Healthy Skepticism Isn’t a Bad Thing

Skepticism. There seems to be a lot of it these days. Have you ever felt skeptical about something, especially of late? I know I have. 

 

For a long time, we’ve been told to “trust the science.” However, science is never “settled.” Discoveries are made constantly that upset previously held conclusions. Also, it has become apparent ‘the science’ can be as much defined by ideology and agendas as it is by facts. Sometimes there’s reason to distrust the science.

We’re moving into the teeth of a crucial election season. Candidates will be preening and posturing, promising we can trust them – but not their opponents. However, we’ve learned that 20 campaign promises and $6 will get us a small latte at our favorite coffee shop. If experience has taught anything about politics, it’s that we have reason to be skeptical.

 

If we look closely at any of our revered institutions – the news media, entertainment, the business world, education, even religion – we’ll find more than enough examples to justify skepticism. And you’ve probably learned we can’t believe everything we find on the Internet or social media. 

 

Perhaps it has always been this way, but it’s evident that more than ever, we’d be wise not to believe everything we see and only half of what we hear. 

 

So where does that put us when we’re considering the teachings and hallowed truths many of us have embraced from the Bible? Christianity certainly has its share of skeptics – maybe more than its share. But over the years I’ve learned that healthy skepticism isn’t a bad thing.

 

One dictionary defines skepticism as “the method of suspended judgment, systemic doubt, or criticism.” I like the term, suspended judgment. We encounter lots of people holding the attitude of, ‘I’ve made up my mind. Don’t confuse me with the facts.’ But suspended judgment doesn’t seem as certain or as dogmatic. It’s more, ‘I don’t know yet. I need more information before reaching a conclusion.’

 

Would you be surprised to know the Bible presents numerous skeptics in both the Old and New Testaments? Even some of its central figures?

 

Take Moses, for example. After seeing the burning bush and encountering God, Moses was understandably skeptical when the Lord said, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10). Moses, who was tending his father-in-law Jethro’s sheep before spotting the flaming bush, uttered the Hebrew equivalent of “Say what?!”

 

In the next verse we read his response: “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Even after God gave him detailed instructions, Moses was still shaking his head. “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you?’” (Exodus 4:1). This obviously hadn’t been on Moses’s to-do list for that day.

 

Finally, the Lord provided two signs to convince him, along with agreeing to let him bring Aaron, his brother, along to assist. Moses shrugged his shoulders and thought, ‘Okay, we’ll give this a shot.’ Can we call him a reluctant prophet?

 

Then we have Gideon, a fellow who was minding his own business threshing wheat when an angel suddenly appeared. The angel declared, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12). I can imagine Gideon looking around and thinking, ‘Who? You talking to me?’ He replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” referring to the Israelites being attacked by the Midianites, Amalekites and some other ‘ites.

 

After some discussion about what God wanted him to do, Gideon remained the skeptic. He demanded proof in the form of two signs involving a wool fleece and the morning dew on the threshing floor (Judges 6:36-40). Only after God had performed the signs did Gideon surrender his skepticism and take on the mission the Lord had given to him.

 

We could cite many others including: Sarai (later renamed Sarah) who laughed when she heard that despite her advanced age, God was going to give her a son (Genesis 18:10-15). The Jewish priest Zechariah, when he was informed his wife Elizabeth, also “well along in years,” was going to have a son (Luke 1:11-20). Jesus’ disciples immediately following His resurrection, and especially Thomas, who demanded proof they weren’t dreaming or having hallucinations (John 20:24-29).

 

We could criticize each of these for not having enough faith to believe what they were told. But we find another brief account in the book of Acts confirming that healthy skepticism isn’t a bad thing. The apostle Paul had been speaking in the Greek city of Berea. It states, “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

 

Describing them as having “noble character” suggests they were teachable and willing to learn but diligent to determine if what Paul was saying aligned with the Old Testament prophecies. They listened as skeptics but were open to receiving the truth.

