Is it okay to doubt in our Christian faith? Obviously it isn’t healthy to consistently doubt and question everything, but are we allowed to have moments of hesitated belief? If not, the Bible would be two covers with no pages. The Bible is not sprinkled with those who doubted, it is covered with them.
If we are being honest, we have all had doubted our faith in some way, shape, or form. For many years even thinking that last sentence in your head would be considered taboo. But in recent years, Christians have begun wading through the waters of doubt, insecurity, and questions about God and the Faith. Some, in a healthy and constructive way. Others, not so much.
There are two main paths taken once we encounter doubt as Christians:
Deconstruction.
Deliberation.
One path popularly called, “Deconstruction”, could more simply be called destruction. There are rarely those who build back up what is torn down. These people allow their doubts to carry them into full unbelief. They do not wade through the waters of doubt, they build houseboats and stay. They often fall victim to emotional traps rather than informed truth.
Deliberation requires true authenticity and intellectual honesty. This path is where we worship while we doubt. It requires us to wrestle with God while acknowledging that He is still God. Our unanswered questions do not mean there is no answer. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. If that made you squint while a loading bar hovered above your head, you’re not alone. I had the same response the first time I heard that. But, let’s get into the scripture.
Matthew 28 recounts the resurrection of Jesus out of the tomb, gives the report of how the chief priests paid off the guards to keep it quiet, and how Jesus met with the remaining eleven disciples (sorry, Judas) on a mountain in the Galilee area. Just before giving his disciples what we call “The Great Commission”, one of the guiding and core scriptures for every Christian today, verse 17 shares a shocking bit of information. Let’s read both verses 16 and 17 to set the scene.
16 “Now the eleven disciples went to the Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.”
The same disciples that had been with Jesus throughout his entire earthly ministry, had seen him after he rose in Jerusalem, and again eight days later with doubting Thomas (go figure), now all worship him on the mountain in Galilee… but still with some level of doubt.
It is important to understand that doubt and unbelief are not the same. The word used in Matthew 28:17 for doubt is one of hesitation and pause rather than outright disbelief. The disciples worshiped because they wanted to believe. They worshiped because they had seen many miracles, signs, and wonders. They worshiped because they loved Jesus. The struggle is with our pesky flesh. While our soul longs for God, our flesh is still very present. (Romans 8)
Our doubts do not disappear the day we become a believer. As long as we are tied to the flesh, we will have moments of weakness, doubt, and even sin. But how does Jesus respond to us in our doubts?
With Thomas, Jesus began by providing comfort, saying, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:26)
With his disciples, Jesus commissions them and shows belief in them. He empowers them to go, make disciples, baptize, teach, and observe all that he had commanded. (Matthew 28:18-20)
When Peter doubted on the waters, Jesus reached out and caught him. Even though Peter’s doubt showed a lack of faith, Jesus refused to let him drown. (Matthew 14:28-33)
There are other many other examples in scripture where great men and women of faith struggled with doubt. Moses, Gideon, Sarah, Job, and even the great man of faith, Elijah, had their own wrestling matches with doubt. God met every one of them with evidence of His divinity, power, and control, and with His Presence.
You and I are no different. God is ready to meet us where we’re at. Our honest questions and genuine hesitations caused by our flesh will never be met by punishment, separation, or disappointment. God isn’t looking for ways to disqualify us. He is looking for ways to bless and establish us.
I will leave you with these thoughts that reinforce sharing your doubts with God and your Christian brothers.
Doubt reveals an issue with our flesh (sin nature), not an issue with our God. When you doubt, it is an opportunity to crucify the flesh. It has reared its ugly head so chop it off (the sinful nature).
Willful rebellion is not honest doubt. Honest doubt leads to truth, which leads to faith that increases. Willful rebellion rejects and hides the truth.
You can simultaneously worship and doubt. Just because you don’t have all your questions answered doesn’t mean God is any less worthy of worship. Worship along your journey, not after you’re satisfied with the accommodations.
God is not indebted to you; it’s the other way around. Showing humility, fear, and reverence to God will get you further than any demands.
Don’t test God. Expecting God to prove Himself after He already did on the cross is not the road to enlightenment, it’s the road to entitlement. None of us deserve His grace.
Doubt without confession and community is dangerous. You’re not crazy for doubting, but you’re crazy for hiding your doubts. Hidden questions find no answers.
Doubt is normal, but doubt should be dealt with. Worship, pray, read your bible, and stay connected to Christian community.