“I Have Doubts”

“To be honest, I didn’t want to believe that Christianity could radically transform someone’s character and values. It was much easier to raise doubts and manufacture outrageous objections that to consider the possibility that God actually could trigger a revolutionary turn-around in such a depraved and degenerate life.” ― Lee Strobel, The Case for Faith:

In 1980, Lee Strobel’s award-winning, investigative reporting earns him a promotion to legal editor at the Chicago Tribune. Things at home aren’t going nearly as well. His wife Leslie’s newfound faith in Christ compels Lee to utilize his journalistic and legal training to try and disprove the claims of Christianity, pitting his resolute atheism against her growing faith. The movie Case for Christ documents Lee Strobel’s journey to erase his deeply felt doubts.  

Doubt is an everyday occurrence in the life of most Christians. Yes, we believe in Christ as Lord and Savior, but sometimes we can doubt His abilities and promises. When Peter walked on water he doubted. When Christ was crucified, His followers doubted. And, despite the mountains of evidence we have today that tell us God is real, Christ walked the earth, died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, we can still have doubts. When Christians begin to have doubts about something as significant as the truth of their Christian faith, it’s quite understandable that this might worry or even frighten them.

“I have questions,” a believer said. “But I don’t think I had ever admitted that out loud. I’m not exactly sure why, but I always just kept those doubts inside of me. Questions about why God lets the Coronavirus run rampant or why racism still exists. Why do so many of my friends refuse to believe? The truth is I have my doubts.”

Reflecting on this issue in The Case for Faith, Lee Strobel wrote: “For many Christians, merely having doubts of any kind can be scary. They wonder whether their questions disqualify them being a follower of Christ. They feel insecure because they’re not sure whether it’s permissible to express uncertainty about God, Jesus, or the Bible. So they keep their questions to themselves—and inside, unanswered, they grow and fester . . . until they eventually succeed in choking out their faith.”

So what can we do if we find ourselves struggling with doubts about the truth of Christianity? Why do such doubts arise?  Just like Lee Strobel, chase down the doubts you have to see where the evidence leads… you’ll find it always leads back to the eternal truth of God’s unchanging Word.

Whenever they come and whatever form they take, we must each deal honestly with our doubts. To ignore them is to court spiritual disaster. But facing them can lead ultimately to a deeper faith. A faith that’s challenged by adversity or tough questions . . . is often a stronger faith in the end. 

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think it’s difficult for some to admit they have spiritual doubts? What prevents you from speaking out about your doubts? What makes you feel safe and unafraid to honestly open up with others about your spiritual questions?
2. How would it change things if you saw your doubts as opportunities to grow deeper in your relationship with Christ, and not a reason for alarm?