Doubting Doubt

The question of "doubt" in the mind and experience of the Christian has recently arisen since I've been asked to participate on a panel discussion centering on the topic of "doubt". The discussion is sponsored by our local Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and while I'm not certain of the composition or size of the panel I expect that they will all be speaking from within a Christian mindset.

In considering this issue the I quickly realized a need to define terms so as to bring clarity to the table. Doubt, when used as a verb, is "to be uncertain about; to consider questionable or unlikely; to hesitate to believe; or to distrust". Synonyms include mistrust, disbelief, question and antonyms include belief, faith, and trust.

It should be immediately apparent that it is foolish to be certain about something that is, by nature, uncertain. It is foolish to be absolutely certain about tomorrows weather or tomorrows stock market performance or even to place your complete trust in the the word of an unreliable man. It is equally foolish, however, to be uncertain about things which are intrinsically reliable. It is foolish to doubt the historicity of the holocaust or the law of gravity or, more to the point, to be uncertain, mistrusting and disbelieving of God and his Word.

Doubt is, of course, a universal human experience but we must carefully distinguish the source and object of our mistrust. Scripturally speaking, doubt in God and his Word is never tolerated or encouraged but is to be cast off. James 1:5-7 says it well when it says that "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.." If God is the object of our mistrust then we are in error, indulging our sin and must actively seek to believe. In doubting God and his Word we implicitly treat Him as unreliable and not worthy of our trust - we do not give him the glory that is due to his name.

Jesus never said that it was OK to doubt the things of God. When Peter saw Jesus walking on water and asks to come to him Jesus replies "Come". The text then relates that "Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" When Jesus speaks, in this case "Come", the only proper response is belief and complete faith without doubt or mistrust.

Perhaps one reason the so many believers entertain doubts is that they are simply not sure what God has actually said and so are unsure of what to believe. Belief must have an object; there must be external cognitive content; and hence the elimination of doubt must begin with the study of scripture and a corresponding submission to it's teaching. Apart from true knowledge doubt is inevitable and, according to both scripture and logic, a severe weakening of faith.