Doubt

Doubt is a word we never like to talk about. Everyone has questions, but no one asks. We don't ask questions or express our doubts because we're afraid of a number of things. We're afraid of what people will think about us and our faith, we're afraid that if we question God he might get angry, or not listen to us, or even worse, take away our salvation.

I think sometimes we are also afraid that if non-Christians hear about our doubts, then that somehow in their minds proves that Christianity is false. But I must say, as the Bible says, there is nothing new under the sun. Any doubts we have are doubts that Christians and non-Christians have had from the beginning. The ability to contemplate God comes along with the ability to contemplate no God. And any arguments against Christianity are arguments that have been around for centuries. The test of a belief system is whether or not it withstands the test of time while continuing to adequately handle anomalies, and stand up to various criticisms launched against it. Christianity stands.

But that doesn't mean we won't have our questions from time to time. So, as I asked on Sunday night, where do our questions, our doubts come from? And, what do we do about our doubts?

First, I think that doubts can be planted by Satan, just as he played a role in Adam and Even questioning God in the beginning, and Just as he temped Jesus saying, "If you really are the Son of God..." Therefore, doubt can be spiritual warfare, so be praying about your doubts, and have others pray for you. Spend time in the Word and talking to believers who might be able to help answer your questions.

Second, I think doubts can come from social or cultural settings. Some people grew up in homes that taught them to question everything, while others grew up in homes that believed. Various situations in life can work towards training people to doubt. If you have a natural tendency to doubt, embrace that as the way God designed you and use it to go deeper in your walk with God.

Third, doubts can come from misunderstandings. Sometimes we understand that God is one way, and then we experience something that seems to show that God is another way. Sometimes we understand that the Bible says one thing, and then later find out it says another. This is why community and church is so important, so that we can read the Bible together and be encouraged in the truth as we spur one another on in our understanding of, and relationship with, God.

Fourth, I believe that doubts, for many people, if not most, come from insecurity. We feel like we don't know enough about the Bible or about other religions, so we question things. People ask difficult questions, and we don't know how to answer them, so we begin to question the same things. But just because you question something, or can't explain something, doesn't mean you give up the entire belief system. Instead, you seek out answers, ask people who might be able to answer your questions, seek out what the Bible says and what Jesus teaches. These are things that will help us gain an understanding of our faith so that we can be prepared to give answers (or simply listen, depending on the situation) to those who ask.

Finally, sometimes doubt can come from pride. Sometimes we can question certain things about the Bible, not because we truly have doubts, but because we don't want to conform our lives to them, so we use doubt as an excuse.

If anything, for all of these, a very important thing to do is to embrace the way God made you. God designed you to experience him in ways that might be different than others. Some people experience God through studies, others through nature, while others through music. So try not to compare your faith to other people, and wish that you could pray as well as that other person, or knew as much, or whatever. God made you, you. So seek God out the way he designed you to experience him, and let him take you as deep, or deeper, on your walk with him, than anyone you see around.

And don't worry about your doubts. God will still hear your prayers, still forgive you, and still walk beside you.

God bless you all!

It was great to worship with you this weekend. See you next week at the Gathering!

-Tim