Have you ever had a moment of doubt? I'm not speaking of sudden and utter disbelief about something you had previously affirmed. I'm speaking of that wave of uncertainty or that gnawing thought that robs you of your peace and makes you want to pause and get your bearings.
Some Christians believe that any expression of doubt, any entertained question about their foundations for believing will cut them off from God. I always thought that was a little extreme. Yes, they can pull out a text or two that standing all by itself on the platform of examination affirms their need for blind faith. But against the whole backdrop of scripture and what scripture affirms about the nature and intentions of God, such a position crumbles.
I appreciate this quote from John Ortberg:
“Theologian Lesslie Newbigin writes that we live in an age that favors doubt over faith. We often speak of “blind faith” and “honest doubt.” Both faith and doubt can be honest or blind, but we rarely speak of “honest faith” or “blind doubt.” Both faith and doubt are needed, yet it is faith that is more fundamental…I must believe something before I can doubt anything. Doubt is to belief what darkness is to light, what sickness is to health. It is an absence. Sickness may be the absence of health, but health is more than the absence of sickness. So it is with doubt and faith. Doubt is a good servant but a poor master.”
–John Ortberg, Faith and Doubt
Doubt enters into the mind of every person - both seeker and true believer. Doubt may disturb those around us who want to remain undisturbed; but moments of doubt--honest doubt--often drive us back to the foundations of what we believe. It reminds us that we do not and will not have answers to every question of our mind but we cannot stop living while we sort it all out.
Some Christians believe that any expression of doubt, any entertained question about their foundations for believing will cut them off from God. I always thought that was a little extreme. Yes, they can pull out a text or two that standing all by itself on the platform of examination affirms their need for blind faith. But against the whole backdrop of scripture and what scripture affirms about the nature and intentions of God, such a position crumbles.
I appreciate this quote from John Ortberg:
“Theologian Lesslie Newbigin writes that we live in an age that favors doubt over faith. We often speak of “blind faith” and “honest doubt.” Both faith and doubt can be honest or blind, but we rarely speak of “honest faith” or “blind doubt.” Both faith and doubt are needed, yet it is faith that is more fundamental…I must believe something before I can doubt anything. Doubt is to belief what darkness is to light, what sickness is to health. It is an absence. Sickness may be the absence of health, but health is more than the absence of sickness. So it is with doubt and faith. Doubt is a good servant but a poor master.”
–John Ortberg, Faith and Doubt
Doubt enters into the mind of every person - both seeker and true believer. Doubt may disturb those around us who want to remain undisturbed; but moments of doubt--honest doubt--often drive us back to the foundations of what we believe. It reminds us that we do not and will not have answers to every question of our mind but we cannot stop living while we sort it all out.
A good friend of mine, Doug Nolt, used to have a sign on his door during his days as a campus minister:
I do not know all the answers
but I know the One who does.
For ultimately our faith is not rooted and grounded in our intellectual abilities or our prowess at securing unassailable answers. Our faith is rooted and grounded in a person.
And that person is Jesus Christ.
PS - I love this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt "Never doubt in the dark what you have seen in the light."
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