Introduction to Christian Faith : a Deeper Way of Seeing.

2018·1.4 MB·English

by  Neil F. Fisher

Introduction to
Christian
A Deeper Way of Seeing
Fait�
NEAL F. FISHER
Introduction to Christian Faith: A Deeper Way of Seeing
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry leads and serves The United Meth-
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Introduction to Christian Faith: A Deeper Way of Seeing
Copyright 2017 by Wesley’s Foundery Books
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Manufactured in the United States of America
{ }
For Elaine and LilaLee

Contents
Acknowledgments | ix
Preface | xi
Chapter 1: Faith and the Search for God | 1
Yearning for God | 2
Faith, God, and Idols | 6
Obstacles to Faith | 9
Practical Atheism | 11
Optional God? | 14
The Postmodern World and Science | 19
New Perspectives on Faith | 24
Reflection Questions | 25
Chapter 2: The Mystery of Faith | 27
Three Seconds before Midnight | 27
What Are Mortals? | 29
A Little Lower than God | 32
How Majestic Is Your Name | 37
The Creature Sings Praise | 40
Reflection Questions | 42
Chapter 3: The Inevitability of Faith | 43
The Shape of Faith | 44
Faith, Science, and the Search for Truth | 50
Personal Interest and Knowing | 51
Building a Worldview | 52
v
Contents
Knowledge and the Limits of Imagination | 54
Knowledge in the Absence of Proof | 57
Knowledge, Faith, and Hope | 58
Conclusion | 59
Reflection Questions | 61
Chapter 4: Faith as Trust | 63
The Meaning of Faith | 64
Faith, Language of the Heart | 67
Faith, Trust, and Mystery | 69
A Witness to Faith | 73
Faith and Vision | 76
Reflection Questions | 77
Chapter 5: Origins of Faith | 79
The Advent of Trust | 80
Revealing Events | 84
Tradition and Stories | 87
Communities of Interpretation | 90
Conclusion | 95
Reflection Questions | 95
Chapter 6: Faith and God Made Known | 97
Faith and History | 100
Jesus and the Heart of God | 103
Witnesses of God’s Self-Revelation in Christ | 105
Continuing Reflection on Who Jesus Is | 111
Jesus, God Made Known | 118
Trusting Jesus and Knowing God | 126
Reflection Questions | 128
Chapter 7: Faith Seeking Understanding | 131
Struggles with Doubt | 133
The Dimensions of Doubt | 137
The Ways of Science and the Ways of Faith | 142
vi
Contents
Levels of Understanding | 150
Conclusion | 155
Reflection Questions | 155
Chapter 8: Faith Seeking Explanation | 157
Seeking the Best Explanation | 159
First Cause: Why Is There Anything? | 164
Creation: Is Creation Both an Event and a Process? | 169
Human Life: Did the Universe Know We Were Coming? | 175
Emergence: Did Mind Come from Matter? | 179
Mind and the Universe: Why Is the Universe
Comprehensible? | 185
Moral Obligation: Is There a Foundation for Our Feeling
of Ought? | 188
Conclusion | 198
Reflection Questions | 199
Chapter 9: Faith in Community | 201
Seeking Experience of God | 202
Ministry on Rocky Ground | 206
Individualism and Community | 210
Community and Narratives | 212
A Community Frame of Reference | 214
Community and Experience | 216
Community and Discernment | 218
Interpreting the Self and the World | 223
Conclusion | 225
Reflection Questions | 226
Chapter 10: Faith in Action | 229
Practices | 232
Christian Practices | 235
Action and Belief | 237
Tacit Knowledge of God | 240
vii
Contents
Actions as Apertures to Faith | 244
Action, Conviction, and Belief | 247
Reflection Questions | 254
Epilogue: A Deeper Way of Seeing | 257
Learning to See | 258
A Parable on Learning to See | 259
Faith | 264
Hope | 272
Love | 277
Conclusion | 279
Reflection Questions | 280
Index of Subjects and Authors | 283
Index of Scripture References | 287
viii
Acknowledgments
It is a pleasant responsibility to say thanks to many friends and
colleagues who have contributed thoughtfully in the preparation
of this book. Jack Seymour conferred helpfully with me at the
beginning of the project, and he later read a draft of the book and
gave valuable counsel and suggestions for its refinement. Marjorie
Eckhardt read the manuscript and gave careful attention to proper
form and clarity throughout. Lallene Rector provided both her
personal interest in the project and her strong support in seeing it
through to publication. Adolf Hansen made thoughtful suggestions
on the organization of the book and gave a critical reading to parts
of the manuscript that related to events in the life of his family. Sue
D’Alessio likewise read and commented helpfully on a section of
the book that referred to events arising from her pastoral ministry.
Jack Bremer, Ardis Chapman, Clarke Chapman, Harold Gar-
man, and Hendrik Pieterse have reviewed all or portions of the
manuscript and shared helpful responses. I am indebted to mem-
bers of my immediate and extended family for reading and chari-
tably responding to what I have written. They include: Gregory
Fisher, the Nicholas Lodge and Bryn Fisher family, the Kirk Fisher
and Sharon McManus family, AvaJo Shippy, and Tara Walzel.
I have discussed portions of the book with members of several
congregations at which I have preached while I was preparing this
ix
ACknowledgments
work, and I have been fortified by their interest and support. Kath-
ryn Armistead, publisher for Foundery Books, has been a valu-
able guide and colleague in preparing the book, and I have been
grateful to benefit from her knowledge and experience in seeing
it through to publication. For all those, named and unnamed, who
have shown interest and given support, I am deeply grateful.
While discussing Christian faith always requires our best think-
ing, it is never merely an academic exercise. Faith is related to all
we experience and undergo. Ten years ago I experienced the loss
of Ila, my wife and companion of fifty years, after her courageous
and extended struggle with debilitating illness. I dedicated an ear-
lier book to her. Several months following Ila’s death, my younger
sister, Elaine McBride, was diagnosed with an aggressive form
of cancer that eventually claimed her life. We talked during the
months of Elaine’s declining health about faith and trust in God
both in life and in death, and she gave luminous witness to her faith
both in her congregation and in individual conversations. I shared
then my intent to write a book interpreting how it is that we are
found in faith and place our trust in God. LilaLee had walked a sim-
ilar path as she cared for her late husband through a long terminal
illness and also lost a brother through death. Together we discov-
ered that a new relationship could take root and flourish even in
the shadow of mourning and loss. We have cause every day to give
thanks for a marriage that has brought love, blessing, and joy into
our lives. Her interest and support in writing about faith have been
invaluable. This book is for Elaine and LilaLee.
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