 

Scottish evangelist and scientist Henry Drummond once made this observation: “Christ never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is ‘can’t believe’; doubt is ‘won’t believe.’ Doubt is honesty; unbelief is obstinacy. Doubt is looking for light; unbelief is content with darkness.” 

 

So, if at times we find ourselves questioning what we believe or wondering about something in the Bible, that’s all right as long as, in Drummond’s words, we’re “looking for light,” rather than being “content with darkness.” As Jesus declared, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

Not Enough Belief to Have Faith?

Whether it’s the Coronavirus (COVID-19, if you prefer), a major weather event, financial upheaval, an unexpected health reversal, or some other form of adversity, we all hate a crisis. We like things to be going smoothly, when we feel in control, when changes come about only by our own choosing. But we detest when “control” is suddenly wrested from our grip and we find ourselves at the mercy of our circumstances.

But there’s one benefit from going through a crisis: It reveals where our trust, our confidence, our faith truly lie.

There have been times when I’ve gotten into spiritual discussions with friends and family members and, after a while, they say something like, “Hey, I believe in God. Let’s leave it at that!” At other times, on TV or in a movie, we watch a key character going through a difficult time be advised, “You just have to have faith.”

So, is that all we need? Simply believing in God – whoever that happens to be to you? What about faith? Exactly what is it we’re supposed to have faith in – fate, good luck, serendipity, karma? Faith in…faith?

I believe this parasail could take me
aloft, but I wouldn't have enough
faith to get into it.

Because as we see in the Bible, belief doesn’t necessarily equate to saving, transforming faith. For instance, the apostle James wrote, “You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that – and shudder” (James 2:19, Berean Study Bible). In other words the apostle was cautioning his readers, “You claim to believe in God. Big deal! The workers of evil believe in Him, too, but you won’t be seeing any of them in heaven!”

I think of someone years ago who seemed to think I was being judgmental, even intolerant, when her claim to believe in God didn’t cause me to stop talking about Jesus Christ and the necessity to receive Him as Savior and Lord. I wasn’t judging, but as James pointed out, simple intellectual acceptance that God exists doesn’t amount to faith.

In the same passage, he wrote, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do…. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” (James 2:18-20). Then James proceeded to cite biblical examples of people who acted upon their faith in the Lord, even in seemingly impossible situations: Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac on the altar, and a prostitute named Rahab, of all people, who concealed Israelite spies scouting out the city of Jericho. Both Abraham and Rahab didn’t just believe – they possessed faith that drove them to action.

Look at it this way: We all know that airplanes can fly, even if we don’t fully understand how. We might even go to an airport, where planes fly in and out. There’s no problem believing that, even if we’ve never flown personally. But suppose, once we get to the airport, someone says, “Here, I’ve bought you a ticket. I want you to fly with me to Boston (or Chicago, or Dallas).” 

Suddenly, there’s a test – is there enough belief to become faith by actually boarding the plane? Because, whether those of us who are familiar with flying realize it or not, this requires an act of faith: Trusting implicitly in the integrity of the aircraft’s design and construction, the skill of the crew, even that the plane has been properly maintained and fueled for the trip.

What if the novice flyer said, “No way! I’m not getting on that plane!” “But you do believe it can fly, don’t you?” “Well, yeah, but you’re not getting me on that thing to go anywhere!” “Why not?” “It could crash!”

In a similar way – but far more profound – at one point or another, we must decide whether “I believe in God” will become, “I am committing my life to the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting in Him to guide my life, working in my life and making me into the person He wants me to be.”

Getting back to the crisis, staring at the chaos and realizing we don’t understand what’s happening, or what can be done to fix it, we’re challenged to dig deep and determine where our faith lies. Do we feel overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, our emotions surging to the brink of panic? Or do we turn to the Lord, not just in intellectual belief but also with faith, the confident assurance and expectation that He is faithful and will fulfill His promises for His children?

