Confronting Doubt

doubt | dout | noun
a feeling of uncertainly or lack of conviction

The problem is never doubt, but it’s where doubt might lead. 

Doubt, in and of itself, is a natural part of our humanness. It doesn’t determine anything, no more than the brand of toothpaste I choose — Crest or Colgate? Twist cap or pop? It’s really going to be okay. 

The problem comes when we give doubt the wrong seat, such as the one behind the steering wheel, which, when co-opted by the enemy, intends to drive us to the City of Apostasy. This danger is obvious, and therefore we’re often eager to stand against it — to batten down the hatches, to gird up the loins, all of that.

But there’s more than one wrong seat for doubt. Like shotgun — or any seat within hearing of the steering wheel. And while it might not lead to Apostasy, it’s likely to park at the second worst destination: paralysis. 

This doesn’t mean you abandon the faith, it just means you become stuck right beneath the threshold of practical confidence.  And you get comfortable there. The doubt gets twisted, not to make you forsake Jesus, but just enough that you don’t share him. 

What do you think is the second-best scenario for the enemy? If he can’t keep us from believing, my guess is his next move is witness.

And this is why Christians apologetics is so valuable.

One Apologetics Resource

It is good and right that we are “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks [us] for a reason for the hope that is in [us]” (1 Peter 3:15). And that is because, for one, our hope is reasonable. 

The truth of the gospel is intellectually credible and existentially satisfying, as Tim Keller has put it, and it can be defended with consistent arguments from the tools of reason, as the apostle Paul told Festus, “I am speaking true and rational words” (Acts 26:25).

There are countless resources out there, in God’s kindness, that could serve us on this front, but I’d like to recommend one here. Last summer I stumbled upon an old Keller message tucked away on my computer. It’s one he delivered years ago, at what seems to be a campus setting. The title is “Who Is This Jesus?” and it’s the best 40-minute case for Christianity I’ve ever heard. I’ve re-listened to it at least five times in the last few moments. It’s so good that I’ve considered preaching it myself one day, with a one-line introduction that goes: “I’m about to preach a message by Tim Keller.” It’s so helpful. Would you check it out? (It’s free-of-charge on the Gospel in Life site, so I’m sharing it here.)

In hearing this message I think you’ll find that it’s not only a means to bolster your faith, but it’s something you’ll want to talk about with others.