my doubts
Doubts.
We all have them. They rear their heads during a crises, darkness or confusion. We may not think of them regularily, but something happens and there they are. Most of the time we don't talk about them, unless we are in the therapist's office or under the care of hospice.
My question is why? Why don't we talk about something that we all have in common? We all have doubts. Is God real or just something to believe in? Does God care? Who is in control? Why does religion - people with good intensions - spawn pain? Was Jesus really God?
We are told to believe. To have faith. Lots of it. But we are told at every turn to doubt, to be skeptics, to deconstruct. When we are supposed to have lots of faith -- anything less is thought to be a sign of weakness -- and doubts creep up, we are in a very lonely place. Questions emerge. Do other people struggle with this? What is happening to me? Am I loosing my faith?
We have somehow concluded that to doubt or question is actually insulting to God - as if God can't deal with our questions. We don't want to insult the very being that we are trying to wrap our minds/hearts around. We want Him close, we want His favor. We don't want to drive Him away.
But throughout scriptures, we see God's people continually question God. "Why have you forsaken me?" "Why do my enemies always win?" "Lord, help my unbelief" and so echo the voices of scripture.
Could it be that doubts are a normal part of the faith journey we are all on? Could it be that doubting is a passage we all need to walk through to experience the tenderness and security of God? Could it be that on the other side of doubting and seemingly weak faith, is strength and awe?
For this time of lent, Heartlander's will voice their doubts. We will struggle together. We will acknowlege our questions. We will bring up the hard stuff. We will feel the sting of uncertainty when we get worked over by our nagging questions.
But I believe that we will become stronger, softer, and filled with faith as we are honest and authentic with our true doubts - as we lay them before God, He will work in us and through us.
So lets begin tomorrow, Ash Wednesday. Honestly, what are your doubts what are your questions? Let's bring them up. Let's face them.
What are yours?
We all have them. They rear their heads during a crises, darkness or confusion. We may not think of them regularily, but something happens and there they are. Most of the time we don't talk about them, unless we are in the therapist's office or under the care of hospice.
My question is why? Why don't we talk about something that we all have in common? We all have doubts. Is God real or just something to believe in? Does God care? Who is in control? Why does religion - people with good intensions - spawn pain? Was Jesus really God?
We are told to believe. To have faith. Lots of it. But we are told at every turn to doubt, to be skeptics, to deconstruct. When we are supposed to have lots of faith -- anything less is thought to be a sign of weakness -- and doubts creep up, we are in a very lonely place. Questions emerge. Do other people struggle with this? What is happening to me? Am I loosing my faith?
We have somehow concluded that to doubt or question is actually insulting to God - as if God can't deal with our questions. We don't want to insult the very being that we are trying to wrap our minds/hearts around. We want Him close, we want His favor. We don't want to drive Him away.
But throughout scriptures, we see God's people continually question God. "Why have you forsaken me?" "Why do my enemies always win?" "Lord, help my unbelief" and so echo the voices of scripture.
Could it be that doubts are a normal part of the faith journey we are all on? Could it be that doubting is a passage we all need to walk through to experience the tenderness and security of God? Could it be that on the other side of doubting and seemingly weak faith, is strength and awe?
For this time of lent, Heartlander's will voice their doubts. We will struggle together. We will acknowlege our questions. We will bring up the hard stuff. We will feel the sting of uncertainty when we get worked over by our nagging questions.
But I believe that we will become stronger, softer, and filled with faith as we are honest and authentic with our true doubts - as we lay them before God, He will work in us and through us.
So lets begin tomorrow, Ash Wednesday. Honestly, what are your doubts what are your questions? Let's bring them up. Let's face them.
What are yours?
posted by mike vanderkwaak at
3:19 PM
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