[TruthTalk] The Right Way To Get To The Truth

[Judy Taylor]

Slade writes: I agree that most people give mental assent to matters of faith and belief over the physical manifestations of these beliefs. For instance, Let's assume Cliff believes God will heal and that doctors are soothsayers and witch doctors and their use is akin to witchcraft. Three years later (after touting this belief everywhere he goes), Cliff contracts a deadly cancer that requires the removal of a lump at the base of his head. He is told that the cancer is easily removed and his life will be back to normal in a matter of weeks, but if he allows it to fester, he will first become a quadriplegic when the cancer expends and pinches of the spinal column, and a few months later, he will die a terrible death because he will find it more and more difficult to eat, drink, swallow, and even breathe. Basically, if he doesn't suffocate first, he will starve to death.   jt: Is the above scenario written with the idea that what Cliff calls faith is in actuality 'mental assent only?'   What does the man do?   jt: He looks for a doorpoint ie the opening/sin in his life that the enemy used to get a foothold.   Does he submit to the relatively simple surgery (after disavowing his ethical standing), or does he trust God to heal and remove the growth?  I think perhaps what you're referring to, Izzy, is what happens to someone's faith when "the rubber hits the road."   jt: Mental assent crumbles when tested and there is no glory in 'tempting God' - If Cliff has himself out on a limb it is one of his own making.   The question of our strength of Faith is not answered until we're in a situation when faith has the opportunity to be the ground under our feet. Remember Avraham and the Akeidah (Binding of Isaac)? God knew the strength of Avraham's faith, but Avraham didn't... not until he was atop Mt. Moriyah with his son on the altar and a blade in his hand.  -- slade   jt: God also knowingly allowed Adam to be tested and he failed ....