The Faith of Skeptics
Many people hold false impressions of faith and skepticism. Those with faith are often seen as naïve, while those who reject faith claim the mantle of skeptic or free-thinker. In reality the deepest faith is held by those who are honest skeptics. Those who reject faith in God have merely backed into a blind faith that denies His existence.
Many, who falsely assume that first-century Christians were quick to believe that Jesus raised from the dead, simply haven’t read the history. Not only did Jesus’ disciples not understand his predictions of resurrection, they did not believe until they saw Him alive again.
The historian-physician Luke[1] recounts Jesus’ appearance to two of his followers as they traveled west through the Judean mountains. On the day of Jesus’ resurrection he appears, but they don’t recognize him. When he asks what they are discussing, one follower exclaims, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”[2] These two disciples had followed Jesus for some time believing him to be the Messiah, but can no longer believe it to be true. Cleopas explains that Jesus had been dead three days, and that earlier in the morning his tomb had been confirmed to be empty. Despite Jesus’ repeated predictions[3] that he would die and return to life on the third day, these disciples simply cannot believe.
One might assume that Jesus would be frustrated with their lack of faith. Instead of pique, Jesus patiently explains from the Hebrew Scriptures all that had been predicted about Messiah.[4] He explains that it was necessary for him to suffer and die in order to take the consequences of our rebellion against God. He also showed that Scripture predicted Messiah’s resurrection. We don’t know the content of Jesus’ explanation, although Isaiah 53 certainly would have been part of his teaching.
In the face of Jesus explanation, these two disciples remained skeptical. It is just too much miracle for them to believe, that on the third day the crucified Jesus rose from the dead. Hospitably the disciples invited Jesus to stay the night with them. Only when Jesus broke the loaf of bread for their meal did they finally recognize him. He immediately disappeared, and the disciples rushed back to Jerusalem in the dark.
These men, along with Thomas who is famous for doubting the words of others and demanding to see Jesus in person, represent the kind of honest skepticism that produces deep faith. This is in stark contrast to the atheist who confidently pronounces that he or she “knows there is no god” in this universe of 500 billion galaxies. This is a level of knowledge that would seem to require evidence beyond the grasp of a mere human.
The agnostic who is unsure if there is a god only seems to edge away from atheistic arrogance. If one is unsure of the existence of God, why not hope that He exists rather than risking everything on His nonexistence. Rejecting God because one is uncertain seems a bit like pulling into the oncoming lane in dense fog because one is unsure if that lane is occupied. If God does not exist and you build your life on the belief that He exists, when life is over you will have neither gained nor lost. In contrast, if you wrongly presume that He does not exist, when life is over you will have missed everything good that God offers.
The honest skeptic, like Jesus’ first disciples, will examine the evidence and believe the conclusions to which it leads. That evidence includes the fact that Jesus’ tomb was empty on the third morning after his crucifixion, a truth even his enemies acknowledge.[5] It includes the dramatic change of Jesus’ disciples from hiding in fear to suffering and dying for the truth that Jesus was alive from the dead.[6] All but one of Jesus’ closest disciples went to their death declaring his divinity and resurrection when a simple denial would have spared their lives.
Instead of a blind leap of faith into atheism, or the blind bet of agnosticism, may I challenge you to be an honest skeptic? Consider what could have changed the hearts and minds of these first-century skeptics. What could possibly transform them from cowards to confident market-place preachers? Reflect on Jesus’ willingness to re-explain himself to disciples who should have trusted him. Remember that Jesus sought them out for the purpose of encouraging them and strengthening their faith. He does the same today. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.[7] Are you sincerely seeking or just blindly refusing to examine the evidence?
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