No, Andy Rooney is not ghost-writing this blog. But sometimes , like Andy Rooney, we wonder about things. We all do. We wonder about all kinds of things. And sometimes we wonder about God. We wonder if what we believe about God is really true. And sometimes we feel guilty about it. After all, if we wonder whether what we believe is really true, isn't that doubt? And isn't doubt the opposite of faith?
Well, speaking for myself, I doubt almost everything sometimes. I doubt the existence of God, the trustworthiness of Scripture, the truth of Christianity. What else have you got? Serve it up and I'll doubt it. So why do I still believe?
Other faiths hold their beliefs with great conviction, willing to die (and to kill) for them. Yet we say their beliefs are false. But how can we know that? And how do I know my beliefs are true? Because I believe them? Because I have faith? That's not good enough. Strength is not found in faith, but in the object of faith, and that object must be real, must be true.
But how do we know the object of our faith is true?
Well, that's where doubt can help us out. In the big picture, doubt can be helpful, because it makes us examine evidence for what we believe. Maybe it's even essential. In a sense, the whole field of theological apologetics, the defense of the Christian faith, is founded on doubt. And apologetics has established tremendous evidence for Christianity, and truly given us "reason to believe." Christian beliefs are stronger and more settled by the fruits, if you will, of doubt.
Beginning Wednesday, September 16th, we'll take a look at what we believe and how we know it's true in The Essentials, part of our Growth Series. You'll find more information here.
