One Christian writer, in kind of a defence of doubt, had this to say:
QUOTE Sometimes a person is tempted to think, I can’t become a Christian because I still have doubts. I’m still not sure. But as long as doubts exist, as long as the person is still uncertain, that is the only time faith is needed. When doubts are gone, the person doesn’t need faith anymore.
John Ortberg, Faith and Doubt (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008), p. 139
Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Ter verdediging van Twijfel
The Bible says things like:
ReplyDelete...the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6)
And:
...without faith it is impossible to please God... (Heb. 11:6)
This might be only one side of the story (the other possibly being expressed in Mark 9:24: 'I believe. Help my unbelief'), but it implies that doubt is a big negative.
“Faith is what we stand on when we look to the future, our touchstone for things we cannot see”.
ReplyDeleteDoubt is a product of the flesh.
Doubt is not healthy- it is certainly not beneficial, although it is inevitable. If the twelve doubted, who actually witnessed miracles in front of them and witnessed the risen Christ, then we will doubt as well.
We tend to look at faith as though it requires absolute certainty or it is not a strong faith.
Doubt is not necessary but is inevitable. The trial of faith helps it develop.
We should look at Doubt as something perfectly natural and healthy. Yes, even for a Christian.
°°°
Jude 22 "Be merciful to those who doubt"
Doubt could be looked at healthy when it forces us to re-examine our beliefs and our reasons for having them.
ReplyDelete