Doubt

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Have you ever experienced doubt as a Christian? Contrary to what you may think, having questions about God, the bible, and other aspects of your Christian walk can be a very healthy thing.

Author Peter Enns writes: “Sometimes we think of our faith as a castle—safe, comfortable, familiar. But what if God doesn’t want us to be comfortable and safe? What if comfortable and safe keep God at a distance? Doubt tears down the castle walls to force us on a journey. It may feel like God is far away or absent when in fact doubt is a gift of God to move us to spiritual maturity. Doubt is not a sign of weakness but a sign of growth.”

As a young Christian, I questioned very little about my faith. I was comfortable, and felt perfectly safe within the confines of my castle wall. From atop the fortified keep (highest tower), I could look out over the King’s country and admire the lovely view, but it was not healthy.

The problem with castle living is that God never called us to a sequestered existence. When Jesus gathered His disciples in the upper room it was to commission them to go out. The safety of our Father’s “strong tower” (Prov.18:10) is there for us to run into during times when we are battle weary and need rest and reviving, but it was not designed for residential living.

TREMORS OF DOUBT

The story of Hien Pham is a great example of how doubt can feel like the tremors of an earthquake - the after effects of a crisis that tries our faith and shakes us to the core.

Hien was a Vietnamese Christian who was thrown into prison after the U.S. pulled out of Vietnam. His charges included translating and teaching the Bible. 

From the first day, his captors attempted to indoctrinate him against Christianity. He was bombarded with communist propaganda and the deluge caused him to have serious questions about his faith. He began to wonder if he had been lied to and deceived about the existence of God. He made a decision to stop praying and abandon his faith when he was assigned to clean the latrines. When emptying the bin of used toilet paper, he noticed a piece of paper with words he recognized. When he washed the page, he read these words from Romans 8, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him….for I am convinced that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." He began to weep and his faith was restored.

The guards were dumbfounded when Hien requested to be assigned regular latrine duty. Apparently one of the officials was using Bible pages as toilet paper, and Hien decided to collect and clean the pages, knowing that God's word would enable him to survive his dire circumstances. God met Hien in his doubt, and used His word to strengthen his faith.

STRETCHED BEYOND UNDERSTANDING

In the New Testament, we read of three circumstances where believers are stretched beyond their ability to understand.

In Mark 9 we read about the guy who sought healing for his son. Jesus tells him that “all things are possible to him who believes.” (Vs.23b) The man replies with, “I believe; help my unbelief.” (Vs.24) Notice that belief and unbelief are present at the same time. This man is wrestling with doubt. What stands out to me is that Jesus doesn’t condemn the man for his lack of faith. Rather, He provides the evidence the man needs for his belief to win the battle.

In John 20 we read about the resurrected Christ appearing to His disciples. Thomas was missing from that event and refused to believe their eyewitness account, “unless I see and put my finger into the nail prints in His hands, and my hand in His side.” (Vs.25, paraphrased) Did Jesus rebuke “Doubting Thomas”? No! He met him in his doubt and provided the opportunity for Thomas to touch and believe. (Vs.27-28)

Using the example of John-The-Baptist, bible teacher, Allen Parr, gives us five recommendations for those times when our situation raises doubts that stretch our understanding and challenge our faith.

1. Never base your beliefs on your circumstances.

2. Turn toward God, rather than away from Him.

3. Pay attention to the evidence.

4. Don’t condemn yourself for doubting.

5. Accept the fact that not all your questions will be answered.

We know that John was imprisoned for making Herod mad for calling him out over sleeping with his sister-in-law. It’s in this place where John begins to think deeply about things and battle the doubts that attack. (Insert recommendation #1.) He sends two disciples to ask Jesus, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Mtt.11:3) (Insert recommendation #2.) Did Jesus respond with, “John, you know better. You heard my Father’s voice when you baptized Me; you know who I am.”? No! Instead he points John to the evidence. (Mtt.11:4-5) (Insert recommendation #3) And rather than condemning John for his doubts, Jesus says of him, “… of those born among women, there has not risen one greater than John-The-Baptist.” (Mtt.11:11a) (Insert recommendation #4)

Were all of John’s questions answered before he was killed? (Insert recommendation #5.) I’m guessing not, but that’s not the point. Our faith doesn’t rest on the removal of all doubt. It rests on whether or not we believe that Jesus is who He says He is, despite our doubts.

EMBRACE THE JOURNEY

Deut.29:29 indicates that there are “secret things that belong to the Lord.” We are going to have unanswered questions - even doubts - that coexist with our faith. Don’t be alarmed by that. God is big enough to handle our questioning Him. In fact, He invites us to embark on a mission to seek and find, search and know, knock and open.

“I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the places where I have driven you…” (Jer.29:14)

If the tremors of doubt have torn down your castle walls through catastrophic or other means, put on your armor and embrace the journey that God has assigned to strengthen your faith. I promise, you won't regret it.

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