HONEST DOUBT OR STUBBORN UNBELIEF? (Part #2)

"THE FACTS OF THE MATTER"

"A weekly letter of encouragement to business and professional men and women"

April 14, 2010

Good Morning!

HONEST DOUBT OR STUBBORN UNBELIEF?  (Part #2)

In last week’s “Facts” we discussed “Weak Faith” and “Wavering Faith.”  The third characteristic of honest doubt is:

#3  Perplexed Faith:  Do you ever have times when life is not working?  Everything seems out of focus. The pieces aren’t falling together.  Confusion reigns.  The Greek word for perplexity, aporeo, conveys the idea of having no way out; being at a loss;  standing in doubt. 

The Apostle Paul experienced perplexity in his faith: ”We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.  Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death…We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.”  The encouraging news is that Paul and his team, amidst their perplexity learned…”that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”  (2 Cor. 1, 8, 9; 4:8 - Selected)   (See Lk. 24:1-8; John 13:21-29; Acts 2:5-13; 10:9-20)

So, my fellow struggler, take heart.  Take your weak, wavering, and perplexed faith to Jesus, because, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  (Heb. 4:15b, 16)

Stubborn unbelief, however is a whole different matter:  One word used in the New Testament for unbelief is a combination of two Greek words, apeitheia and apistia, that conveys the idea of  volitional, disobedience and distrust.  The account of the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead serves as an example. Jews who had just witnessed the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection by Jesus, immediately set out to murder the Savior.  (John 11:46-53)   The miracle was self-evident for all to see.  Yet these willful unbelievers were cold and calculating in their decision to not believe in the One behind the miracle.  It was recorded of them and other unbelievers, “Despite all the miraculous signs [Christ] had done, most of the people did not believe in him.” (John 12:37) In another context, Jesus said of willful, disobedient and distrustful unbelievers, “O you unbelieving (warped, wayward, rebellious) and thoroughly perverse generation! How long am I to remain with you? How long am I to bear with you?”  (Mt. 17:17b Amp.)  (See Dt. 9:23; Ps. 106:7, 8; John 3:36; Acts 14:2; 19:9; 28:24; Titus 1:15; Heb. 3:12)

You may recall the story of the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus, who longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.  The wealthy man ends up in hell, and Lazarus at the side of Abraham.  In torment, the rich man cries out to Abraham, across the great gulf that separated Abraham from the place of torment, “’I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' ‘’No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” In other words, the brothers in their stubborn unbelief would not respond to the terrifying truth of hell amidst the most convincing of evidence.  (Luke 16:27-31 - NIV) 

The Greek word dialogismos in the New Testament conveys the idea of stubborn unbelief in the form of disputation, doubt, debate, vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculation.  This is the word that was used in the account of the crippled man who was let down through the roof for healing.  When Jesus saw him, he forgave his sins.  In reaction, the Pharisees and teachers “began to reason, saying, ‘Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?’ But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, ‘Why are you reasoning in your hearts?’”  That is, why are you engaging in stupid speculations and stubborn unbelief?  (Lk. 5:21, 22)  (See Acts 19:9; Heb. 3:12)

In summary:  Honest doubt is a problem encountered by believers.  Stubborn unbelief is a characteristic of non-believers.

This week may you experience His grace, peace and protection!

R. Dwight Hill