:
“Now faith, in the sense in which I am here using the word, is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.” (Lewis, 140)
Lewis addresses two key words in his statement that are essential to understand in order to further one’s thought process with this analogy. The first is Reason, in the sense of accepting or rejecting certain arguments based on supporting and opposing evidence; the second Moods, which I will address as the feelings and circumstances involved with certain emotions.
Lewis explains Reason quite colloquially: “… a sane man accepts or rejects any statement, not because he wants to or does not want to, but because the evidence seems to him good or bad.” Although this is not the full understanding of Reason, it is one way in which we will approach the topic as we delve deeper into the dynamic of Reason and faith.
The way in which faith has been communicated in church and through those around me has commonly led me to believe that faith has but one definition: “Believing what is unseen.” In a sense, this is true, but I think there is so much more to faith than not seeing something but believing it to be true. Lewis has confronted this very passionately and his wisdom has helped me to understand faith in a much better light.
One of the ways in which my view of faith has changed is when one’s faith may is tested or called upon. Usually it has been an understanding of mine that when one says I have faith, he is exclaiming something to be true when he does not see it; a conscious kind of faith. This kind of faith is very much integrated with talking about ones beliefs or when a message about the Heavenly is being addressed. But I believe one’s faith plays a much more integrated role in his daily life, especially when he is not aware of it.
Most of one’s daily decisions do not come as a thought out and prepared communication of one’s thoughts (although many do); they can be spontaneous and performed without really stopping to think. An example of this is when one is engaged in daily conversation. Although one may not realize what is fully taking place, the way in which we conduct ourselves, choose words, communicate emotions, restrain anger, and deal with annoyance has a lot to do with our beliefs, the core basis of one’s faith. As one acts in his daily life, his beliefs are put at the forefront of his emotions by the way he chooses to represent who he is by his actions and reactions – a manifestation of his beliefs.
When “belief” is examined by definition, it is defined as “Something believed or accepted as true,” and in comparison, our definition of faith is “Believing something to be true even when one does not feel it.” So, if our actions (even unconscious ones) are a manifestation of one’s beliefs, each act of faith can be characterized as every decision made in opposition to one’s mood or feelings. This can be described, but not contained to, an unconscious kind of faith. A kind of faith that is based upon one’s beliefs and is shown through the unconscious decisions in every day life. An example of this idea is when one chooses to say “thank you” even when annoyed or unsatisfied with another’s actions. In this situation, although he does not feel grateful, he is going against his feelings and acting on impulse on what he believes to be true – that showing kindness is important.
Acting on impulse can also be a venue where faith is easily lost. In many circumstances one acts in a manner where he or she is not happy. One knows that their decision to act in whatever manner that upsets them was not in accordance with his or her beliefs. This is where one’s mood can overpower the faith one currently has. Usually theses circumstances occur very quickly and can issue forth dire consequences. As one progresses in his or her faith, acting on what one has already accepted to be true can become easier “in spite of your changing moods.”
faith can have a tendency to be difficult (possibly an understatement). Acting “in spite of your changing moods” might be one of the most difficult things I know. Moods are complex and conjure different ideas, thought patterns, and hence, reactions. Reason is understandably simpler to acquire (although one may not be skilled in choosing wisdom); it is one’s beliefs based on presented evidence. One only needs to be confronted with that evidence to accept or reject it. True faith, on the other hand, involves a solid and sound set of beliefs, a strong cognition in Reason, and a willpower that has the ability to surmount any feeling that may get in the way.
There is a clear example of faith located in Mathew 14. There is a raging storm in the Sea of Galilee and Jesus’ disciples are in a boat when the storm hits. The part of this story I want to address is when Jesus calls Peter from the boat to “come” and walk on the water. At first Peter has faith in what Jesus has told him, steps onto the water, and starts to walk towards Jesus. At this point, Peter must be ecstatic. “Hey guys, look at me!” I can picture him saying with a giant grin on his face. This is merely speculation for the point I am trying to make, but in this circumstance, Peter has faith. He overcame his rationale that one cannot walk on water and even though his feelings told him not to, and stepped onto the water because his faith was stronger than his feelings. His feelings must have been raging with doubt and insecurity, but his belief that Jesus was the Son of God let him go farther.
When the winds pick up though, Peter has second thoughts. Consequently, his feelings overpower what faith he has and he starts to sink. I can imagine Peter’s dilemma though, walking on water and then looking down to see unsteady water along with harsh winds is no cradle for (mostly) anything but panic. Jesus responds to Peter with “You of little faith. Why did you doubt?” Jesus is exclaiming here that Peter’s doubt overpowered his faith. Peter had faith when he stepped onto the water by acting in spite of what his feelings told him.
This is by no means an easy thing that Peter did. Imagine what kind of feelings he must have chosen to overlook or ignore when he stepped out of that boat. Even with Jesus Christ physically calling him by name on the open Sea of Galilee, faith in this circumstance was difficult. Jesus points out that Peter has “little faith,” and I must agree with him. Although this task was difficult, “little” is exactly what he had. I am not trying to belittle Peter and his faith, but trying to say that there is so much more we are capable of. If walking on water, even if only for a few seconds, is “little faith”, what else might we be capable of? I would regard walking on water as a gigantic act of faith, and that is only my perspective. With what Christ has enabled in us, faith working with the Holy Spirit has the potential to let us do even greater things than Jesus did.
There is an art in this creation that deals with feelings, reason, and beliefs. One must practice this art in order to become stronger and more skilled at acting with it persistently. I’ve come to appreciate Lewis’ wisdom through his book Mere Christianity, and his examples have aided my understanding of what faith is. Although there is so much more to learn and understand, I’ve come to accept that the example Lewis has provided us with is one step closer to understanding Truth. faith is not easy, and Peter can certainly attest to that.
