Gold Nugget 221 - The Origin of Doubt
The getting at the real truth of things, especially in the matter of religious faith, is not easy. And if doubt be the prompting only of a sincere love of truth, then it is right, and will be dispersed ere long. But then it often is not so prompted, but springs from quite other motives. The liking to be thought intellectual and mentally capable is often the pure origin of so-called doubt. If a man owns himself a believer, he incurs the risk, in many circles, of being regarded as weak, credulous, and more or less foolish and ridiculous.
Yet more, the plea of doubt absolves a man from taking a decisive stand for God. He knows he ought to, but he gets out of the obligation, or thinks he does, by pleading his doubts. And doubt condones sin. Hearty belief brings obligation to self-restraint along with it, but doubt is free from such incumbrance, and is therefore welcomed by the sinful heart as a friend.
Light will not arise to such, but the darkness will deepen more and more, But to the upright, the sincere seeker for truth, and who is not doubting because of any lurking liking for what is evil and self-pleasing to him, in due time the light will arise. …
As the earth would ever be in the dark if it did not turn round to the light, so will men be unless they turn to the light.
The Pulpit Commentary, Psalms III p. 45-46, Psalms 112: 4, (S. Conway)
Gold Nugget 221 – The Origin of Doubt
