- Original: http://history.hanover.edu/courses/art/giojud.html Archived: https://www.webcitation.org/6V8lU8tfc
I heard about pernicious unbelief and assumed the definition until I was diagnosed with pernicious anemia … then I wanted a more accurate definition. Pernicious means deadly.
Thankfully, there is a cure for pernicious anemia, an injection of B12.
The cure for pernicious unbelief is a decision to seek and be open to the truth that becomes clear to our hearts.
"You have seen me, but do not believe."
In John 6, Jesus has been asked for big signs, bigger than the mass feedings, bigger than walking on water, bigger than calming the sea, more like daily food for the rest of everyone's life.
"Lord, always give us this bread,"
they say after asking,
"What sign will you perform then, that we may see it and believe?"
Without exasperation, but with some penetrating insight, Jesus declares in verse 36,
"But I said to you that you also have seen me and do not believe"
The indictment here is not on those who have not seen. It is not on those who are seeking truth with all their hearts. It is not on those who are struggling. Folks who struggle with faith issues get a lot of slack from Jesus. Remember the guys who said,
"Lord I believe, help me with my unbelief?"
Jesus had no problem with that man.
Jesus is slamming the guys with an agenda who have to work hard not to believe.
You won't catch me maligning, ridiculing, or stereotyping you as evil if you are an honest atheist or agnostic.
That is not what Jesus is doing either.
Imagine someone being presented with all the evidence anyone would ever need to receive a truth as truth. Imagine that the truth was clearly embodied in a person and that person was standing before you. Imagine that you know that he is true, but you refuse to believe.
The most common case is the conversation in John 6.
Perhaps the most egregious is seen in Judas who, knowing what he knows, and believing what he believes with his mind, chooses unbelief of the heart – his own personal agenda.
That is what Jesus is criticizing.
When the psalmist says that the fool has said in his heart that there is no God, he is referring the the decision making capacity of a person.
The heart is the control room of ones life in ancient usage of the word. It is where we decide and commit. We know things with our minds and then, in an experiential way. We can even start the process of believing with our minds. However, if it does not reach our hearts where we commit to it and begin to internalize it, it is the kind of faith without works that James says is dead.
There are many who profess belief in God, even in Jesus, who are "fools" by this definition. They are not honest intellectual atheists. They are practical atheists. The men who were grilling Jesus for more proof already believed more than they were willing to commit to in faith.
They were just resisting.
I am not advocating for atheism or agnosticism. Whatever journey you are on, I pray that you are seeking through the possibilities that there is something greater than you or the universe that gives the universe and your own life, meaning and purpose. God is very patient with seekers and we should be as well.
I am talking about the hard of heart whose motives for not receiving truth have more to do with their own self-interests and prejudice than with their doubts.
When not believing starts to take more effort than believing, then it becomes stubbornness. That, then, is what Jesus means when He says,
"You have seen and do not believe."
The cure for pernicious unbelief is a decision to seek and be open to the truth that becomes clear to our hearts.
Just too lighten things up a bit, here is a song about joy … or not.
Pastor Tom's Community 
Leave a comment