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Doubt

<strong>Doubt</strong>

Weekly column by David Otten, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Eldorado

Greetings from Faith Lutheran Church in Eldorado.

Doubt. Most people consider doubt to be a bad thing. And, if you're Christian, most would see doubt as the opposite of faith. Christians do at times have doubts. They do struggle as Satan, the world, and their flesh temps them. Last Sunday, the story of "Doubting Thomas" was read.

Thomas is not just wondering if Jesus is alive or saying, "Wow, Jesus is alive. I still don't understand how it happened." No, he was denying his fellow disciples' understanding of reality. He was saying, "They were wrong." This is more than struggling with how God did something.

Struggles with issues of faith are not damning. Struggles can build us up and even make our faith more vivid to us. It also can show us how much we need to rely upon God and His word, not just our frail human reason. It is when we start denying the Biblical truths that there is a problem.

Yet how do we deal with doubts? First, what is the type of doubt? Is it more of the mind as this example shows? A Christian struggles with the scripture being reliable, because someone told him it has been recopied thousands of times and could not be reliable. In this case, some research needs to be done to find out how the Bible came to us. Questions like this are normally resolved through education. Other questions that fit into this area are: Does the Bible teach Jesus to be true God and true man? Is it grace or works that saves me?

The second type is more of faith and the heart. Can I believe what the Bible clearly teaches? Ex. "A person is convinced that scripture teaches that Jesus rose from the dead, but struggles with believing the message." Some research could help this type of doubt, such as evidence from outside the Bible, but faith is not created by arguments. When I proclaim the gospel to a non-believer, I am not attempting to win a debate. No, I can't argue someone into faith. The word alone has the power to create faith. No better advice can be given than to meditate on the word of God and confess your struggle to God. We don't create our faith; God, by the spirit's power using His word, creates it in us. Also, confess your struggles to fellow Christians, particularly your pastor. Ask him to pray for you.

Jesus did not reject Thomas, but confronted him. Thomas had it easy. He saw and touched Christ and believed. So Jesus says, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." I believe God is very patient with our doubts and struggles. I believe all who bring their doubts to God will find faith. It doesn't always mean that we have found the answer, but we can live with the question.

He is risen.