CALLING ALL DOUBTERS....yeah that means you.

Let me just get right to the point...
ALL Christians experience times of doubting. I know, it may seem crazy but it's true. This means that pastors, missionaries, and biblical scholars all have had, and will occasionally continue to have, doubts about their faith or circumstance. I have experienced seasons of doubt and I will never forget them. It was terrible at the time because, when a Christian doubts, they really don't want to. They WANT to stop doubting and believe. However, my seasons of doubt have resulted in a stronger relationship with the Lord. 
However, doubting is far different from unbelief. Below are some points from the article by Jonathan Morrow titled, Is it Okay to Doubt? It is taken from The Apologetics Study Bible for Students.

• As humans, we all have limitations. We all experience doubts simply because we cannot know all the answers. So be encouraged-you are not alone. In order to live with our doubts in a spiritually healthy and faith-building way, we need to be clear about what doubt is and what it isn't.

     First, as J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issuer point out in their book In Search of a Confident Faith (Intervarsity Press, 2008), there are differences between unbelief, doubt, and lack of belief.

     1. Unbelief- people willfully set themselves against a biblical teaching (e.g., saying that              Jesus is not the Son of God).

     2. Doubt- people have an intellectual, emotional, or psychological barrier to a more                    secure confidence in a biblical teaching or to God Himself (e.g., they believe that God            is always there for them, but when bad stuff happens they struggle to believe that).

     3. Lack of belief- people do not believe a biblical teaching or idea but want to (e.g., they            need some help to believe).

•  If you find yourself doubting, you're in good company (Mk 9:24). Having the courage to doubt your doubts and investigate their cause leads to a greater confidence as a follower of Jesus.

The following videos also discuss doubt.

The first video is of Lee Strobel discussing, is there room for doubt in the Christian faith? Lee Strobel was once an atheist who was determined to disprove Christianity. In his attempt, he experienced Christ, became a Christian, and wrote The Case for Christ.  If there is one person who can talk about doubts, its this guy. 

Is There Room For Doubt in the Christian Faith? (4:03)

This video discusses, can Christians doubt? (3:22)

This video is John Piper,an author and pastor who has been a Christian for MANY years. Here he discusses his own battles with doubt and how he overcomes it. 

Do you ever doubt your devotion to Christ? (4:11)

 I will continue discussing my own story of dealing with doubts in my next blog.

Blessings! :)

Buy the The Apologetics Study Bible for Students at LifeWay.com.