I DOUBT IT
We recently looked at Unbeliefment, and the power that it has, in one of our Truths. UNBELIEFMENT — Benton T. Thompson III (bentonthompsoniii.com)
In that lesson we saw that Unbeliefment, is a mighty force that can make you rebel, become isolated, be fearful, treacherous, plot, scheme, lie, and even deny that God has done anything good.
Often, we will hear Unbelief and Doubt spoken in the same references, or same sentence, as though they are interchangeable or indelibly linked.
But I say, I DOUBT IT.
Just because someone said, “I Doubt It”, or doubts something, doesn’t automatically make them an unbeliever. We shouldn’t just generalize them as someone who doesn’t love or believe in God because just they have some doubts.
So, Today I want to offer some clarity and clear up a few things on Doubting!
Don’t buy into the notion that because you doubt something, it’s a bad thing, or that you have done something wrong.
There is Good Doubt, and there is also Bad Doubt. Our motives for doubting, determine whether it is good or bad doubt.
When someone has doubts about something, and they ask a question to get clarity, so they can have a better understanding of what was said, that’s Good Doubt.
On the other hand, when someone doubts, and asks a question to challenge what is being said to bring accusation on the other person, that is Bad Doubt.
One doubter seeks to learn, the other doubter seeks to discredit.
One displayed Good “Believing” Doubt, while the other one displayed Bad “Unbelieving” Doubt.
Let’s look at it in terms of two potential real life circumstances.
Circumstance #1. In a courtroom setting there is an attorney who is the prosecutor. The questions that he is asking the witnesses are not to learn something, but rather to discredit them and assassinate their character to have the one who is on trial proven to be a liar. This is an example of Bad “Unbelieving” Doubt. There are some people in life, who desire to put God on the witness stand, and convict Him.
Circumstance #2. In this home setting there is a child and parents. The child went to Sunday school earlier that day and came home with some questions about what was taught, so they asked their parents. This is an example of Good “Believing” Doubt. Our Faith manuals refer to “Childlike Faith”. Sometimes childlike faith has questions. God tells us to Ask.
We can also see both types of doubt played out in our faith manuals.
In Genesis 3, we see the first doubters in history. Adam and Eve were made to believe that God had lied to them with this single opening statement, “Did God really say…” When they first entertained this simple idea, everything changed for them, and all of humanity forever. Did God lie to us, they wondered, maybe He did. But it didn’t just stop there, it was also suggested that God was afraid that they would rival or exceed him in authority if they partook of what was made available to them. Both Ridiculous & Shameful notions! Those lies, conspiracy, and scheming, all led to isolation and expulsion. The belief of one certain lie can change your life forever. This was Bad “Unbelieving” Doubt on full display. We still hear from that same instigator today, who himself was expelled, and is trying to get us evicted also.
The book of Mark, chapter 9, tells us the true story of a father and son. The son had a severe case of mental illness. He was hearing voices that were telling him to harm himself as well as others. The father took his son to some believers to see if they could provide help. They were not able to help him, and an argument ensued, because some people accused the father of doubting and being an unbeliever. Jesus heard the ruckus and asked what was going on. The father told Jesus what had taken place, and offered this profound statement; I believe, but I just need some help with my unbelief.
What! Yes, that’s what he said, I believe, but help me with my unbelief. Was this an oxymoron or some sort of paradox? How can you say I believe, and I have unbelief in the same sentence? Quite frankly, most of us do it frequently ourselves, if we are truly being honest about it. Our mouth may say one thing, but our actions say yet another thing.
The outcome for this father and son was that Jesus healed his son. Because the father displayed Good “Believing” Doubt.
It’s important to note that this situation also set a precedent for all of us who have doubted from time to time.
It shows us that we can ALL ask God to help us with our areas of unbelief, and he DO just that.
Our Faith isn’t expected to be perfect!
If we were left to our own strength, and our own faith, we would never make it.
That’s why the disciples couldn’t help the man’s son, because their belief was in themselves, and not in God.
How many times have you asked God for something, but it didn’t happen?
Maybe we should ask for more faith, so we can believe again that it will happen.
This is a Thompson Truth
