The Weight of Evidence

All divine revelation, by virtue of the process, comes in a fallible package. Because the message comes in an imperfect container, God Himself invites us to weigh the evidence: “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18).MOL 519.8

When God invites us to reason with Him, He is not playing word-games: He truly appeals to our reasoning skills. Often Ellen White challenges the reader to recognize that sanctified reasoning powers are intended to make us “intelligent Christians.” That means that Christians “are not requested to believe without evidence.” In making this search for belief, “we must put away all skepticism, all exaltation of our own ideas. We must humble our hearts by repentance ... praying for true enlightenment.” ^{32The Review and Herald, March 8, 1887.}MOL 520.1

God, true to His nature, does not coerce, compel, or force anyone to believe—He waits for men and women to respond to sufficient evidence. He will never “force faith.” ^{33“None are compelled to believe. God gives sufficient evidence that all may decide upon the weight of evidence, but He never has nor never will remove all chance [opportunity] for doubt, never will force faith.” Letter 12, 1868, cited in Bio., vol. 2, p. 276. See also Testimonies for the Church 5:675, 676. For a discussion of how authority is established when one speaks of “inspiration” and “revelation,” see Giem, Scientific Theology, pp. 68-86.} Ellen White summarized it well when she said that although “God has given ample evidence for faith, He will never remove all excuse for unbelief.” ^{34The Great Controversy, 527. “God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of His Word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration. Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity; while those who really desire to know the truth, will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith.” Steps to Christ, 105.}MOL 520.2

This respect for human responsibility flows out of God’s arrangement for making human beings “in His own image” (Genesis 1:27). Love, respect, confidence, and any other human emotion involving trust cannot be forced or else it ceases to be what we seek for most. A trust or love that is forced is an oxymoron. Because God wants happy, convinced people, He does not play hide-and-seek; He makes sure that we have sufficient evidence amidst the possibilities of human error.MOL 520.3

One of the surest signs of evil occurs when people “seek to compel the conscience” or when there is “the disposition to hurt and destroy those who do not appreciate our work, or who act contrary to our ideas.” No matter what the motivation may be, force of any kind is the work of the evil one, not of Christ. ^{35The Desire of Ages, 487. “God does not compel men to give up their unbelief. Before them are light and darkness, truth and error. It is for them to decide which they will accept. The human mind is endowed with power to discriminate between right and wrong. God designs that men shall not decide from impulse, but from weight of evidence, carefully comparing scripture with scripture.” The Desire of Ages, 458.}MOL 520.4

However, in earlier chapters we have noted that presuppositions determine the way one weighs evidence. Presuppositions drive historians, scientists, and theologians to predetermined conclusions, often unconsciously. For this reason, paradigm shifts occur occasionally when researchers suddenly begin to see the same world through different lenses (Copernicus, Einstein, Pasteur, etc.). Those lenses are presuppositions that determine the way we look at evidence. ^{36See pp. 374, 394, 549.} Self-evident “truths” are usually human constructs or paradigms that determine how a person weighs evidence.MOL 520.5

For example, if one looks at the Bible as an anthology of Jewish history, and to references of God’s interventions as myths by which believers interpret their religious experience, the message of the Bible as God’s self-communication with men and women will never be understood. If miracles are ruled out because one does not believe in supernaturalism, one will never understand the stories in the four Gospels. Such events as the resurrection of Jesus will have to be explained in some contrived manner. If God does not personally intervene in the affairs of humanity, then surely Ellen White’s claim to be His messenger cannot be taken seriously. And on it goes.MOL 520.6

The epistemological principle set forth by Jesus runs through any research that requires moral response: “If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17). ^{37“Just as long as a door is open to receive the tempter’s suggestions, difficulties will multiply. The hearts of those who will not come to the light are open to unbelief. If my time and strength are consumed upon such matters, this serves Satan’s purposes.” Selected Messages 1:52, 53.} Built within men and women is the quest for autonomy, for believing what one wants to believe. Thus “all who look for hooks to hang their doubts upon, will find them. And those who refuse to accept and obey God’s word until every objection has been removed, and there is no longer an opportunity for doubt, will never come to the light.” ^{38The Great Controversy, 527.}MOL 520.7