Five Minute Friday - Doubt

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One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.

I have my doubts

no doubt about it

when in doubt

not a shadow of doubt

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To doubt everything, or, to believe everything, are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection. ~Henri Poincare

There's a popular saying - "Question everything" - that seems to encourage a starting point of doubt and mistrust of anything and everything we cannot personally verify. And on the opposite end of the spectrum is a completely blind and undiscerning acceptance of everything. Is asking questions the same as doubting? Is a need for more answers or assurance or understanding the same as being a "Doubting Thomas"? And while I'm asking questions, is it fair to criticize Thomas for his doubt? 

I'm not sure that Jesus' words to Thomas were meant as harsh criticism. We don't know the tone of voice he used, and I believe that Jesus understood why Thomas was hesitant to accept the claims of the others that Jesus - whom Thomas KNEW was dead and buried - could possibly be alive and well. And Jesus knew what Thomas needed - apparently it wasn't to touch the nail holes, because it's not recorded that Thomas did that - in order to satisfy his valid question.

Christ never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is can't believe. Unbelief is won't believe. Doubt is honesty. Unbelief is obstinacy. Doubt is looking for light. Unbelief is content with darkness. ~Henry Drummond

Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith. ~Paul Tillich

Now Thomas . . . was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

~John 20:24-29

Surely if Jesus could help Thomas overcome his doubt, he can help us overcome ours. Because doubt is not always the same as refusal to believe. Doubt happens when we have questions and are perplexed and confused about what is true, or about what our next step should be. Doubt happens when we are hesitant or worried about the implications of a decision. Doubt happens when what we are taught doesn't seem to line up with what we see or experience. Those are questions that are often fair to ask. 

When we have questions or doubts about our faith, we need to take them to the Lord. Search the Scripture, spend time in prayer, seek wise counsel from other believers. When others have sincere questions and express doubts, we believers have a responsibility to help them find the answers. That's usually a better response to doubts than to judge harshly and criticize someone who may just be perplexed or hurting. (It requires discernment, of course, because some people really are just mockers and are trying to stir up trouble. The Bible has different advice for dealing with those people.) Jude addressed this in his letter to the early church. He talked about how the church should handle three different kinds of people. Those who doubt are to be shown mercy. Maybe because their doubts come from their pain or their confusion or their fear, and they need mercy and assurance and comfort in order to overcome.

These [scoffers] are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

~Jude 1:19-25~

If a man fights his way through his doubts to the conviction that Jesus Christ is Lord, he has attained to a certainty that the man who unthinkingly accepts things can never reach ~William Barclay

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This post is linked at Five Minute Friday for the word prompt "Doubt".

This post will also be linked at the Sweet Tea & Friends Monthly Link-up Party hosted by Simply Coffee & Jesus.

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