When Christians Doubt
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Key Verses for Objectives – Luke 24:36-45, Jude 20-25
Understand that having doubts is characteristic of a devoted, seeking, loving Christian
Recognize and acknowledge the doubts that seven key Christian thinkers had
Identify three ways in which we doubt, their symptoms and how to conquer them
Discuss ways in which the local Christian community can develop the kinds of doubt that leads to individual growth and a stronger Fellowship with each other, Christ and God.
Doubts are characteristics of a devoted, seeking, loving Christian (Introduction)
Even the disciples/apostles had doubts (Matthew 28:17, Luke 24:36-45,John 20:24-29)
“In his book, In Two Minds: ‘The Dilemma of Doubt & How to Resolve It”, theologian Os Guinness wrote, ‘If ours is an examined faith, we should be unafraid to doubt. If doubt is eventually justified, we were believing what clearly was not worth believing. But if doubt is answered, our faith has grown stronger. It knows God more certainly and it can enjoy God more deeply.’” An examined doubt is not sinning; it is an opportunity to develop stronger fellowship with our Creator and our Savior. Instead of being a sign of weakness, doubt can actually be something that causes us to dig deeper into our relationship with God, and can even make our faith stronger. (quote is from Jesse Carey)
“In an interview in America magazine, the pope even said doubt is an essential part of faith. ‘If one has the answers to all the questions—that is the proof that God is not with him. It means that he is a false prophet using religion for himself. The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt. You must leave room for the Lord, not for our certainties; we must be humble.’” Quote is from Pope Francis given in an essay by Jesse Carey
‘I have a lot of faith. But I am also afraid a lot, and have no real certainty about anything,’ Anne Lamott wrote in ‘Traveling Mercies,”. ‘I remembered something Father Tom had told me—that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Certainty is missing the point entirely. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns.’
Doubt often initiates study, research and prayers that lead to greater knowledge, spiritual growth, emotional growth, deeper understanding and a stronger faith.
The following great theological thinkers all dealt with doubt (two of them are quoted above):
C.S. Lewis “Surprised by Joy”
Mother Teresa in her letters published after her death wrote, “Darkness is such that I really do not see—neither with my mind nor with my reason—the place of God in my soul is blank—There is no God in me—when the pain of longing is so great—I just long & long for God ... The torture and pain I can't explain."
Martin Luther (see his biography) wrote, “For more than a week I was close to the gates of death and hell. I trembled in all my members. Christ was wholly lost. I was shaken by desperation and blasphemy of God.”
Charles Spurgeon, In his sermon ‘Desire of the Soul in Spiritual Darkness’, bluntly claimed, “I think, when a man says, ‘I never doubt,’ it is quite time for us to doubt him, it is quite time for us to begin to say, ‘Ah, poor soul, I am afraid you are not on the road at all, for if you were, you would see so many things in yourself, and so much glory in Christ more than you deserve, that you would be so much ashamed of yourself, as even to say, 'It is too good to be true.'"
John Calvin understood that doubt was a part of the faith experience, because human nature itself finds ideas about God and His goodness so outside of what we can understand: “For unbelief is so deeply rooted in our hearts, and we are so inclined to it, that not without hard struggle is each one able to persuade himself of what all confess with the mouth: namely, that God is faithful.”
Three ways we doubt:
Factual doubt: The easiest type of doubt to contend with
When a person does not see God’s plan in their life or their prayers are not answered they may doubt. However, we know that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) and that God’s ways are beyond our understanding. When things do not go right, pray like David did in Psalms 143:8-10
Do not confuse the core truths of salvation (Romans 10:9) with disputed and mainly opinionated areas of free will, age of earth, sign of gifts etc.
Although some passages of the Bible are difficult to resolve (1 Chronicles 31:4 and 2 Samuel 1:10, Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:7&21&22), the Bible is an account of man’s relationship with his Creator not a history book styled, organized and edited by a traditional historian.
Although some outside of God’s family like to confuse things by finding such things as “Atlantis” and Lilith in scripture, we need to keep to the truth.
If someone’s faith depends on proving the location of Eden or Capernaum, the existence of angels, or the actual age of the earth, then they may have misplaced faith.
Emotional doubt: The most common and painful type of doubt since we doubt our own salvation
Address the anxiety of doubt with assurance that you are not alone and God loves you. Many scripture passages warn us to address our unruly emotions (Psalms 37, 39, 55 etc.)
We must replace our uncertain feelings with trust in Him (Philippians 4:6-9)
The key is to change our thinking and behavior: remember, we have put on a new self.
Volitional doubt: most complex covering a wide range of uncertainties.
Symptoms include believers who no longer seem to care, perhaps live like unbelievers, or seem to be believers in name only. Those who are satisfied with “fire insurance”
The believer may need to be convicted of their sins (Hebrews 3:12-13) or challenged. It is the responsibility of other believers to confront this type of doubt in their brothers.
We need to drive home the need to grow and strengthen the fellowship (James 5:19-20, Jude 20-25). Remind the “couch Christians” of 1 Corinthians 3:12-17. What are you building with, and what will the fire of death reveal?
How can the fellowship of the church help each other to become the kind of doubters that grow and mature to desire, seek, recognize and do God’s will?
Support groups that offer: love, understanding, condemnation (when needed), forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration, support, encouragement and opportunities to grow.
Strong spiritual leadership (Deacons, teachers, chairpersons) who are strong role models and willingly/joyfully serve our Lord and Savior (instruction, leading worship, visitation, support)
Study groups willing to address difficult questions and doubts – searching to know more about God, His will in their lives and how to become better servants for His work here and now.
Questions
What has caused you the most trouble with doubts? Is the source usually intellectual or moral?
Why does God refuse to give evidence to scoffers? Is it true that by believing a person will gain knowledge? Why?
When witnessing, to what extent should we attempt to resolve a person’s questions stemming from doubt?
Is faith opposed to being a thinking person? Why/why not?
Please leave a comment on this blog page with any suggestions you may have, encouragement you may wish to give me or criticism that you feel I should consider.
Joe, very helpful.
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