http://www.newsweek.com/id/81388/page/1
There was a recent article in Newsweek that really resonated with me, and succinctly put into words one of my personal struggles. The article says that in 2008, the voices of moderates, skeptics and those who do not claim to have all the answers – both among those who believe and those who don’t – will start to become as prominent in the dialog about religion as those who speak out with absolute certainty.
From the article:
“A number of recent and upcoming books showcase voices from Christians and nonbelievers that are intelligent but less strident than the old guard. Both sides seek to elevate the thing they have in common: doubt. In a fragile world, a confession of uncertainty is especially grave.”
My first reaction is a huge sigh of relief. I’m constantly dumbfounded at the level of conviction espoused by people who hold beliefs that I find to be completely ridiculous. I’ve come to realize, however, that is isn’t necesarrily the beliefs that amaze me, but it’s the absolute certainty in these beliefs that people have. One of the definitions for faith is “belief that is not based on proof.” I think this is one of the wonderful things about faith. It takes more effort, thought and self-reflection to believe in something you can’t prove than something you can. The element of the unknown makes having faith a personal decision. It makes faith part of a relationship with Christ, and not just a matter of facts and figures. If your faith, by definition, is not based on proof, no matter how much you believe, how can anyone possibly be completely sure that her beliefs are right and all others are wrong?
At the same time, I find myself at the complete opposite side of the spectrum. How can you truly believe if there are any doubts? If you really have God and Christ at the center of your life, how can you be anything but certain?
If there’s no room for doubt, what value is there to faith; but if you truly believe, how can you have any room for doubt?
My struggle comes in trying to find some kind of middle ground. As a Christian, I like to think that I fully believe in all the Big Things (http://www.creeds.net/ancient/nicene.htm), but I also understand that there is the possibility that it’s all completely wrong. Some days I feel this understanding validates my faith, proving that I’ve thought of other options, and Faith is what I chose. Others, I feel as though believing that there is any other possibility only sheds light on the weaknesses in my faith.
I don’t know the answer to this, but I’m also not sure there is one. I’m ok with that, because I think questioning your beliefs is one of the best ways to make them stronger. I will never “know” if what I believe is right, but that won’t keep me from believing.
2 comments:
What is the Holy Spirit's role in our "assurance?" There are a few verses that talk about having deep convictions by the Holy Spirit, like in 1 Thessalonians 1: For we know, brothers and sisters* beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your sake.
I was thinking that there was a verse that said that the Holy Spirit put steel in their convictions...I couldn't find it. Maybe it was iron...or maybe I'm making it up.
I found another piece that I thought related in an interesting way here. Occasionally I read a devotional book by Oswald Chambers called My Utmost For His Highest. April 26th's entry talks about my favorite Bible story about Abraham and the near sacrifice of Isaac. I'll plop in a chunk and you can see what you think:
The great point of Abraham's faith in God was that he was prepared to do anything for God. Hew as there to obey God, no matter to what belief he went contrary. Abraham was not a devotee of his own convictions, or he would have slain Isaac and said that the voice of the angel was the voice of the devil That is the attitude of a fanatic.
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