Do You Ever Question Your Faith?

This Sunday, we’re starting a 10 week series looking at some of the biggest questions about Christianity. In my conversations in and out of the church, these are issues many people bring up. It used to be that people wondered if Christianity is true; now they wonder if holding classic Christian ideas is hateful and dangerous. People wonder if “Evangelical Christians” are Christian Nationalists or domestic terrorists. Mission work is considered colonization. Christians are lumped with flat-earthers as science deniers. As culture shifts, questions and objections to the faith loom large.

In this series, we’ll be looking at those questions. Before we do, however, I want to ask about your questions. Do you ever have doubts? Are there circumstances in life that have made you question God’s goodness or His sovereignty? Do passages of Scripture make you scratch your head with wonder?

Many people don’t see the church as a safe place to deal with doubt. I have friends and family members who seem to assume that one either has to be 100% in or 100% out. Unfortunately, the church often plays into that stereotype.

Jesus, however, seemed to have room for people with doubts. The woman at the well seemed to have a theological issue with mainstream Judaism. “Doubting Thomas” was given the dignity of a response. Jesus “…said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27)

Jesus could have skipped to the “Stop doubting and believe” part, but instead, He slowed down, invited the question, and offered proof of His resurrection.

“A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person's faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection. Believers should acknowledge and wrestle with doubts — not only their own but their friends' and neighbors'. It is no longer sufficient to hold beliefs just because you inherited them. Only if you struggle long and hard with objections to your faith will you be able to provide the grounds for your beliefs to skeptics, including yourself, that are plausible rather than ridiculous or offensive. And, just as important for our current situation, such a process will lead you, even after you come to a position of strong faith, to respect and understand those who doubt.” ―Timothy Keller

Let’s dig deep, study God’s Word, and develop real faith that can get us through the real ups and downs of life.

With You;
Pastor Tim