I wish this sign were made up, but evidently it’s the actual church sign from First Baptist Church of Rapid City, SD. No explanation was given by the pastor as to the meaning of his sign, but my guess is it comes down to a misunderstanding of faith. Faith, as some define it, is “trust in what cannot be proven through reason.” In some ways this is a fair definition, but it is also a weak definition. It sets up what is an ongoing problem for the church – the belief that you must throw out reason if you want to take up faith. It is as though these are polar opposites that cannot both be true. But faith and reason are not black and white. They are not two sides of one coin so that only one can be true. You can have reason while having faith, and vice versa. God calls us to more than just a blind belief, but to a reasonable faith. Faith that can handle the tough times of life is faith that is founded solidly in reason. These are not opposites. They are compliments which give us a richer life in Christ.
