Plenty of Doubt to Go Around

Taylor Theater recently performed the play Doubt. (If you don't have the opportunity to watch the play, a semi-recent movie adaption was produced.) This play has persuaded me to contemplate doubt and the role it plays in our society. I am asking questions and attempting to answer them.

Our society rarely reprimands doubt. Doubt is considered a common human experience. If you never doubt, your faith may lack investigation. Struggling with the unknown and being honest with your questions is, for the most part, a healthy practice.

Unfortunately, our society may have taken this practice too far. The popular philosophy assumes that doubt is always justified. One can then adopt the premise that there is no absolute truth or that no one can know truth. We have nurtured a society of skeptics who are filled with uncertainties. Because this philosophy is so pervasive, I am tempted to be less resolute.

This is my dilemma: I have deep convictions and strongly accept the morals and standards laid out in the Bible as faultless. In the past, I have been called judgemental and arrogant. After years of rejection, I have toned down my message. But, I never doubted the message. I only doubted the messenger. I still consider the dictates in the Bible as flawless and pure! But, the relative society has muddled my voice. Doubting is easier than telling the truth.

I had no intention of probing my life to see how doubt has influenced my thoughts. Then this play disrupted me. Then ONLY few days later in a coffee shop, I sat next to a Catechism class lead by a Catholic priest. This priest was talking about doubt and how it nurtures faith. He was encouraging his hearers to ask the hard questions and never take anything at face value.

This coincidence was weird and wonderful. There are numerous grey areas and conflicting ideas about God. I have more questions than answers. Doubt plagues my mind more than I care to admit. But, I must be clear of one thing: the Christian walk is a walk of faith. Our world tells us that simple belief is foolish, ignorant, and naive. But, God is not of this world. He wants His followers to have child-like faith.

I pray God will deliver you and me from nagging doubts. I pray God will overcome our cynicism and expose the sandy foundations. I pray that if you have doubt, it will eventually turn to righteous conviction and certainty.