The Scriptures remind us of this in many places, but I particularly like what we read in the eighth chapter of Romans. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us…. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:18-25). 

In times of crisis and uncertainty, do we turn to the God of the Bible with hope and expectation, even though we don’t know how He’s going to work through our circumstances, or do we succumb to worry, fear and desperation? Every once in a while, it’s good to re-examine ourselves by taking this test. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Is There a Difference Between Belief and Faith?

Believing a plane can fly, and actually getting on one to fly somewhere
are two different things.

If you knew someone who builds birdhouses once in a while, what would you think if that person declared, “I’m a carpenter”? What would be the difference between him and the individual who pursues carpentry as a profession, building and renovating houses five days a week, 52 weeks a year?

When I was young, I would write poems from time to time, dabbled with composing short stories, and enjoyed writing letters. But it wasn’t until I began my career as a newspaper editor, writing scores of articles every week, that I felt I could legitimately describe myself as a “writer.” 

It obviously makes a difference how we use terms and what we mean when we use them. An occasional hobby does not a full-time vocation make.

I’m thinking about this because there seems to be a similar difference between intellectual belief and genuine faith. I believe the first President of the United States was George Washington, but I’ve never placed my faith in him. The same could be said of every President since, including the current occupant of the Oval Office.

When the meteorologist predicts rain for tomorrow morning, I believe her. Why would she lie? But do I really believe her? Tomorrow morning I’ll look out the door, and if I don’t spot any precipitation and the sidewalk is dry, I’ll probably consult my weather app before deciding whether I’ll need an umbrella for wherever I’m going. My belief in what the weather lady said didn’t translate into faith.

This is why we sometimes stumble over the use of the word “believe” in the Bible. We use the term easily, even flippantly, but belief doesn’t always equate to a genuine faith in Jesus Christ. After all, in James 2:19 we’re told, “You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe – and shudder.” And I doubt anyone would suspect demons of being devoted followers of Jesus.

Consider another analogy I’ve used before: Many people who believe in jet airplanes refuse to board one. If we were to ask any of them if they believed the plane could take them to their intended destination, they’d probably say yes. But they’re still unwilling to entrust themselves to the aircraft and its crew. 

In their defense, Jesus did say in Matthew 28:20, “lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age!" (But I don’t think that’s what He meant.) For whatever reason, while they may have intellectual belief, some folks lack the necessary faith to get on the plane, take a seat, strap in, and expect to arrive safely at their destination.

Actually, the Bible uses the word “believe” in different ways. One meaning relates to knowledge, like the time recounted in Matthew 14 when Jesus was walking on the water while His disciples were in a boat being buffeted by waves of the sea. When impetuous Peter saw Him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, if it’s you…tell me to come to you on the water.” 

When Jesus said, “Come,” Peter responded by stepping out. Within moments, however, he must have had one of those “What was I thinking!” moments and began to go down into the water. Peter believed several things. He knew it was Jesus strolling across the surface of the water and the waves, and also that Jesus had invited him to step out of the boat. But he also knew walking on water wasn’t a normal human activity, so he took his eyes off Jesus and started sinking.

So what does it mean when the Bible says, in passages such as John 3:16 and John 3:36, “whoever believes” will have eternal life? In this case, the term involves far more than information and knowledge. Literally it means to entrust oneself to the object of belief. When I boarded planes to fly to and from Italy in July, I entrusted myself to the jetliner and the crew, believing – by faith – they would get me where I wanted to go.

This is why I use a simple “spiritual equation” when meeting with men in mentoring or discipling relationships: 

Belief + Trust = Faith 

I remember the days I believed in Jesus Christ in an intellectual sense. I can’t remember doubting the existence of Christ from a factual standpoint. But it wasn’t until I was about 30 years old that my belief transformed into genuine, saving faith and new life spiritually.

