Recreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley—Service, Sunday, May 29, 2022

The Virus of Doubt.

Today, Duncan is filling in for Pastor Michael as Michael is under the weather today.  Duncan is talking today about a spiritual virus, going around for centuries: DOUBT.

Every once in a while, all Christians come up with some doubts.  Doubt is a normal experience to everyone, actually.  Even atheists doubt their positions, sometimes.  The question isn’t will you catch the virus of doubt…it’s how you prevent the virus from turning into a terminal disease and killing your faith. 

What the virus of doubt really looks like.  First you may think doubt is the opposite of faith.  The opposite of faith is unbelief, not doubt.  Second, some think doubt is unforgivable, but it’s not., which is clearly shown in Luke Chapter 7, following today’s verses. Third, you may think doubt is unhealthy, but, again, it’s not.  It actually can help and strengthen your faith.  

So, while we shouldn’t go out of our way to seek doubt, it can work to our benefit if we deal with it responsibly.

Doubt looks a little different, when you examine it up close.

Where does doubt come from?  First, it often comes up in your mind.  This is where we begin wondering if some Christian concepts are rational in our mind.  Where people challenge your faith.  Second, you must know what you believe.  An inadequate view of God is an open invitation to doubt.  Emotions come in to play, too.  Some are emotional believers, some are not.  You cannot misunderstand the role of emotions of faith.  Faith isn’t fundamentally a feeling; it’s a decision of the will to follow Jesus Christ.  It doesn’t ebb and flow, depending on how pumped up you are.  

Doubt can also come into play with people that have been emotionally scarred in their past.  This can affect the way you view God; you’re just waiting for God to let you down as others have in the past.

Doubt can develop because of our will.  Will is where we make choices.  A Christian can decide to not turn away from sin; then questions why God isn’t comforting him, when the underlying cause of his problem is his willful decision to continue sinning. 

Stubborn sense of pride also causes doubt issues as can the case of one never having committed to Christ in the first place.  

So, will, emotions and minds: where doubt can play in our lives.  And let us not forget the father of lies: Satan, who can place doubts in our faith, through mistrust and confusion.  

So how do we regain our spiritual health if we have doubts?  Here are five steps, following the letters of the word “FAITH”:

 

F = find the root of your doubt.

A = ask God and others for help.

I = identify a course of treatment.

T = take care of your spiritual health.

H = hold your remaining questions in tension.

Use your doubt to increase your faith and don’t have to be afraid of questions.  Use it grow stronger in your faith than it ever was!

Verses can be found today in Luke 7: 9-35, 1 John 4: 4, Mark 9: 24, James 4: 2 along with 5: 16 and 1 Corinthians 13: 12.