Faith….is it blind, or does it see?

Faith and Blind Faith as the world Conceives it.

In my search for truth of the two phrases “faith” and “blind faith” I found it strange how some dictionaries treat such.  I looked online at Merriam-Webster Dictionary and online at US Dictionary.  Merriam-Webster shows no such word as “blind faith,” while the US Dictionary changes the word “faith” to faithful,

Faith and blind faith have quite subtle differences, and even some similarities.  Faith simply means a person believes in something, or somebody.  Blind faith means a person would believe in something without question or evidence.  Both can sometimes be a strength giving an individual optimism and self confidence, but lack of critical thinking can lead that individual to bad results.

Much of our world today operates in faith and blind faith as described here by the US Dictionary.

FAITH from the US Dictionary:

• Faithful (adjective): Loyal, constant, and steadfast in affection, duty, or allegiance.
• Faithful (adjective): True to the original, accurate, or reliable in representation or translation.
• Faithful (noun, rare): A loyal follower or believer, especially in a religious ideological context. 

BLIND FAITH from the US Dictionary:

• "Blind faith" refers to the practice of believing in something without skepticism, critical examination, or a demand for proof.
• It can apply to various situations, such as unquestioning belief in religious doctrines, ideologies, or a leader's or loved one's actions and intentions.
• "Blind faith" often carries a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of thought or discernment. For example, in debates about religion and spirituality, critics often use the term to criticize those who follow religious doctrines without question.
• Equivalent phrases to "blind faith" might include "unquestioning belief," "unconditional trust," or "unwavering faith."

As my research continued I went online to the Google search engine: I entered “define blind faith.”   Here is Google’s response.

AI Overview

Blind faith means accepting a belief, person, or idea completely without question, reason, or proof. It is trust that refuses to change even when faced with facts or logic that prove it wrong.

Key Characteristics

• No Evidence: Believing things happen or statements are true without checking facts.
• No Questions: Accepting orders or teachings from a leader or text without asking why.
• Ignoring Proof: Sticking to the belief even if clear facts show the opposite.

Much of the world, to sum it up, is believing in and accepting something they cannot see, and have not investigated, from a source they don’t know.  Yes, the Much of the world in general often is acting in blind faith.

Many questions could be asked, but my final question here would be: Did Jesus have power to heal the sick, raise the dead, or exorcise demons because of blind faith?  Physically He saw one in need, while spiritually with his faith in God, He saw that one healed.

In today’s online social world there are those who are acting in “blind faith” to the extreme.  They are blindly following the various medias with no evidence, no questions, and ignoring proof.

Then there are those who present faith and blind faith as being so much alike as to be the same.  In my research I was shocked to find there are pastors claiming blind faith to be biblical.  Even quoting scriptures they claim to be examples of blind faith.   Here is one often quoted to be “blind faith.”  [John 20:29] Jesus speaking to Thomas concerning Thomas’ faith.   Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  Jesus was speaking of believers that had spiritual trust in the Lord, not of physical sight, or “blind faith.”

God did not create, give to us, and then promote a faith in the physically seen. Nor did He create a faith that is inherently blind.  Why would He give each of us a measure of blind faith, a faith that cannot see?  God intends for us to see from our heart with our minds eye what it is we pray for, through a faith that sees.  I have a dear friend who is a well educated theologian with several degrees.  For more than 30 years he has been my go to friend for help in understanding God’s word.  When I asked him to comment on blind faith, my friend Dr. Paul Collins explained blind faith this way.  “All faith operates as physically blind, and without obvious points of reference as to facts or any sign of physical or emotional evidence. That's why we walk by faith and not be sight (or point of reference or emotional evidence).”

While meditating on his description of faith, it came to me, “Our faith operates as physically blind while spiritually seeing what is not as though it were through a faith that sees.”  A “faith that sees” comes directly from the abundance of our heart, a spiritually Devine reality transcending our understanding.  [Romans 10:9-10] says we believe in the heart and confess with the mouth.  Faith that grows from the knowledge of God’s word becomes a faith that sees.  Jesus spoke in Mathew of the importance of what we hold in our hearts.

I believe the “faith that sees” powers our lives as it comes directly from our heart in what we speak and act from the abundance of our heart.