Henry Drummond on Doubt
Story★★★★In 1887, Henry Drummond preached a sermon in Northfield, Massachusetts, entitled Dealing With Doubt. Here is one of his observations: Christ never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is can’t believe; unbelief is won’t believe. Doubt is honest; unbelief is obstinacy.
Doubt is looking for light; unbelief is content with darkness. Loving darkness rather than light-that is what Christ attacked and attacked unsparingly. But for the intellectual questioning of Thomas, and Philip, and Nicodemus, and the many others who came to Him to have their great problems solved, He was respeciful and generous and tolerant.
But how did He meet their doubts? The church, as I have said, says “Brand him!” Christ said, “Teach him.” When Thomas came to Him, denied His very resurrection, and stood before Him waiting for the scathing words and lashing for his unbelief, they never came.
They never came. Christ gave him fact-facts.
The point
Drummond's crucial distinction between doubt as honest questioning and unbelief as stubborn refusal, showing Christ's grace toward the former and challenge to the latter.