Faith Is a Choice

Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. John 2:11 (NRSV )

I am struck that they were already disciples at the wedding. There because he is — following him already — they see the water made wine, and then they believed in him? What did they think before? Belief seems a slippery thing, hard to define. They believe at the wedding, but what do they believe? Certainly, none would pass the simplest doctrinal test. The Nicene Creed would wholly escape them, as would the Apostles Creed, to say nothing of the Athanasian or the Chalcedon Definition. They wouldn’t even pass the test of non-creedal Baptists because they don’t believe in the New Testament — they can’t, because they haven’t written it yet.

Besides, is it clear that belief is all that, anyway? James says even the demons believe and tremble. Belief seems something you have, or you don’t. It doesn’t seem voluntary—at least I hope not, because then
my ability to believe is the measure of my potential for self-delusion. Whatever they believed, it was of other stuff than the trembling demons. Perhaps, the disciples have something closer to trust than belief as often understood. Or maybe, it is closer to faith. Faith is a choice, not an emotion we feel or a thought we have. Belief may be there or not, but our faith is a decision to act and to trust. Faith is a commitment that calls together our whole selves in an orientation

to life and the world. Doubt may be the opposite of belief, but is an essential part of faith, because it is an essential part of us.

Ed Higginbotham