Week 01
Christ is Risen: For All Who Doubt
“ There are two equal and opposite errors into which Christians are inclined to fall when thinking about doubt. On the one hand, those who are theologically liberal tend to be too soft on doubt, lionizing such notions as ambiguity and uncertainty and verging on a spiritual permissiveness. That becomes a slip way to unbelief. On the other hand, those who are theologically conservative tend to be too hard on doubt, demonizing the dire consequences of unresolved doubt and verging on a spiritual perfectionism that leaves doubters in such a state of guilt or despair that they dare not acknowledge their doubts to others or even to themselves. ”
Os Guinness
Doubt can come in many shapes and forms.
It may come as a result of trauma, loss, suffering and even intellectual obstacles – trying to reconcile the bible with science, or personal world views.
The term itself can be a source of both confusion and contention.
Is doubt condemned by God?
Is the church supposed to be intolerant of doubters?
Is there a line between questioning and doubting that ought not to be crossed?
Is doubt a sign of spiritual weakness or of intellectual honesty and integrity?
The goal of talking about doubt isn’t so much that all our doubts would be answered and resolved but that we will realise that there is room to and for doubt in the community of faith.
Apart from Jesus Christ, John the Baptist is probably the most theologically significant figure in the Gospels. As was the case with Jesus, his birth was meticulously recorded. His entrance into the world was marked by angelic proclamation and divine intervention. Although his formative years were lived in obscurity in the desert, his public ministry ended nearly four hundred years of prophetic silence.
John was no "crowd pleaser." He willingly confronted the hypocrisy of the religious establishment. He did not hesitate to expose the immorality of Herod and it was for that reason he was in prison.
His ministry was marked with an uncompromising message of repentance and scores of followers baptised in obedience to God. And yet, we read in Matthew 11 that John, as a result of his long trial in prison, doubted whether Jesus was truly the Messiah. After all he had seen, heard and experienced, he doubted. His hopes had been dashed, his image of what the messiah would do, quashed, his expectations left unfulfilled. We read further in the gospel account that John would send his disciples to Jesus for reassurance. Jesus would go on to send words of encouragement to John and even speak highly of him to the crowd that was gathered around Him.
Though some might put John in a bad light because of his seeming doubts regarding Jesus, Jesus Himself spoke quite highly of John.
“John had often borne witness to Jesus; now Jesus bears witness of John.” - D.A Carson
John shows us that you can have questions and remain a faithful follower of Jesus.
We too often assume that doubts and questions, critiques of one’s own faith are the same as losing it. But this deception betrays the ways Christians have been following Jesus for millennia. Even the New Testament recognises the difference between a Judas Iscariot and a Peter. Both turned their backs, or even stronger language, betrayed Jesus. One gave up and other came back. Peter’s doubt wasn’t the end of his faith. Why should it be ours?
Some say if you are doubting, it is a call to greater self-expression, radical individualism or liberation from old ways of thinking. Others would say if you are doubting, you are to simply stop and lean on tradition and retreat behind the safe walls of conservativism.
Christ’s invitation as we traverse this path called doubt, isn’t to swing to the extreme ends of radical individualism or conservatism but to go deeper into Himself. Between vilifying and venerating doubt is a call to meet God in the midst of it.
Doubt could be the Spirit’s invitation to a honesty (John 20:25)
Doubt could be the Spirit’s invitation back into community (John 20:26a)
Doubt could be the Spirit’s invitation to encounter. (John 20:26b-27)
What if doubt isn’t the sign of the end of faith but the beginning of a deeper richer version of faith?
What if on the other side of doubt isn’t the abandonment of faith but a renewed trust and radical commitment to Jesus?
Discussion Questions:
Have you ever had a crisis of belief and felt that the “faith it til’ you make it” model of faith didn’t help you in that process? How did you work through it?
If you have experienced or are currently experiencing a season of doubt, what is/was helpful/not helpful for you?
How would it change things if you saw your doubts as opportunities to grow deeper in your relationship with Christ, and not a reason for alarm?
Do you feel confident in bringing your questions to God and community? Discuss why/why not.