Faith and Doubt

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.”

Hebrews 10:23

          There are very few who are never troubled by spiritual doubts.  Even the staunchest believers will have moments when they ask themselves, “Is this really true?  Is God really there?  Does God really care?” Sometimes a challenge or obstacle prompts uncertainty.  We wonder why God does not always intervene to make things better. Sometimes the various philosophies and religious beliefs that surround us raise questions. Our confidence wavers.

          For these reasons and others, the writer to the Hebrews encourages the disciples of Jesus Christ to “gather together for worship and study and prayer.” The corporate nature of these activities is necessary so that we may “encourage one another to love and good works.”  This support requires that we be present to each another.  You won’t find this hope so easily if you sit by yourself and alone in your room.

          What others do for us, that we can’t often do ourselves, is to see with objectivity. We always look at thing through our own eyes.  How can we not? Our perspective is the only one we have.  We only see through different eyes when we open ourselves up to the views of others.

They can help us to doubt our own doubts and open the door for a new way of looking at our faith and our relationship with God.  They may see something in a familiar scripture we never before saw.  Their experience may speak to our own.  With that we can gain a renewed confidence in Jesus Christ that will not waver.

The church really is like the children’s pantomime, “Here is the church and here is the steeple.  Open the door and here are the people.”  We are the body of Christ.  Together with him we can grow.

Holy Trinity, through your Word we learn that you exist in communion, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so we know that community matters.  Help us to forge a caring community of faith so that we may always encourage one another to love and good works and so express you love and faithfulness to a world in such need.  Amen.