Have you ever wondered where the expression, “benefit of the doubt” originated from? I’m really not sure of it’s origin, but it has always seemed like an oxymoron to me. In fact, it seems to me that it is a contradiction in terms when used in context such as this.
Let’s say I leave my cookie sitting on the table and I walk out of the room. When I return, there you are still sitting at the table, but now my cookie is missing and you have cookie crumbs all over your face. I say, “Your face!…has cookie crumbs.” But then I give you the “benefit of the doubt” as I allow you to explain.
Perhaps I’m just a glass half full kind of guy, but it seems like I’m giving you the benefit of faith as I believe in your innocence since you are my friend and would never do anything like eat my cookie.
Doubt just doesn’t seem like much of a benefit to me. On the other hand faith is a fantastic thing. Proverbs 28 says that a faithful man will abound in blessings. I would much rather have the benefit of faith. By the way you owe me a cookie…
