Many times
in life we have doubts in what we believe in. A big struggle for many people is
whether or not their belief in God is valid. This is very understandable
considering how much a belief in Christianity is ridiculed and attacked. When
people have these doubts they tend to internalize them. I once read a quote
that said something to the effect, "Shame is not that people have doubts,
but that they are ashamed of them". We should not be ashamed if we have
doubt in God. And if our belief in God is being attacked and we are under
serious doubt of his existence, then we need to remember first of all that this
doubt does not make us any less of a Christian. As a matter of fact, it gives
us the ability to strengthen our walk with God.
You may ask
how doubt can increase our belief in God. This is simply answered. The first
thing we must do in dealing with doubt is to examine our core beliefs in God.
We need to ask ourselves questions like, "Why do I believe in God?",
"What evidence do I point to validate my faith?", "What
experiences have I had that point to God's working?".
As
born-again Apostolic's some of these questions are very easily answered. For
example, one possible answer to "What evidence do I point to validate my
faith?" would be speaking in tongues. Tongues is an evidence of God
working in and through us. This should be one of the first evidences that we
point to when various questions arise that try and corrupt our beliefs in God.
We should allow this experience from God should help us in times of trouble.
The second
step we should take when we deal with any type of doubt is to study the issue
out ourselves. At the end I have cited books which I have consulted that have
encouraged me in my beliefs. After we study the issue, we should then ask
ourselves what our personal experiences have lead us to believe as well. Have
our personal experiences led us to believe that there is a God or that there is
not a God? It is also beneficial to have someone whom you view to have great
wisdom help you and consult with you throughout this time. Generally this
person would be quite older than you or someone who is a leader in your life.
This person should have your best interests at hand as well.
Now, after
all these things are completed, you should examine yourself and see if your
belief is being affected by your feelings. Feelings are complicated things and
are not reliable. If you are a quite emotional person and simply feel like you
have been abandoned by God or feel as if there is no God then you may want to
re-examine your personal relationship with God. I have often noticed in my
personal life that a rough time spiritually is often due to a lack of
meaningful relationship with God. Also examine yourself spiritually to see if you
have become stagnant in your walk with God or have grown spiritually. This will
also help you determine whether or not you are being influenced by your
emotions.
Now that you
have fully examined your beliefs and determined whether or not it can be attributed
to a spiritual stagnation, ask yourself what you now believe in. If you are
struggling with beliefs that are presented by other Christians and are contrary
to your own beliefs, it would be of great benefit to us if we should study the
issue out in the Bible. The Bible is the final authority on all subjects
ranging from the Godhead to Salvation to Holiness issues. Personal
interpretation should not be imposed upon our study of the scriptures, but we
should allow God's word to speak freely to us.
Ultimately I
hope you make the correct choice. I hope that you determined why you believed
in a God as opposed to falling away from God. I know from experience that God
is real. As mentioned earlier, there are several tangible evidences which I
base this on, excluding the Bible, one of which is speaking in tongues. Another
thing I fall back upon is prophecy within the church, and tongues and the
interpretation thereof. As a person who tends to require tangible evidence in
order to believe, this is what I use in order to prove my belief to myself and
others. I have literally felt God throughout these experiences and they have
helped me in my personal life to combat doubt.
Here are some books to help you dispel doubt as I mentioned
before:
- "The Case for Faith", "The Case for Christmas", "The Case for Christ", "The
Case for the Real Jesus" by Lee Strobel. www.LeeStrobel.com.
- "Evidence that Demands a Verdict"
and too many other to begin to list. By Josh McDowell. www.josh.org
- "The Problem of Pain," "Mere Christianity"
and "Miracles" by C.S. Lewis.
- "The Gift Nobody Wants" by Paul Brand and Philip Yancey. This book
is a personal favorite. Paul Brand was a world renown leprosy expert and offers
an amazing insight on the subject of pain.
I hope for
those that are struggling with doubt, that they overcome it and develop a
strong foundation for that is something that God can use mightily. Also, there
may be times in our walk with God that we have no reason for the things that
befall us. In these trials we learn to walk by faith. I sincerely hope that there
are those who are encouraged by this blog and take to heart what I have said.
It is not easy to struggle with doubt, but when it is overcome it remains a
true testimony to us and others who are merely travelers in this temporary
world.
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