Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Belief, Doubt and Enduring Faith

"...I think there are always doubts that, if you come to grips with them—I think there’s doubts that you have, that you always have, that you ought to be more forthright and address them, for two reasons. One is, then you’re a better apologist. Because now people are coming shootin’ stuff at you in a way they wouldn’t when I was growing up. But the other is, it’s actually good for your faith to actually work it out."
-Tim Keller, Interview with First Things Magazine, February 2008

A few weeks ago I had an extended conversation as to whether doubting is a sin. It is a difficult question: If it is not trouble enough to be doubting one's faith, calling that doubt sinful can quickly become crippling.

The most obvious biblical example is of the apostle Thomas. Thomas certainly would have been in a world of trouble had Christ not vanquished his doubts by physically appearing. Thomas doubted the resurrection, thus missing the whole point of Jesus' earthly ministry. Had he not been confronted by the risen Christ, we would have no reason to have confidence in his ultimate salvation. As is, he is remembered as the first missionary to the east and a faithful follower of Christ.

Was Thomas' doubt sinful? When I fail to trust in God's promises in a difficult time, is that lack of faith sinful? The trouble is that if the doubt goes uncorrected, it leads to categorical unbelief and total corruption of faith.

The present reality is that the believer's faith is not yet perfected, and will not be in this life. We are in the torn situation of the father of the possessed child in Mark 9: "I believe; help my unbelief!" By God's grace, the believer is given a seed of faith. As this man and Thomas expressed, their doubts could only be assuaged and overpowered by Jesus.

Keller realizes and embraces the degree of doubt we will all have in this life, and claims it as a means by which God will increase the believer's faith. By facing our doubts, our faith becomes stronger against intellectual opposition and against the difficulty and sorrow of life in this world.

It is not unintentional that the Thomas narrative is placed at the end of the Gospel of John. Jesus' last words are, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." The purpose of the book is then given : "[This] is written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

The written testament of Jesus, as well as the examples of faith throughout Scripture- people such as those mentioned in Hebrews 11- are means by which we can fight against doubt and have reason for greater faith. The Bible is written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in his name.

A hymn for your reflection:

1. How sad our state by nature is!
Our sin, how deep it stains!
And Satan binds our captive minds
Fast in his slavish chains
But there's a voice of sov'reign grace,
Sounds from the sacred word:
"O, ye despairing sinners come,
And trust upon the Lord."

2. My soul obeys th' almighty call,
And runs to this relief
I would believe thy promise, Lord;
O help my unbelief!
To the dear fountain of thy blood,
Incarnate God, I fly;
Here let me wash my spotted soul,
From crimes of deepest dye.

3. Stretch out Thine arm, victorious King,
My reigning sins subdue;
Drive the old dragon from his seat,
With all his hellish crew.
A guilty, weak, and helpless worm,
On thy kind arms I fall;
Be thou my strength and righteousness,
My Jesus, and my all.

-Isaac Watts