Faith and Knowledge

Faith and Knowledge

Michael Keith

Liberty University

Faith and Knowledge

There has been a debate between people who believe knowledge and faith are mutually exclusive and that having faith is only because of a lack of knowledge. I believe that faith and knowledge are two different aspects of the truth and that they sometimes work together as the only way to come to the complete truth. Knowledge is something you can obtain through observing facts and occurrences and faith is how you use your knowledge to make a decision about the things you can never know.

Faith and knowing are two key aspects of every person’s worldview. There is a very important distinction that must be drawn between them. Neither faith nor knowledge alone can be used to answer every question, but they must be used together. Knowing relates to something factual, measurable, and concretely definable. An example would be stating that Jesus Christ was a man that existed. This can be illustrated with enough evidence to be taken as a historical fact and something that can be known. Faith relates to believing something to be true without being able to completely know it. An example would be stating that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah and God incarnate. There is some evidence to support this, but there is not enough to state it as a fact that can be known because there are too many intangible elements—how do you measure what God is? Both statements, although true, must be taken from a different perspective.

It is important for a Christian to know as much as possible about his or her beliefs. A Christian should realize what they can factually know and what they must place some faith in. It is possible to know many aspects of Christianity, such as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, aspects of His life and death, and His appearance to his disciples after His supposed death.

There is a point, however, when knowledge isn’t enough to take...