Responding to Doubt
Do you ever doubt whether or not the Bible is de facto true? If the Bible is true, it’s wonderful as a result of our sins are forgiven, we now have the hope of everlasting life, we’ve obtained steering for on a regular basis life. However what if the Bible isn’t true? What if you happen to can’t belief biblical historical past? What if the Bible contradicts the true findings of science? What if the Bible actually can’t be trusted on issues of sexuality, race, justice, and all of the actually vital points we’re scuffling with on this planet as we speak?
These are regular questions and doubts, they usually’re not new. The truth is, if you happen to open your Bible to the very starting, already in chapter 3, the serpent comes into the backyard and says to Eve, “Did God truly say . . . ?” After which he raises doubts in Eve’s thoughts concerning the trustworthiness of the Bible and whether or not or not God himself is reliable.
How ought to we reply? What ought to we do once we’ve obtained questions concerning the phrase of God and about God himself?
I feel there are some things we will do. One among them is solely to review the Bible extra, not much less. As a result of as time has gone on, individuals who have had questions concerning the historical past of the Bible, how to consider the Bible in relationship to science, or what the Bible truly was saying about the way in which we must always reside our lives, the deeper folks have gone into these questions, the extra the solutions have change into obvious.
This e-book examines 10 Bible tales that handle religion and doubt, reassuring readers that doubt is regular for Christians and that God can use instances of uncertainty to resume their religion.
A few of us have discovered that to be true in our personal expertise. One of many causes I don’t quit on the Bible when there’s one thing I don’t perceive is that there are issues that I didn’t perceive that now I perceive somewhat higher. And over time I’ve change into extra satisfied of the trustworthiness of God’s phrase.
One other factor we will do is to easily pray for God’s assist. If the Bible actually is a e-book that God has given to us, it stands to motive that he needs us to grasp it. He can ship us the assistance of his Spirit in order that the which means of the Bible turns into clear and we now have rising confidence in what the Bible says.
One other factor we will do is do what the Bible says. Typically we now have a approach of convincing ourselves that we now have numerous mental doubts about God, however truly, we actually don’t wish to do what God says, so we sort of persuade ourselves we now have all these questions. However actually, the which means of the Bible is evident sufficient, and deep down we all know that it is a credible e-book that has the ring of fact to it.
What we must always do as we’re learning the Bible and asking for God’s assist can be simply put into observe what the Bible says. We could change into extra satisfied of its trustworthiness the extra we attempt to stroll with God and observe the educating of Scripture.
After which I’d say don’t quit too quickly. Sure, the doubts come, and a number of the doubts you had earlier than could come up once more, however proceed to lean into the battle to consider. And proceed to belief that God will information you as you proceed to review his phrase. Don’t quit too quickly, however look forward to the boldness that God could want to provide you with.
If the Bible actually is a e-book that God has given to us, it stands to motive that he needs us to grasp it.
Religion to Imagine
I like the story of Billy Graham regarding this. As well-known as he was for believing in God’s phrase—Billy Graham all the time mentioned, “the Bible says”—however he had his personal doubts concerning the trustworthiness of God’s phrase. And they’re a number of the identical doubts that individuals have as we speak about religion and science and historical past.
He was out within the woods in California as he was enthusiastic about this, and he set his Bible on a stump, stepped again, and had a dialog with God about it. He mentioned, “I don’t have all of the solutions, and I’ll not get all of the solutions, and that’s okay. I’m going to belief by religion that that is your true phrase.”
And that gave him such confidence in God and in God’s phrase that he was in a position to preach the gospel all around the world. He was additionally in a position to know in his personal soul that his sins have been forgiven and that he had the hope of everlasting life.
And that’s my hope and prayer for you as properly, that as you proceed to wrestle with questions concerning the Bible, you’ll come to a spot of claiming to God in your relationship with him, “I’m going to take you at your phrase. I’m going to consider in who you might be and what you say by religion.”
And whenever you come to that second of conviction, you’ll be enormously blessed with wonderful peace and a capability to do God’s work on this planet.
Philip Ryken is the creator of I Have My Doubts: How God Can Use Your Uncertainty to Reawaken Your Religion.
Associated Articles
