Inconsistency of Christian Doubters
A strange tendency of the human mind is to accept readily much that might seem most wonderful and contrary to all reason, while at the same time rejecting as unworthy of belief, or at all events seriously doubting, what is far less wonderful, and what is not at variance with the dictates of the soundest reason. This unmistakable fact is recognized in the telling adage, “Many a man who does not believe in a God believes in ghosts.”
All of us have known men who reject the Bible as a guide of life, or as worthy of consideration as the most remarkable book in the world, who are disturbed for days or weeks when they see for the first time in the month the new moon over their left shoulder, and who seriously hesi-Bow to 2)cal with Doubts
tate to begin any fresh undertaking on Friday. It is a well-authenticated fact that many an unbeliever or declared opponent of Christianity is positively affected in his life course by the influence of signs and omens, and lucky and unlucky days and seasons.
We generally speak of “superstition” and “religion” as if they were two entirely different forces, affecting entirely different classes of persons; but it might be difficult for us to draw the line between the two forces even as the line exists in our own minds. It would be still more difficult for us to describe just the sort of persons who are influenced by the one force, and not by the other. This truth, or the inevitable confusion with reference to this truth, should be borne in mind in dealing with those who evidently have an open mind with reference to the Bible and Christian truth, yet who seem unable to accept the Bible record of some prominent Christian truth. It may, in their case, be simply a
Inconaistencs of Cbristian Doubters
result of a peculiar working of their mind, and another indication of the strange tendency of human nature. Such persons deserve considerate, sympathetic treatment, in order that they may be helped into fuller and clearer light. They do not mean to be unreasonable, even though they are.
A young Christian worker came to me, one day, with a confession of a doubt, because he thought I was always ready to give sympathetic counsel to an honest doubter. The young worker had been for some time prominent in Young Men’s Christian Association work, and in religious effort among university students. He was himself a university graduate, and was considering the Christian ministry for his life work. He had the reputation and the appearance of an earnest and devoted Christian man. There was nothing that seemed to suggest the caviler or the doubter, even when he confessed his doubt. It was evident that what he believed he believed heartily, and
IKow to 2)eal with 2)oubts
that he would be glad to believe more. He seemed to be sorry that he had to confess any doubt.
After speaking of his manner of life and his habits of thought, as if he would have it understood that he was not inclined to a doubting mood with reference to Bible truths, he said, half hesitatingly:
“The only thing that troubles me in the story of Jesus is the narrative of his miraculous birth.”
“Do you think there was anything exceptional in the life and work and words of Jesus?” I asked.
“Gh! I think he was in all things exceptional. I don’t doubt him. I trust myself fully to his guidance, and for my salvation. It is only about the circumstances of his birth that I have any doubt.”
“How do you think Jesus compared with the people of his generation?”
“I think no one was for a moment to be compared with him. He was way above all men of his day and generation.”
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“How do you think it was as to the men who had gone before him, the wisest and the best and the greatest of them, — men like Isaiah and Jeremiah and Solomon and David and Samuel and Joshua and Caleb and Moses, and other leaders of thought and action?”
“Oh! I think he was far above them all. None of them was to be compared with him. I have no doubt on that point. It is, as I tell you, only about the matter of his miraculous birth that I have any doubt.”
“You think, then, that Jesus came into this world with the world as it was, and drew a new line of being and character and conduct in it, setting up here a new standard for men, even the best and wisest and greatest of men, to imitate and to strive to live up to from that time forward? Do you believe that the example and teachings of Jesus, his work and his words, had any influence over his fellows while he was here in this world, and that they have continued to have this until the present day?”
Mow to Deal wltb Doubts
“Yes, I most firmly believe that. I believe there was never anything like it. He was never equaled or approached. I have no doubts on these points. My only doubt, as I said to you, is about the story of his miraculous birth.”
“You speak of the influence of the work and words of Jesus, not to say anything about the incitement and the new motive and the help furnished in his death and resurrection, — what do you think has been the result in the lives of those who, since his day, have sought to live up to his standard? What proportion of his followers compare favorably with his example?”
“I do not think that any one of them could be compared with him.”
“Not even with his example and teachings and influence before them, and with two thousand years of progress and moral growth in the world’s history? Not a single one of the most progressive pupils has come up to the standard of the old-time teacher?”
UnconsiBtcnc ot Cbcigtian Doubters
“Not one. Oh! I tell you, I count Jesus all by himself. No one was, or is, to be compared with him.”
“Well now, my friend, just look at the case as you present it to me. You say that you believe that two thousand years ago there appeared in this world one who was greatly superior to his fellows, one who was far above the wisest and the greatest and the best who had ever lived on earth; and that during the years of his life he was such a teacher and example, and had such an influence on his disciples and his generation, that the world feels it to this day; that he was such a Being that you are ready to trust him as a Saviour for this life and the next; and that, even with all the teachings that he gave for men’s guidance, and with all the helps that the church which he organized has set at work for good in the passing centuries, not one of his followers or imitators has approached his standard of spiritual and moral excellence. You say you believe all this, yet
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you cannot believe the Bible record that there was anything peculiar about his coming into this world and life. You prefer to believe that he was born just like every other man in order to be unlike every one who ever had been, or who then was, or who ever was to be.
“That belief of yours, my friend, is a great deal more difficult than my belief I am glad that my mind isn’t subjected to such a test as yours is. Believing what you and I believe as to the utterly unique life and character of Jesus, and of his place in the universe, it seems to me most reasonable to suppose that there was something peculiar in the coming of such a being into this world; and it would seem most unreasonable to suppose that he was born into this world just like an ordinary man. Don’t you yourself think so?”
“Yes, I do, when I look at it in that light,” said the doubter.
And it will often be found, with many another doubter of some point of Christian
Inconststcncis of Cbrfetian Doubters
truth, that he fully accepts and firmly believes more wonderful things than that which he doubts; and that his accepted beliefs are more reasonable, if taken with the one which he doubts, than without it. Christianity is more consistent with itself than would be any substitute for it according to our fancies or preferences.
Christianity is more reasonable than are the beliefs of those who deny or doubt its claims. This is true as to the more prominent unbelievers and scoffers. It is also likely to be the case with the doubts of honest Christians who have troubles with particular points of belief They are almost sure to be ready to accept without a question truths that are less in accordance with reason than that which troubles them. In view of this truth, it is well that one who would help honest doubters should bring out by his questions this phase of their unreasonableness. It is not too close an adherence to reason, but a lack of it, that multiplies doubters in the world.