Article : by Chris Barna

Doubt

We live in a society of doubt, in a time when little seems solid, or true. Science is viewed in the western world as the seeker of facts and truth, yet there seems to be a constant shift in what is viewed as true. Traditions are stopped, languages are being lost at an amazing pace, and even our most fundamental institution, the family, is changing in ways our ancestors would never have foreseen. The divorce rate in Canada in 2008 was 37%

Our world governments tend to be ineffective, and focused on short sighted and short term goals, aimed at maintaining power, over the long term well being of people. You can see the indifference with government by the percentage of voters that vote, in Canada it’s 56%

With this backdrop, how can we be surprised there is doubt over many of the ideas that have been held as sacred for uncountable generations?

First I should clarify by what I mean when I say doubt. In the dictionary there are a few definitions, but what I mean is more on the negative side, to distrust to the point of creating uncertainty and undermining credibility. With this definition to doubt something is essentially taking away almost all faith in a certain idea, or institution. I want to clarify this in order to highlight a difference between doubting something, and questioning something. Questioning is having a problem for discussion or under discussion; a matter for investigation.

A mature Christian should be finished with the idea of doubting God, but never finished questioning. The best examples of this are found with Job, and Jesus Himself.

Job was told by his friends and wife many times during his trials to forsake God, but he refused to do so. He never doubted, but he questioned often. Read it yourself and see how many “WHYs?” you can find.

Jesus on the cross as He is dying asks “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The following is a quote from the first line of  Psalm  22.

My God, my God, why have you deserted me? Why are you so far away? Won't you listen to my groans and come to my rescue?

I cry out day and night, but you don't answer, and I can never rest.

Yet you are the holy God, ruling from your throne and praised by Israel.

Our ancestors trusted you, and you rescued them.

When they cried out for help, you saved them, and you did not let them down when they depended on you...

So you can see as an example, Jesus questioning the Lord, then putting his faith in the Lord.

It is a good sign when you are questioning the Lord and your relationship with Him, it means something must be happening and your relationship is not stagnating.

Brain Cornelis once said something that relates to this. I paraphrase. “Anything that is alive and healthy grows, if it’s not growing its dead or dying.”

If you are not talking with God about why you think and believe certain things, and what you should be doing about it, you may be bordering on doubt (or indifference) instead of questioning.

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Note:  You will see articles like this on a regular basis.  These articles are submitted by congregation members.  Hope you not only enjoy them but prayerfully consider what God is saying through them.