The Wind in His Fists

It seems that I have fallen prey to a certain way of thinking about evidence for Christianity. This way of thinking says that if there is any evidence against some purported fact of Christianty, then that negative evidence cancels out the positive evidence. Let’s suppose, for example, that there is evidence for the existence of a certain city as described by the Bible. Will the presence of contrary evidence negate the positive evidence? Of course not.

To take another example, there is evidence for the resurrection of Christ, primarily the manuscript record. Now, if some scholars question the reliablity of the manuscripts or accounts, does this negate the positive evidence. Of course not. Rather, there is always this tension between positive and negative evidence. The same is true in science. Over time, one side may grow and overwhelm the other, and so certainty grows either for or against the proposition.

I can draw two potentially helpful conclusions from these observations. First, I tend to become immediately discouraged when I read any evidence against the Bible or Christianity. I see now that this is unnecessary. In fact it is to be expected, especially noting the everpresent possibility of alternative explanations. Secondly, it becomes clearer to me that faith cannot be based solely on external evidence. Instead, it must be based on an inner, subjective inclination or experience(s).

So we come ot the point. If I am outside looking in, if I am outside of faith looking in at the Christian world, how do I get there from here? Must I just wait for the subjective change? Or is there anything I can do. Words come to mind: seek, find, knock, open.

It’s cold and dark outside looking in at the bright warmth inside.

How do I knock?