Six suggestions on how to navigate doubt
/
I recently wrote a piece, "Six suggestions on how to navigate doubt", for Downtown Cornerstone. Doubt is something I personally encounter, from time to time, and frequently deal with as a pastor of a growing church. Doubt shouldn't be something we ignore, but face directly. But, how do we do that? I wrote this short post to help give a starting point for navigating doubt. Here's an excerpt:
No matter what you believe, if you’re thoughtful and honest, you will face some measure of doubt. Is what I believe true? Can we know what is true? Do I believe what I do because it is true or for other reasons (personal experiences, moral preferences, particular environment, etc)? Have I reasonably considered the other options?
I was recently asked by a friend, who is in the thick of considering the claims of Jesus Christ, “How do followers of Jesus manage doubt? How do you not let doubt swallow you up completely?” Those are good questions, no matter what you believe.
In this post, I’d like to specifically deal with doubt within the context of Christianity. Following Jesus is not an isolated hobby for personal enrichment nor for those merely looking to have their spiritual needs met. Rather, Christianity claims to be the truth of the universe and, if true – and I believe it is – that changes everything. As CS Lewis once said: "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important."