The Problem of Unbelief in Evangelism and Witnessing
Unbelief is identified as a significant problem in evangelism and witnessing, fundamentally rooted in sin and manifesting in various forms of resistance to divine truth [1, 9]. The Bible indicates that unbelief is not merely an intellectual deficiency but often stems from a deeper spiritual condition [1].
One of the primary biblical descriptions of unbelief is its origin in an "evil heart" [1]. This is further elaborated as a "slowness of heart" and "hardness of heart," which prevents individuals from accepting spiritual truths [1]. For instance, the disciples themselves were "upbraided... with their unbelief" by Jesus, highlighting the difficulty even those close to Christ had in fully grasping spiritual realities [8]. This resistance is not always passive; it can involve an active "disinclination to the truth" [1].
The nature of unbelief is multifaceted, encompassing several contributing factors:
- Spiritual Blindness: Unbelief can arise from "judicial blindness" or the devil "blinding the mind" and "taking away the word out of the heart" [1]. This suggests an external, malevolent influence that actively works to obscure spiritual understanding.
- Human Sinfulness: All humanity is "by nature, concluded in" unbelief [1]. This aligns with the broader theological understanding that all human beings are born sinners [2]. Sin is described as "vanity" or "all sorts of sinful acts" [3], and committing sin is associated with being "of the devil" [4]. The first sin, committed by Adam and Eve, involved "a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters—a preference of the creature to the Creator" [5]. This inherent sinfulness creates a barrier to belief.
- Rejection of Christ: The most aggravated form of unbelief is the rejection of Christ [9]. This rejection is not only a failure to believe but also "impugns the veracity of God" [1]. When individuals do not believe in Christ, they effectively make God a liar [7].
- Seeking Human Approval: Another source of unbelief is the desire for "honour from men" rather than from God [1]. This misplaced priority can lead individuals to reject divine truth if it conflicts with social acceptance or personal gain.
The Apostle Paul addresses the universal problem of sin and unbelief in Romans, explaining that both Gentiles and Jews are "equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own" [6]. God's anger is depicted not as an arbitrary emotional outburst but as a "necessary response to sin" [6]. The Old Testament frequently illustrates God's anger and foretells a decisive outpouring of divine wrath against human sin [6].
Despite the pervasive nature of unbelief, God remains faithful to His promises [10]. The unbelief of some does not nullify God's faithfulness [10]. While unbelief is a serious issue, it does not mean that God's plan is thwarted. The problem of unbelief underscores the need for evangelism and witnessing, as it highlights the spiritual condition from which individuals need to be delivered.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Unbelief — Is sin -- Joh 16:9. Defilement inseparable from -- Tit 1:15. All, by nature, concluded in -- Ro 11:32. Proceeds from An evil heart. -- Heb 3:12. Slowness of heart. -- Lu 24:25. Hardness of heart. -- Mr 16:14; Ac 19:9. Disinclination to the truth. -- Joh 8:45,46. Judicial blindness. -- Joh 12:39,40. Not being Christ's sheep. -- Joh 10:26. The devil blinding the mind. -- 2Co 4:4. The devil taking away the word out of the heart. -- Lu 8:12. Seeking honour from men. -- Joh 5:44. Impugns the veracity of God -- 1Jo 5:10. Exhibited in Rejecting Christ. -- Joh 16:”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
- Mark (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Mark 16:14: And upbraided them with their unbelief - Never were there a people so difficult to be persuaded of the truth of spiritual things as the disciples. It may be justly asserted, that people of so skeptical a turn of mind would never credit any thing till they had the fullest evidence of its truth. The unbelief of the disciples is a strong proof of the truth of the Gospel of God. See the addition at the end.”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 16:9: Of sin, because they believe not on me--As all sin has its root in unbelief, so the most aggravated form of unbelief is the rejection of Christ. The Spirit, however, in fastening this truth upon the conscience, does not extinguish, but, on the contrary, does consummate and intensify, the sense of all other sins.”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: the Jews to believe in Jesus as the Messiah? If some have not believed, does not that render void God’s promises to his people in the O.T., so that he is no longer bound by them?” ( v. 3 .) The answer is: “No, God is faithful to his promises in all conditions ( v. 4 ). (3) “Then the unbelief of the Jews seems to be the occasion of eliciting God’s faithfulness. The conclusion would be that falseness contributes to God’s glory.” To this Paul gives no specific reply but develops the argument so as to show that it leads to a (5) position: “Let us do evil”