Faith, Belief, and Wheelbarrows

During Pastor Carl's message this morning, he briefly explained out the difference between belief (the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition to be true) and faith (confidence or trust in a person, thing, doctrine, or a deity).

In doing so, Carl recounted the story of Charles Blondin, the world-famous nineteenth century acrobat and tightrope walker:

"Blondin's greatest fame came in June of 1859 when he attempted to become the first person to cross a tightrope stretched over a quarter of a mile across the mighty Niagara Falls.

"He walked 160 feet above the falls several times, each time with a different daring feat - once in a sack, on stilts, on a bicycle, in the dark, and once he even carried a stove and cooked an omelette!

"On one occasion though, he asked for the participation of a volunteer.

"A large crowd gathered and a buzz of excitement ran along both sides of the river bank. The crowd “Oooohed!” and “Aaaaahed!” as Blondin carefully walked across one dangerous step after another -- blindfolded and pushing a wheelbarrow.

"Upon reaching the other side, the crowd's applause was louder than the roar of the falls! Blondin suddenly stopped and addressed his audience: 'Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?'

"The crowd enthusiastically shouted, 'Yes, yes, yes! You are the greatest tightrope walker in the world. You can do anything!'

"'Okay,' said Blondin, 'Get in the wheelbarrow.'"

As Christians, we're called to much more than belief;
we are called to faith!