In The Polar Express, the hero boy can't hear Santa's sleigh bells until he believes. When he finally does, he hears the bells' sweet ringing and asks Santa for one of them as the ceremonial first gift of that Christmas...
The movie's all about believing and faith. But how much faith was involved? The kid was there himself at the North Pole seeing the whole thing with his own eyes! If you set a bowl of Cheerios in front of me and I say, I can't eat it 'cuz I don't believe it's really there, would you say I just need to believe?
Charles Hodge...said that faith is the persuasion of truth founded on testimony...Historical evidence differs from mathematical proof or scientifically observed events. Persuasion is based on evidence, to be sure, but it is the evidence of testimony -- in the case of Scripture, the testimony of the prophets and the apostles. There are many reasons for considering this testimony thoroughly trustworthy, such as the character of the those who gave it, the unity of the testimony, it's content and so on. The evidence alone, however, does not compel acceptance. The work of the Holy Spirit is needed, and thus faith is a miraculous gift that confirms evidence and even carries one beyond the evidence if necessary. (But) it does not contradict the evidence, nor is it 'sight' based on irrefutable scientific proof. -- Robertson McQuilkin
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