Consider the honesty of the father of a demon-possessed boy who approached Jesus, asking Him to heal his son – if He could. When Jesus replied, “’If [I] can?’ Everything is possible for one who believes,” the dad candidly responded, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:17-29).

We’ve probably all had times like that, when we wanted to believe God could do something specific in answer to our prayers, but couldn’t imagine how He could do it. So whether consciously or not, we think, “Lord, I do believe – enable me to overcome my unbelief.” The good news is, based on how Jesus interacted with the troubled father and his afflicted son, He’s more than willing to do just that.

‘There Is No President!’

Imagine this scenario, a conversation with one of your friends:

“There is no President,” the friend blurts out.

“What did you say?” you respond.

“I said, there is no President of the United States. He does not exist.”

“Huh? What in the world are you talking about?” you ask, fearing your friend must have just had a close encounter with a coconut, or hammer, or worse.

“I’m saying I don’t believe there is a President.”

“Sorry, bro, but what have you been drinking? Sure there’s a President. We see him on the news just about every night,” you counter,

“Oh, that’s just fantasy. A figment of people’s overactive imagination. You know what they can do with computer graphic imaging these days. If they can use CGI to create dinosaurs, ice queens, talking toys and avatars, they certainly can create a fictitious character and says it’s the President of the United States.”

“Where are you getting this from?” you ask, even more worried about your friend’s state of mind.

“Well, have you ever met the President? Have you ever seen him face to face, or shook his hand?”

“No, but he did come into town a couple years ago.”

“How do you know?”

“I saw the news reports, he was here – he even brought his teleprompters. They showed Air Force One at the airport. And streets along the route he would be traveling were closed. So, I’m sorry, the President definitely exists.”

“Again, where’s your proof? You’ve never seen him in person. All you know is what other people say. I’m sorry you’re so delusional, but there is no President. I don’t believe in him. I’ve never talked to him, and he’s never done anything for me. Besides, if there was a President, he or she definitely wouldn’t act the way people say he does. I don’t believe in the President, or the regulations people say he’s signed into law, and certainly not the executive orders people are supposed to follow. If there was a President, it certainly wouldn’t be the kind of President people always talk about.”

Okay, you’ve probably never had this conversation. Hopefully not. But there are people who insist Elvis never died, some don’t believe men walked on the moon, and I hear there’s a movement of people that deny the Holocaust ever happened. As Elvis might have said, there’s a whole lotta disbelievin' goin' on.

This reminds me of conversations and interactions I’ve had with atheists and agnostics – perhaps you have, too – that are absolutely convinced there is no God and present their reasoning along the same lines. They ridicule such belief as fantasy, fairytales, fictions, fables…notice a pattern here?

“You can’t prove God exists,” they argue. Well, in a physical, material sense, they’re right. God doesn’t fit into a test tube, and you can’t stuff him into a laboratory cage for observation. But at the same time, you can’t prove God doesn’t exist – because by definition, the spiritual realm isn’t governed by physical laws and limits. And the fact that billions around the world believe in God, whether known as Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Allah, Krishna, or one of many other names, has to count for something.

But the fact we can’t empirically prove God’s existence, the way one can prove the temperature of water being heated on a stove or the distance to the moon, has little bearing on the quality of our faith. In fact, the Bible declares such non-material belief is a prerequisite for genuine faith. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). A different translation states it this way: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

The materialist might argue such a statement amounts to nonsense. But in reality, when a child is promised a puppy, the youngster exhibits faith, justifiably hoping and expecting with confidence the promise will be fulfilled. In a courtroom, unseen evidence is of little value, but people get married everyday based on the unseen, unprovable evidence that they are loved by their intended.

For those who follow Jesus Christ, trusting in the unseen can sometimes be challenging. But that’s the kind of faith God desires – and rewards. As Jesus said to Thomas the disciple when He offered tangible proof of His crucifixion and resurrection, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).