The love of truth is a rare commodity these days.  Critical thinking has become a lost art.  We're living in an age of "if it feels good it must be good" and "if it's true for you", great but don't expect me to join in.  My truth and your truth are not in sync nor does it have to be because there is no such thing as truth anymore.  

This morning I was studying about a blind man from birth who was healed by Jesus.  Most know the leaders of the day (the Pharisees) were dogging Christ everywhere he went because of his popularity.  The simple unlearned people were following this man of miracles instead of listening to them, the all knowing religious establishment.  These religious leaders were very angry about it.   

So along comes Jesus, heals the blind man and a ruckus ensues.  The blind man is brought in to be questioned which was no light matter back in those days.  People were afraid of these learned, religious men in their black robes and stern faces with the power to throw them out of the synagogue if the laws weren't followed exactly as they deemed fit. 

The blind man had a simple testimony.  He was blind from birth and now he sees.  End of story.  Nothing more to report.  The neighbors verified it but that wasn't enough.  It must be mistaken identity.  So the parents, scared out of their minds, were called in and questioned.  They said as little as possible.  "Yes, he was their son and he was born blind." They did not want to be excommunicated from their synagogue,  They gave the simple facts and nothing more.  Smart move. 

So the leaders once again called in the now seeing blind man.  See, the evidence before them, also called the truth, wasn't good enough.  It wasn't what they wanted to hear.  So the inquisition continued.  But the blind man stuck to the truth because that's exactly what it was.  He knew he was blind and now for the first time he sees.  He tells them again. 

Since the Pharisees couldn't get around the evidence they went after the person.  They tell the blind man to admit Christ was a sinner for healing him on the Sabbath, a law they felt was broken.  The blind man, in effect, says basically, "look I'm not a theologian.  All I know is I'm healed. I can now see"  He sticks with the truth and doesn't veer off or get intimidated. 

So you gotta ask.  Where's the logic?  While the religious leaders are trying to explain away the miracle, at the same time they are trying to nab Christ for performing in on the Sabbath and thereby breaking it.   You can't have it both ways. 

The blind man again explains giving it to them straight up once again, but now he understands they really don't want the truth.  So he resorts to sarcasm by saying "why are you asking me this? Do you want to be his disciple?"  While the Pharisees are totally blinded spiritually, the formerly blind man's eyes are opening wider and wider as he's beginning to really see what's going on.   He knows the truth/  He sees they are trying to suppress it. 

He has more spiritual insight and common sense than these most learned men.  His logic being only a man of God could do such a miracle.  A miracle of this magnitude should speak volumes to them but they are deaf as well as blind.  The blind man looks at them with new eyes as he speaks truth to them basically saying "you learned men should be expected to know this."  What more could he say?  He believed his senses.  He was blind but no more.  He knew and accepted the truth. 

Objectivity starts with nothing and the evidence brings the conclusion.                                                    

Subjectivity starts with a preclusion and then finds evidence to support it. 

It's obvious the Pharisees are not objective at all which brings us to this point...there are at least five characteristics of willful unbelief. 

1.  Unbelief sets false standards

2.  Unbelief always wants more evidence

3.  Unbelief always does biased research

4.  Unbelief rejects facts

5.  Unbelief is totally egocentric.  

We can present all the evidence in the world but unbelief cannot be won by evidence if the person chooses not to believe it. 

So how does it end?  The Pharisees, beaten and embarrased by this man's logic, are now enraged, calling him a sinner (attacking his character)  and excommunicating him from the synagogue by throwing him out.  Persecution and excommunication are common weapons of the enemy. They were unable to make sense of this dilemma.  Through their anger they were unable to see the penetrating insight this man had demonstrated.    Truth can afford to be patient but error cannot.  So they hastily threw him out.  They wanted nothing of the truth.  They had their own. 

It's no different today.  People don't want the truth. Not really.   They want what they want.  They hear what they want to hear.  They see what they want to see. 

But in the end...truth always prevails.  Always.