If faith is a gift from God, why would he give it to some, and not others,?
536772
A speaker from the "freedom from religion" foundation spoke at my college a few years ago.  He proposed that, because it is more logical to believe God is fiction, but less heartwarming, maybe God will only reward those who have the courage NOT to believe in Him.
102278
no i think that is a gift from GOD that some people are better at things than other people.
2674
Why do you need proof to have faith? The definition of faith is believing without seeing.  Jesus makes reference to this many times in the Bible.  He didn't want to perform miracles because he didn't want to have to prove who he was.  He just wanted people to believe. I mean, isn't it kind of an insult to someone when you ask for proof?  It means you don't trust that person and you can't have a relationship without trust.  If you don't trust that he is the Messiah, you can't have a relationship with him.
642292
The blind faith that people have in a god is brought about by many causes:\n\n1.)  Their parents and family taught them to believe in God and participate in religious functions.  If they tell their family that God does not exist, they face rejection and persecution.\n\n2.)  God is a security blanket for some people.  Isn't it so nice to have someone that is always thinking of you and loving you and saving you (allegedly) from evil?  But don't forget that when your spouse dies in a car accident that it was part of God's plan.\n\n3.)  The fear of hell is a powerful psychological weapon used by the church to force people into believing in God.  Religious people fear that if they reject the concept of God that they will have an afterlife of eternal misery.  Parents pass this fear onto their children to convince them to "behave appropriately."  It is a vicious cycle that continues from generation to generation.\n\n4.)  Many people lack the intellectual capability to conduct an objective investigation of life and the universe.  For these people it is just easier to believe what soceity tells them and they are unable or unwilling to consider any possible alternative.  They do not want to step outside of their mental "comfort zone."\n\n5.)  And for the lucky religious leaders and people in power, the belief in God has endless benefits.  Pastors get people to donate money to their church, Bishops get prestige and admiration for being so holy, and even President Bush can get support (at least temporarily) for a questionnable war because he claims that God talks to him.
870775
John 6:29\nJesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."\n\nJames 2:\n14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. \n 18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." \n      Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. \n\n 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. \n\n 20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[e] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. \n\n 25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.\n\nMatt 25\n\n31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. \n 34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' \n\n 37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' \n\n 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' \n\n 41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' \n\n 44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' \n\n 45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' \n\n 46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
503069
you shouldnt preach the gift of Gods salvation to people who completely reject, wont listen,  and dont understand it. \n\n\nwhen i witness to someone and they start to blaspheme God to my face .. i know im dealing with a swine.. theres really no reaching them at that point but i still pray for them and maybe someday they open their hearts\n\nswines dont understand the value of pearls:\nworldy people dont understand the value of Gods salvation
916341
Ephesians 2:8-9..."For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast".\nWorks follow naturally as evidence of salvation, not to obtain it.
238706
Another great question.Faith is not blind because it is just a concept like love, etc. Ah.....but the faithful! They are not blind. They are so intelligent and reasonable. Consider these:\na)Mathematicians say that it is highly improbable for order to come out of disorder. But, the faithful has found ways of convincing us that complex things just evolved.\n\nb)There is only one true and Almighty God, says the Bible. But the faithful is so ingenious they have convinced us that He is 3 in one.\n\nc) God is love and mercy. In fact he gives rain and blessings to the righteous and unrighteous. He sent his son as ransom for us. But, the faithful is more intelligent than their creator. They have made us believe that God would make or even allow eternal torture in hell.\n\nd) God is love. He told us to love one another. But, the faithful is better than God. They are able to convince us to slaughter each other in war--in the name of that God.\n\ne) God told his true followers to preach the good news about his coming Kingdom. When they do, the faithful has successfully branded them as cult members.\n\nf)Love God with all your minds. Yet, when somebody is reasoning with us the folly of our beliefs, the faithful is so eager to shut him up. Mind your own beliefs, they say.\n\nShall I go on...or is it too much for you?
