Posted by
Virginia Daddy on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 4:19:54 PM
i write this post with hesitation, for I certainly do not want to infer I doubt my faith. I certainly do not. I am quite certain who my God is, and my relationship with him.
The topic is not to consider our confidence in our faith directly, but to discuss the human nature to question. Are there moments when I am not sure of a particular doctrine, or how God will act in a given moment? Yes! And I'd argue we all do. And this is where doubt, in this sense, I argue is a good thing.
A little bit of doubt, and a little bit of curiousity should lead us closer to God. If we are sure of our relationship with him, we have nothing to worry about. As God cares for the smallest of birds, he care for us all the more. So we should have all the confidence possible in our standing in Christ. However, when those moments of doubt arise, if we are confident in him, we should do all we can to determine the answer. This is how we get closer to God.
Like the Bereans, we are to study scripture. We are to accept the Bible as God's word. But the Bible is but one source, and the primary source. But we are also to seek out more mature believers; we are to seek out the Spirit. He is there to answer us, though he might not answer right away, or even in the manner we want. But that is what brings us closer.
It is the constant give and take, and the searching for answers we do not know. It is the communion we build with other believers that we grow closer to God. This is a good thing.
We are not to accept every thing fed to us, though, and this is the point of doubt. We are to test everything, and to verify everything. If it fails the test, we are to throw it out. But without some doubt, we will never test anything. We will either dismiss everything ,or we will accept everything without further study. Either way leads us away from God.
The process is not easy, and is often scary. Not knowing an answer is often intimidataing, but the patience we keep as we search allows God to work in us, and to give his answers in his way.
Yes, a little doubt is a good thing, I think.