It is almost trendy to doubt in the church today. I hear people say a little bit of doubt is good. i hear people justifying their doubt all the time. It didnt sit well with me so I looked up doubt in the Bible and this is what I came up with...
“Why do you doubt?”
Matthew 14:31
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?”
John 20:27
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Romans 14:23
But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Matthew 21:21and Mark 11:23
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.
If we do not doubt and have faith we will see the miraculous happen! Hallelujah! I can witness to this fact! Step out in faith, don’t just say you have faith, step out in it and you will see God do awesome things!
So in closing, doubt may be trendy in some churches. But is a lie from the devil. It is not ok to doubt. The solution to doubt is to look at who God is, and put your faith in Him. The solution is to listen to what God says, read your Bible and believe. And when we start believing we will see the miraculous happen!
Posts
12 comments:
No doubt is not evil. Doubt assists in discernment when dealing with those within the Christian world who exaggerate or outright lie when talking to others about their ministries, generally it would seem in order to boost their supposed credibility as "men/women of God". Surely those the preach and teach Christianity can handle the tough questions about God, Jesus, the Bible etc. As for doubting the word of God, if you are honest about it there are plenty of difficulties with things in the Bible, particularly if you take it as a 100% historically accurate book. Any thorough student of the Bible should raise questions and doubts, and from there hopefully come up with at least some answers that satisfy them.
You have a position of influence amongst young people and you have a duty to be honest with them and not encourage blind obedience to your interpretation of God. I see you and your friends continue on this path of near obsession with raising people from the dead. Have you found any evidence of this actually occurring in the world, with actual independent medical verification, or are you still going down the path of accusing those that doubt the word of you/your friends/stories you've heard of lacking faith.
We had a session all about Doubt at College a while back, promoting the idea that doubt is healthy. I felt disturbed by it throughout the whole session, because there was no biblical basis whatsoever. It was a video by a Catholic-ish woman with testimonies from people who were felt doubt was good and it was healthy to have an open atmosphere to doubt in...
As I flicked through my bible/concordence during that session I came up with heaps of references about doubt (and the same as you have highlighted), not ONE of them spoke of doubt as a positive thing!
I really think we water down the effects of doubt being promoted in our churches. I do not argue that we shouldn't be wise and discerning in our faith, which can require us to question our perspectives of faith - but to openly promote a doubting attitude isn't conducive to a faith-building atmosphere in our churches. We can end up questioning everything and spiraling into the intellectualisation of our beliefs.
I think questioning Christian beliefs can be healthy for unbelievers and those coming to faith in order to gain a true perspective of what the gospel means for them. But too often questioning becomes an addictive and sickening aim for people who have difficulty in just believing!
I guess it all comes down to what Jesus meant when HE spoke about doubt! If it means "lack of belief", then lets NOT promote it in our churches!!!
Anonymous, personal attack is abbhorant if you won't stand up and name yourself. Back off.
(with love)
Thanks anon. I was too general. My apologies...
We can not doubt God or Gods promises. We need to have faith in God and His promises. Christianity is built upon such faith.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1
Hardly a personal attack Jo - just asking for any proof of unsubstantiated claims made on this and other blogs. I've asked before and just get brushed off, which leads me to believe that their isn't any proof and this is all lies and exaggeration. If you guys were all just sitting in your bedrooms typing out fanciful stories to justify your beliefs I wouldn't care, but the fact that many of you are going to be Salvation Army Officers in the near future fears me with dread for what is going to be peddled to impressionable young people in the future. And yes that probably is getting a bit personal, so James feel free to delete any or all of this if you don't like what I'm saying.
i dont like what your saying. Mostly because it saddens me that people dont believe God raises the dead anymore.
email me and lets catch up, talk and pray about this. reelbigjimmy@hotmail.com
If He truly raised people from the dead today, there would be clear, verifiable examples of it. But there aren't, which leads me to the obvious conclusion that it doesn't happen. Why doesn't it happen today? I don't know, but I don't think it can be put down to lack of faith, as there have been multitudes of faithful people over the years that have tried and prayed and failed to bring others back from the dead. I think you are deluding yourself and others with this, and you would be better served concentrating on the simplicity of repent, believe and love others.
Two verses for you anon
1- "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:36
2- But I have prayed for you, Simon [anon!], that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:32
God told me you have the doubt that's why you're so convicted by this blog and it makes you unsettled - pray about it - I pray that your faith will not fail - strengthen yourself in prayer so when the enemy tries to destroy you, you will stay standing!
Soon there will be no reason to doubt that God can raise the dead - then what? (There already is, but for you to see/hear for you Thomas' first hand!!)
When this day has arrived, what's your excuse going to be then? I know many people similar to you that will keep making excuses so you don't have to accept the truth that God is all powerful and can do ALL things - then one day it'll be too late - you'll have missed the train!
Re-read the second verse above - please believe and trust God!
Simon this has nothing to do with my belief and trust in God. It's about my concern that people like you perpetuate lies and exaggerations about things that are shown to be untrue when investigated. I ask for proof which you cannot provide, and your only answer is to claim it is my lack of faith that is the problem. All I have asked is that you provide some backup to your claims, but you cannot do it.
again...
email me and lets catch up, talk and pray about this. reelbigjimmy@hotmail.com
anon,
Read my comment on tommorrows blog - the 29th of March
Have you taken up James' offer yet - email him, or stop leaving pointless comments that keep going around in circles
Anon,
I can't believe you are accusing Simon of "perpetuate(ing) lies and exaggerations about things that are shown to be untrue when investigated" - where's YOUR proof that they are all hoaxes and lies!! That's a huge statement!!
It is because of these peoples lives (James and Simon) whom you are accusing as liars and exaggerators, that people are finding hope and salvation.
What are your credibilities to put such critisism on these men of God?? Just look at the fruits of their lives - they speak for themselves.
Post a Comment