Doubt
Can christianity and doubt coexist?
I recently watched a show where a rabbi said something interesting. He was talking to someone who wasn’t religious and unsure about God, and he said that part of the religious experience is wrestling with what God is or isn’t. He said this in an encouraging way, making it clear that it’s okay to question God’s existence. I thought this was profound. Because, if we’re honest, those of us who believe aren’t so different from those who don’t. We’ve wrestled with God, and many of us continue to do so. At some point, we became convinced of His existence—but not without first grappling with doubts.
“One of the biggest misconceptions I think people have about Christians is that we’ve got it all figured out.”
One of the biggest misconceptions I think people have about Christians is that we’ve got it all figured out. There’s this idea that we’ve drawn a line between “us” and “them,” and that we stand on solid ground, completely secure in our theology and our walk with God. But this creates a barrier. People think that if they have doubts or questions, they can’t become Christians because they believe to come to faith it requires certainty. When, in fact, the opposite is true.
In my own story, doubt has always been part of the process. It’s been my doubts that have driven me to ask deeper questions, and those questions have led to answers that have solidified my faith. In fact, I’d argue that doubt has been the engine driving me toward a deeper relationship with Christ. I know that some people are comfortable with a basic understanding of who God is, but for me, I’ve always wanted more. And I believe God welcomes that. He’s not intimidated by our questions or our wrestling. He knows that when we seek, we’ll find, because His truth holds up.
“And I believe God welcomes that. He’s not intimidated by our questions or our wrestling. He knows that when we seek, we’ll find, because His truth holds up.”
I suspect the idea that it’s wrong to question God comes from a certain mindset within parts of the Christian community: a kind of “how dare you question Him” attitude. But I believe that God invites us to ask questions, because that’s how we grow. Every part of the journey to faith matters. And for many of us, that journey begins with doubt. Take a look at the Bible. Thomas, Job, and David all wrestled with doubts. Their stories remind us that doubt and faith can coexist. Often, their seasons of doubt led them to deeper trust in God. For me, the more I doubted, the deeper I dug, and the deeper I dug, the more solid my faith became. Today, my foundation in Christ is stronger than it would have been if I had settled for a superficial understanding.
“ Doubt doesn’t have to be the enemy of faith... it can be the opposite, a path that leads to a greater understanding of God.”
If I were talking to someone that was like me and they were unsure about God, I know I’d have to tell them it’s okay to have doubts and ask hard questions because I wouldn’t have come to my own faith without my doubts and questions. So, if I wanted them to come to faith, I’d have to give them the same courtesy. Are we, as Christians, communicating that it’s okay to doubt? Are we leaving room for people to wrestle with faith, or are we closing the door on those who have questions and leaving by themselves to find answers? Doubt doesn’t have to be the enemy of faith. Instead, if we’re there to help answer their questions or point to people who can, it can be the opposite, a path that leads to a greater understanding of God.
