?? faith in the face of doubt ??

Published by bryan | Filed under Don Answers your ???s

Hey Don,

there are three things that are really causing doubt in my faith, the most serious being talks with my atheist roommate, then the scientific major i’m in, and then the suicide of paul stevenson, an RUF intern from auburn university.

my roommate holds to the view that christianity was just created elevate certain people over others, and that it works so well because people really fool themselves into thinking that God exists and that we wants the best for us as kind of a mental and emotional crutch. i’ve had one big talk and several small ones with him about faith, and unfortunately some of his arguments are getting to me. also the very scientific major i’m in poses obvious threats to my faith through many atheist biology professors. a pastor spoke at RUF tonight and offered a really good explanation about why paul killed himself, being that he was susceptible to intense stress and that he, as neither of we are, is not perfect and gave in to pressure as we all do. it troubles me, i guess in a worldly sense, that this whole thing happened, i mean, you don’t usually hear of someone supposedly as strong a campus ministry intern, for example, killing himself.

i know my thoughts about it probably don’t make sense, but i do know it adds to the doubt i’ve had for a few days. i want a close, loving, intimate relationship with God without doubt hanging over my head and infecting every good thought i have about our faith, but it seems that this really intense doubt always tends to make its way in. i remember talking a pastor one time about strenghts and weaknesses he said that God shows us our weaknesses so that we see His strength, which is an encouragement, but may I ask you for some? thank you

Davis

Davis,

Thanks for your thoughtful e-mail, and for trusting me with these difficult concerns and questions. I am sorry you are being challenged the way you are, but rest assured God is with you. It is remarkable to me how God so often puts us in places where we doubt. But that said, He doesn’t want us to doubt, He wants us to have faith. I renounced my faith shortly after high school over similar concerns. While my “heart” stayed with God, my mind wandered and asked questions, and combatted my heart. It was an eight year journey back to faith. I delivered a lecture at Harvard regarding my journey back, and it will be available, very cheap, at the store soon. I hope you get a chance to hear it. I don’t deal much, or at all, with doubt anymore. And you have to know I am a great skeptic. There is a big difference between being a questioner and a person who looks for excuses to do what he wants. The real journey is a journey toward understanding our motives. There is power in knowing our motives. The other thing I wish I could go back in time and tell myself is that God honors faith in the face of doubt. I will let you process that rather than explain it. I only mean, step into God when there are open doors that lead away from Him. But you are in a tough place, my friend. I will pray for you, and please, please pray for yourself. All the love and guidance and wisdom of Christ to you!

Don