Faith Defined

When it comes to academics I’m what you might describe as a well oiled machine with all steel plated parts, fine tuned to perfection… but I just don’t have a power cord. I’ve been set up all my life to receive the best in academia, but for some reason I never seemed to “turn on” to any of it. I know, I’m a big fat lazy loser, but hey at least I’m not a liar huh? Most of my academic journey has been about as fun as jamming toothpicks in my eye balls, but seminary has proved slightly different. Now my grades might not reflect it, but contrary to popular belief I actually like going to DTS! One of my favorite professors (yes Elizabeth I have many FAVORITES!) is Dr. Allman. Now, Big Al (as I call him… just not to his face of course) taught me one of the most valuable and memorable things I’ve learned thus far at DTS. One day in class, he took a dry erase marker and drew on the entire board a definition of faith.

“Faith,” he said, “starts as knowledge. It starts by the knowledge in the person of God, then it proceeds to knowledge in the plan of God.”

He then wrote the word KNOWLEDGE in all caps on the board.

“Next is what I call Assent. Faith is taking that knowledge that we know of who God is and what his will and plan is and ascending that knowledge into what we accept as truth. ‘You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder!’ so our knowledge is no good until we know it as truth in our hearts. Knowledge is no good until we have a love commitment because of 1 Peter 1:18. Knowledge is no good until we have a changed behavior. Knowledge is no good until you take risks. Knowledge is no good until you are able to hope in that knowledge.”

Dr. Allman then took his blue Expo marker and wrote to the right and just below KNOWLEDGE the words LOVE COMMITMENT in all caps.

“So because of what we know about God’s person and God’s plan, through the study of scripture we are able to accept that knowledge as truth, then we are able to commit to that knowledge because of the love commitment God has shown us in 1 Peter 1:18. Now because of the love commitment we have we are now able to hope in the person and the plan of God in all things. And in taking risks because of our faith we then prove the person and the plan of God.”

He took the marker and wrote out to the left of the last work the word RISK. He then took the marker and made a completed circle of all the words as if they all revolved over and over as one unit.

KNOWLEDGE
LOVE COMMITMENT
RISK

“Your knowledge of God’s person and God’s plan is the start of an ascension to believing in your heart that then allows you to be a part of a love commitment that you hope in which then allows you to take risks, which then prove the person and the plan of God. This is what we call faith. Faith in a God that is known, trusted and hoped in. Faith.”

Knowledge
In the person and plan of God

Assent
Accept what you know as truth

Love Commitment
1 Peter 1:18
Changed behavior
Risk

Hope
In the person and plan of God