| | The [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[Gary Habermas]] wrote: "Double-blind [[prayer]] experiments: where people pray for others with a terminal illness. Habermas admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of orthodox Christians praying for the sick."<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by [[Gary Habermas]]</ref>]] | | The [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[Gary Habermas]] wrote: "Double-blind [[prayer]] experiments: where people pray for others with a terminal illness. Habermas admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of orthodox Christians praying for the sick."<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by [[Gary Habermas]]</ref>]] |
| − | '''Faith'''<ref>Etymology: a very early English term dating from 1200-50, based on the Middle English term "feith" (Anglo-French fed, Old French feid, feit, Latin fidem, accusative of fidēs meaning trust, akin to fīdere meaning to trust).</ref> (Greek: pistis/πίστις) is trust, [[confidence]] or [[belief]] about something unseen, such as attaining [[God]]'s will.<ref>Also, the website Bible Odyssey notes about certain contexts in the New Testament: "By the late first or early second century, Christians were beginning to stretch the meaning of pistis to describe the distinctive nature of their relationship with God and Christ. When the [[Letter of Jude]] exhorts a [[Christian]] group “contend for the faith (pistis) which was once delivered unto the saints” ([[Jude|Jude 3]]), it may be using pistis to refer to a body of teaching or even the “new covenant” in Christ." [https://ww.bibleodyssey.org/articles/faith-word-study/ Faith (Word Study)]</ref><ref>Faith in God is mentioned first in the [[Bible]] concerning [[Abraham]], at [[Genesis]] 15:6: "And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him as [[righteousness]]."</ref> | + | '''Faith'''<ref>Etymology: a very early English term dating from 1200-50, based on the Middle English term "feith" (Anglo-French fed, Old French feid, feit, Latin fidem, accusative of fidēs meaning trust, akin to fīdere meaning to trust).</ref> (Greek: pistis/πίστις) is trust, [[confidence]] or [[belief]] about something unseen, such as attaining [[God]]'s will.<ref>Also, the website Bible Odyssey notes about certain contexts in the New Testament: "By the late first or early second century, Christians were beginning to stretch the meaning of pistis to describe the distinctive nature of their relationship with God and Christ. When the [[Letter of Jude]] exhorts a [[Christian]] group “contend for the faith (pistis) which was once delivered unto the saints” ([[Jude|Jude 3]]), it may be using pistis to refer to a body of teaching or even the “new covenant” in Christ." [https://ww.bibleodyssey.org/articles/faith-word-study/ Faith (Word Study)]</ref><ref>Faith in God is mentioned first in the [[Bible]] concerning [[Abraham]], at [[Genesis]] 15:6: "And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him as [[righteousness]]."</ref> It is faith that overcomes [[addiction]], and heals. |
| | Faith goes beyond [[materialism]] to include beneficial use of the unseen, [[spiritual]] reality. [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]] taught that even a little faith (the size of a [[Mustard|mustard seed]]) can move mountains ([[Matthew, Chapter 17#20|Matthew 17:20]]). | | Faith goes beyond [[materialism]] to include beneficial use of the unseen, [[spiritual]] reality. [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]] taught that even a little faith (the size of a [[Mustard|mustard seed]]) can move mountains ([[Matthew, Chapter 17#20|Matthew 17:20]]). |