Tinker Bell-ism

So, I’ve been a little bit, ya know, not here blogging, for a few weeks. I’ve been reading. A lot. Digesting, thinking and otherwise allowing my mind to percolate with Truth.
Jesus identifies himself with three things, including the truth, when he said: “I am the way, the truth and the life. None go to the Father but through me.”
That is quite a statement really. A mere mortal making such a claim would be laughed at, ridiculed and or otherwise be dismissed (or should be). It is a fundamental claim, a primordial claim of primacy of pure centrality. Jesus is claiming to be the ONLY path to GOD the Father, eternal comfort.
We are told to “believe on the name of Jesus the Christ” to be saved.
And here is where I think the trouble starts.
Believe: verb
1. accept (something) as true, feel sure of the truth of. “The superintendent believed Billy’s story”
2. hold (something) as an opinion, think or suppose. “I believe we’ve already met”

I believe (2) that part of our problem in the USA is we generally use definition number 2 for most instances when we employ the word believe. We are so shaped by post-modernism, being told repeatedly that something can be true for you, but not for me. “That’s your truth.”
Unfortunately we tend to come at the word “believe” through our current cultural fog. It’s Disney. “If you believe in fairies, then clap, your, hands.” Just believe (holds eyes closed and thinks really hard wishing something into existence).
The Apostle Thomas said he wouldn’t believe unless he touched the Lord’s side and his hands. Jesus appeared and presented the requested proofs for examination. And Thomas believed (1). This is the faith we are called to, a real, present and living faith. We trust (implicitly) in a Loving, care, gracious and unchanging GOD of perfect Goodness and Power. Not tinker bell.