Blind Faith

Johnny* bought a car, a really nice new shiny red car.  His wife counseled him not to make the purchase.  His financial advisor warned him it could put him in unsustainable debt.  But Johnny didn’t care to listen.  This car was going to make up for all the “beater,” used, ordinary cars he was tired of driving. It would let everyone know he was doing well—after all he served the King and those who serve the King deserve the best. Right?! ​

Johnny told everyone his faith was in the Lord and the Lord would provide. Those who doubted his thinking needed to get out of the way so he could get on living his life.  The car was supposedly attached to his trust in God, and in Johnny’s mind, he could not go wrong.
 
Meditation
Habakkuk 2:4--Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith.
 
We all know about faith, but do we understand the difference between authentic faith and blind faith? There is no dictionary definition I could find for blind faith. Pastor Steinbrenner of Bethany Lutheran Church in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, notes that “Blind faith would be in the same category as ‘foolhardy,’” a word he found defined as “unwisely bold or venturesome; rash.”[1] Dan Korem wrote in Powers Testing the Psychic & Supernatural, “This is the essence of blind faith.  It is faith where the use of one’s mind is put on the shelf, and facts and information are considered irrelevant.”
           
Faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1 as “the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” In the spiritual realm, the difference between authentic faith and blind faith is immense.  True faith is tied to God and centered on His attributes and promises. We cannot see Him, heaven, or life after death, but we believe each is true because of His creative work, His impact on people’s lives, and the veracity of His Word.   
            
Johnny has a big ego and questionable integrity. While he says God will provide the money after he purchases his car, he does not ask God if he should buy the vehicle; he is not interested in spiritual counsel, and his finances are already shaky. This is a classic example of blind faith—the impetuous will of a close-minded adult convinced he can pay for a car above his means and who is about to make an egregious blunder that will hurt his family. Too bad Johnny did not see the sign on a small church in North Carolina:
Faith is not taking a blind leap into darkness;
It is taking a step into light.
 
Inspiration
“Faith is not the means whereby we take God to ourselves for our exclusive purposes; faith is the gift of God whereby He expresses His purposes through us.”—Oswald Chambers in Not Knowing Where 90

©2023 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.     
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)

[1]https://bethanylutheranfort.org/q-a/2017/9/20/question-what-is-the-difference-between-faith-and-blind-faith
*Fictitious character