AP

The Scottish philosopher David Hume (1711-1776) famously declared that the resurrection of Jesus did not happen. His logic was simple: the resurrection is a miracle, and miracles cannot happen, and therefore miracles do not happen, and the resurrection did not happen. However, his logic was simply flawed. It involved a confusion between probability and possibility. The resurrection was certainly a low probability event, but once we factor God in, it becomes highly possible. As Augustine said, God is called ‘Almighty’ for one reason only – that he can do whatever pleases him.

Hume’s view was part of an Enlightenment critique of the historical base of Christianity. In like vein, Immanuel Kant (1724-1824) separated faith and fact. Faith was in the realms of things that we cannot know as they are (noumena) and hence can only be known as they appear (phenomena). Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834) took the hint and declared that theology was no longer the study of God but the study of religious consciousness.

These ideas now look quaint and time-bound. They reflect unenlightened minds which had fallen captive to a narrow world view.

An enlightened Easter does not read the Bible through such a mindset.

The Bible, and hence the Christian faith, is essentially historical, rather than being a hotchpotch of ahistorical stories.

Paul makes this crystal clear in his discussion of the resurrection. If, as Hume holds, there is no resurrection, then Christ was not raised (1 Cor 15:13). If Christ is not raised the whole house of cards collapses. Christian faith and preaching are empty, and Christians are most to be pitied (1 Cor 15:14-19).

In short, if the resurrection was not a historical fact, we should call in the thought police, close church doors, reduce Christianity to a private myth for the feeble-minded and certainly not teach it to children.

On the other hand, Paul asserts ‘But in fact Christ has been raised .. ‘ and cites over 500 plus living witnesses to its reality (1 Cor 15:20 & 6). That is the historical fact that changes everything and which underpins faith.

Now that is an enlightened Easter. Faith is founded on fact, and we do have a message to believe with assurance and preach with confidence.

David Burke

Moderator-General, PCA

Easter 2024