Rejecting a Book You’ve Never Examined Isn’t Skepticism — It’s Prejudice

Dare to Seek Truth. Don’t Fear the Evidence!

1. Introduction

In an age that proudly calls itself “skeptical,” many reject the Bible not because they have examined it, but because they haven’t. And rejecting a book you’ve never investigated is not intellectual honesty; it is prejudice disguised as sophistication.

Christian apologetics, evangelism, and discipleship all confirm this truth: people often resist Scripture not because the evidence is weak, but because the implications are costly. (See Evangelism outline: the Gospel must be presented clearly, reasonably, and with Scripture-based confirmation.)

2. The Logical Problem of Unexamined Rejection

The modern person prides themselves on being “open-minded,” yet many reject Christianity without reading a single Gospel, evaluating manuscript evidence, or examining historical claims.

This is an intellectual contradiction.

A. It violates the basic laws of reason

1. Law of Sufficient Reason:
   You cannot reject a truth-claim without adequate grounds.
2. Law of Rational Inquiry:
   You cannot declare something “false” until it has been tested.
3. Burden of Proof Principle:
   The one making the rejection must provide justification.

Imagine a person announcing:

• “Physics is wrong—but I’ve never studied it.”
• “The court document is false—but I haven’t read it.”
• “This medicine doesn’t work—but I’ve never tried or researched it.”

Such conclusions are not skepticism—they are anti-intellectual prejudice.

Rejecting Scripture without reading it operates in the same irrational way.

3. Biblical Logic: God Honors the Truth-Seeker, Not the Truth-Avoider

Biblical faith is not blind; it is evidential, historical, and rooted in eyewitness testimony (Luke 1:1–4; 1 Corinthians 15:3–8). God repeatedly calls people to examine evidence:

• “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8).
• “Test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
• “Come, let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18).

Even Jesus invited investigation:

• “Look at my hands and my feet” (Luke 24:39).
• “Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27).

In apologetics training (How to Study the Bible and Objective Truth & Reason), believers are taught to rely on Scripture as the authoritative revelation of God and to defend truth through reason, evidence, and Spirit-empowered witness.

4. Historical Evidence: The Bible Is the Most Examined Book in Human History

Rejecting the Bible without examination is especially irrational because:

• The Bible has 25,000+ manuscript witnesses.
• The New Testament is 99.5% textually pure across all manuscripts.
• Archaeology repeatedly confirms biblical history.
• The resurrection is supported by hostile, neutral, and friendly sources.

No other ancient text—Homer, Plato, Aristotle—comes close to the Bible’s evidentiary foundation.

To reject the Bible while accepting other historical works is not scholarship—it is bias.

5. Spiritual Reason: Prejudice Often Comes from the Flesh

Your uploaded discipleship materials teach that the flesh resists God (Ephesians 2:1–3; Colossians 3). Prejudice against Scripture is often spiritual rebellion disguised as intellectual independence.

The Character of the Believer notes that pride blinds the mind and prevents hearing truth clearly.

Jesus confirms this:

“Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.”
— John 3:19

Unwillingness to examine Scripture often exposes not intellectual issues, but moral resistance.

6. Theological Insight: God Expects Investigation Before Rejection

God never asks for blind faith. Instead, He anchors faith in:

• Prophecy fulfilled
• Historical events
• Witnesses
• Consequences of obedience/disobedience
• The cross and resurrection

The Assemblies of God Fundamental Truths emphasize that Scripture is inspired, authoritative, and revealed, not invented.

Thus, rejecting it without examination rejects God’s revelation, not merely a book.

7. Evangelistic Implication — People Deserve Better Than Lazy Dismissal

Your Evangelism training notes that:

• The Gospel should be presented clearly and supported with Scripture.
• People must be invited to examine the truth.
• The Holy Spirit convicts, but the believer provides the evidence-based message.

Therefore, when someone dismisses the Bible without reading it, the evangelist must respond:

“You cannot reject what you have never examined.
True skepticism demands investigation.
Prejudice rejects before investigating.”

Many will be disarmed by this truth because it exposes the inconsistency of their position.

8. Inductive and Deductive Apologetic Reasoning

Inductive (Evidence → Conclusion):

1. The Bible contains historically verifiable claims.
2. Those claims have been repeatedly confirmed by archaeology, manuscripts, and eyewitness testimony.
3. Therefore, the Bible deserves examination—not dismissal.

Deductive (Premises → Conclusion):

• Premise 1: A claim cannot be rationally rejected unless it is first understood.
• Premise 2: Many critics reject Scripture without reading or understanding it.
• Conclusion: Their rejection is not skepticism but prejudice.

9. Life Application — Dare to Seek Truth

Every genuine seeker owes themselves one honest step: open the Bible.
A person cannot encounter transforming truth while refusing to touch its source.

Ask the skeptic:

“If the Bible were true, would you want to know?
If not, the barrier is not intellectual—it’s moral and spiritual.”

Truth sets free (John 8:32), but only for those willing to approach it.

10. Pentecostal Empowerment — Truth With Fire

The Reasoning.Faith project emphasizes that apologetics is not merely logic—it is Spirit-empowered witness (Acts 1:8).

When you defend Scripture:

• The Holy Spirit convicts the skeptic.
• The Spirit testifies internally of Christ’s truth (Romans 8:16).
• The Spirit breaks intellectual strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4–5).

You present evidence; the Spirit reveals Christ.

Conclusion

Rejecting Scripture without examining it is not wisdom—it is prejudice.
Skepticism asks questions; prejudice avoids them.
The Bible has withstood every test for 2,000 years.
The real challenge is not whether Scripture is trustworthy—but whether the human heart is willing to seek the truth.

Dare to seek truth. Don’t fear the evidence.