445739
No. Absolutely not. The fact that I have a strong faith is a personal decision. What anyone else chooses to believe in is entirely up to them, and I do respect that. I wouldn't be living the way my faith requires if I were to push it onto someone else. I respect their beliefs the same way that I would want someone to respect mine. (Lutheran)
403548
I would go to heaven, because I have accepted Christ as my lord and savior. You see, heaven is a free gift. It is not earned and can not be deserved.  "For it is by grace that you are saved through faith. it is the gift of God, not of man, that none may boast."Eph 2 8-9 It has to be a free gift because man is a sinner. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Rom 3:23 Anything that is against God's will is considered sin. There are sins of thought, omission, and commission.  God gave a standard we must achieve if we wish to earn our way into heaven According to Matt 5:48, that standard  is " Be therefore perfect as your father in heaven is perfect."  That definitely leaves me out. Our God is merciful, and does not want to punish us, but He is just and must punish sin. This apparent problem was solved by Jesus - who is 100% God and 100% man. What did He do? He died on the cross, rose from the dead, and purchased a place in heaven for us. Does everyone receive this gift? No - the key to heaven is faith. Not temporal faith - like praying when you have a sick loved one , not head knowledge - many people believe that Jesus lived, much as they believe that George Washington lived. However, they are not counting on him to do anything for them today. Scripture tells us "You believe there is one God? You do well. The demons believe as much - and tremble!" James 2:9 No - the key to heaven is saving faith - asking Jesus to save you from the penalty of your sins. If this is what you want to do, ask Him to be your lord. Ask him to be your savior. Repent of your sins, and be a new creation!
614451
Friend,\n\nRe-read Ephesians 2.  It is by FAITH we have been saved.  Not by any works of our hands or hearts.  Being saved is a GIFT from God.  When I give a gift, I expect nothing in return.  I don't think God does either.  Quoted above: our works are like filthy rags to God.  The good works spoken of are not for God's benefit, but ours and our fellow man.  The Lord delights in our being happy.  If a believer shows another of God's children love via a "good deed", the love shown is what God cares about.  When we do "good deeds" to try and please God, we fail at it miserably!  That is why no deed, however good will get you into heaven.  It is by being born again through Christ that we gain access to heaven.  That is THE ONLY WAY.  The Bible is plain on that idea.  Good works are to be done because of our love for God, not to make Him happy.  The fact that we love Him and one another is His hearts delight.\nPeace
852824
In a believers faith (true faith) God does not ask for blindness. He gives us reason for our faith.. Fulfilled prophecy, scientific evidence..etc    Jim
587250
Because that's what the Bible says so Jesus worshippers have to believe it even if the evidence says otherwise.  They call it faith.
155122
Faith comes by hearing the word of God.
598301
I'm with you. We need both faith and works.\n\nThe works God is talking about is not a Brownie Points system of "earning your way into heaven." But you cannot sustain faith for very long without true works. Faith dies without the fire of those works. However, God sees people as individuals, so there is no comparing with your neighbor to see who did "the most" or who is "most worthy." It just does not work like that.
1186989
Faith was intended for the primitive folk in Christ's era because they were too primitive in their education, thinking and mindset to understand what was behind his message. This 'unquestioning belief' was designed to sustain the message of Christ over the centuries until the arrival of the Apocalypse (Revelation or 'to reveal') which would demystify the 'mystery of the ages'.
1126587
Why would the Bible tell us to pray for wisdom and then not have us apply it?  What is free will if there are no consequences for our choices?\n\nBesides, there's a fine line between faith and presumption.\n\nSometimes God has asked people to do things that seemed downright foolish.  It stretches your faith.  Everyone who loves you will come with their "concern" and "reasoning."  But at the eleventh hour, God comes through.\n\nOther times, people assume God is asking them to do something when He has done no such thing.  Or, in other words, they presume upon Him and put themselves in bad situations and tight spots.\n\nI've done both.