Hi y'all. I haven't been here in quite a while...

But to answer the question, Spurgeon: A Biography by Arnold Dallimore. I like it. It's more to the point than some biographies of Charles Spurgeon that I have read.

@hillelslovak: While a person can have that particular definition on faith, why is it that we may have that type of faith towards God but not towards another human being? If my wife where to have faith that I can accomplish a task, does this mean that she has no basis upon which to believe this? No, if she were to believe this, it would be based upon experience and evidence. If she were to not have faith in what I might be able to accomplish, this is based upon her past experience in seeing what I might do, evidence if you will.

Because face is so often defined as wishful thinking, I often do not even use the term faith at all. But there might be a better word? Trust.

I trust in God in the same way I trust the gravity we will continue to be working in a moment from now. I trust in God in the same way I expect summer to be warm and winter to be cold. This is not wishful thinking, faith and trust can very much be based upon experience and evidence.

Faith is to have a basis in reality, not to be contrary to it.

I will very much agree with this statement. I once obsessed over all of the philosophical arguments. I liked to feel like a "won" a debate. These days I just want to know the Jesus of Scripture. The rest is beneficial but the joy of my salvation is not rested in an argument but in the person and work of Christ as according to the Scripture.

I just logged in for the first time in probably 10 months. I couldn't resist this topic.

I do hope you are well. I was surprised to see so many here I remember from ages past.

@Serraph105: I'm a little late to the party but I'll respond anyway.

Side note, I haven't posted here in ages and have missed it. Life is so much different these days compared to when I first joined.

But back to the response. I would first like to note some misconceptions you appear to have and we'll look at them as we look at the text in question and other texts related to your topic.

First, what did this story seek to do? You can find the answer by looking at the main verse in the story, verse 29. Here is the story for context:

[24] Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” [26] Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” [27] Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” [28] Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” [29] Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:24-29 ESV)

Okay, what seems to be the point in this story has less to do with Jesus' response to do with Thomas but the reader's response to the Gospel message. Thomas doubted but believed upon seeing the evidence of Jesus. He was greatly blessed by it. However, those who believe despite having never seen the physically resurrected Jesus will also be blessed. This is a point from Jesus that is less for Thomas's knowledge and more for yours, the reader's knowledge. By belief in the resurrected Jesus you can be blessed.

What this passage is not is an argument by Jesus to ignore physical evidence. At no point is Jesus judging Thomas negatively for his doubt. Jesus is not condemning Thomas but is very much welcoming to him. While in no conceivable way do I desire to add to the words of Jesus, this is as if Jesus is saying, "Oh my Thomas, Thomas that I love. You have doubted but now through sight and touch you will believe. I desire you to know me, love me, and be loved by me. Many will come after you who will also believe and be blessed by it. However, it is through simple trust in the testimony of Scripture that they will come to believe."

Second, we must also look elsewhere in Scripture to verify these ideas. Take the following passage as an example:

[30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; [31] but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31 ESV)

This story was not written without eyewitnesses. It is not about guesswork or hopeful thinking. This story was written based upon eyewitness testimony so that the readers might come to believe this story to be true and verifiable.

Let's look elsewhere in Scripture, Luke 1:1-4:

[1] Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, [2] just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, [3] it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, [4] that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1-4 ESV)

Luke, the writer, is writing what what appears to be a single individual and he is writing with the purpose of showing the truth of the story of Jesus. This is a news report written by a historian, a reporter, a messenger. He is retelling the story written in the other gospels that has been told to him by eyewitnesses. As an example, Luke has the most detailed account of the birth and childhood of Jesus. Therefore, it is quite likely that Luke, notebook in hand, asks Mary the mother of Jesus about these things.

This is not a book written for the anti-intellectual who denies evidence, testimony, and clear reason. The Bible itself is written for the best of us and the worst of us so that we might know that God so loved us that he desired to not leave this world in its broken state. God so loved us that he sent his son Jesus Christ to make things right, to take our punishment, to die the death that we deserve - whether we realize it or not. However, Jesus did not come simply to die for us and be a martyr. Jesus rose from the grave. He is the victor and therefore we who believe in this narrative and trust in him will also become victors.

As Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 15:

[54] When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” [55] “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” [56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57 ESV)

Oh what a wonderful thing! I shall now depart with a dance of giddiness.

I have not been here in a while.

Hi.

I do not have one biggest achievement as much as a multitude of small achievements that have brought me to where I am.

Interim pastor, shift manager in a coffee shop, and master's student.

They are studies of two different fields. Science studies the repeatable, observable laws of the physical universe. Religion studies the supernatural, spiritual, and immaterial aspects to the universe. One is seen. The other is unseen. That stated, to some extent I'd argue that science is absolutely incapable of determining or discovering religious truth.

Science states that people die and stay dead. Religion states that though people die and stay dead, Jesus is the irregular, supernatural exception - he died and rose from the dead.

More specifically for Christian missions. My goal would be to help better equip the local churches in that area with stronger Bible teaching. This area of the world's churches are known for its sensationalism, emotionalism, and materialism.

This country, I must add, is also where my wife is from.