Obsession with Certainty
Leads to following demagogues
Uncertainty is the greatest fear to some people. They fear not knowing. And they are even more afraid of admiting it. They feel like they have to have an answer for everything, so instead of admitting “I don’t know” they will twist themselves into a pretzel trying to answer a question when they have no clue.
They will also seek out others who say they have the answer- even if those only pretend, or have terrible answers. I have seen preachers who spin tales and lead people astray. The people in the pews elevate the preacher to ‘know it all’ status because they believe they need someone to tell them what to do, whom to follow, and what to believe. Even if the preacher is seriously flawed. They will believe the preacher over anyone who accuses them of wrong. Especially women.
Take the case of Charles Stanley. A gifted preacher leading a large Baptist church in Atlanta. His wife accused him of adultery and divorced him. The congregation held an assembly where he denied the allegations and they refused to demand he resign. For actions which are clearly biblical and historically Baptist grounds for pastoral resignation. I was once part of a
church where the pastor did resign. But not in this case. His son, Andy Stanley, who was slated to succeed his father as pastor, left the church over it.
So is it any wonder that millions of evangelicals supported, by words, actions, and votes a man who is a multiple cheater — in marriage and in business for President? His language alone would be enough to get him tossed out of any respectable church. Many are amazed at the ‘selling of their souls” of church goers and ‘professed’ believers. But though I have trouble with that-some of my former college classmates supporting him I can see why many would.
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The trouble is two fold. For one thing people are raised to put their security in certainty. Remember the TULIP -us Calvinists were raised on eternal security and it took over everthing.There is nothing wrong about needing security. It is one of the basic human needs, according to Abraham Maslow’s heirarchy of needs. Physical security and the supply of needed food, water, shelter are essential in order to be able to deal with social and human development needs. And nailing down certainty helps.
But a slavish obsession with certainty can be damaging. I believe it is a denail of living faith and an excuse to allow terrible behavior. Hebrews states that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. Not a guarantee, but a cause for action. Faith is built upon hope, not certainty. Faith is living without certainty. It is okay to not know
everything because while God is infinite, we are not and so we won’t know everything.
We grow up as kids asking all sorts of questions, because we are born not knowing anything. Parents and teachers -and later bosses — get tired of answering questions and cop out saying “because I said so”, pulling the authority figure response. Preachers also do that — they don’t like to be questioned — and eventually people either toe the line or walk away.
People who are used to being ‘managed’ by preachers don’t think for themselves and thus tend to follow other leaders with strong opinions who also don’t want to be questioned. So people follow angry leaders who are ‘bulls in a china shop”. Thus we get a President like Trump who acts like a toddler, with no language filter, in perpetual tantrum, who likes to belittle everyone. Supported by people like my former classmates, who would have been expelled from our Christian college (Cedarville) if we had evidenced even a smidgen of his immoral behavior.
On the other hand there is freedom in uncertainty. There is liberation in saying “I don’t know”. For one thing it sets you free from the mental gymnastics of trying to come up with some answer or response. It can lead you to investigate and learn. Education comes from asking questions and going in search of the answer, wherever it may be. Saying I don’t know can switch you from a defensive stance to neutral. Many times the question is
asked to test you, so answering ‘don’t know” deflates the questioner.
And it opens the door for you to explore mystery and wonder. You can enjoy life without knowing why. Have you ever looked inside a foxglove flower? They are one of my favorites and I see the seemingly painted interior as evidence of God, the great designer. Do I know how or why it looks like that? No, but I enjoy it all the same.
So why don’t you try it today. Say “I don’t know” when you don’t. If you do, say it loud and proud and with conviction. But feel like you have to. There is beauty in mystery and wonder.
