Did God really say (Genesis 3:1): Doubt and Faith

Have you ever heard it said that if you happened to have been born in a different part of the world,  you would be of a different faith? A little simplistically the word is divided in two, those who tend to accept whatever they are told about God without question, and those who are skeptical of everything to do with Him. For various reasons, many in the first group transition to the second! But then there are also those in both groups who transition to a more reasoned faith. For this third group, doubt plays an important role.  In many circles doubt is regarded as the enemy, but as Oz Guinness writes (“In two minds”) this is “to fail to see the positive results, such as detecting error. Even more crucial, however, is the need for one to be able openly to face doubt and to work toward resolution rather than to suppress it, and suffer the attack of a more foreboding power at a later time.”

Working towards resolution, is not something we do well. We need to take our time, and be suspicious of those who have an answer to every question. We need to admit it when we don't know. Many have embraced inadequate and unconvincing answers which do disservice to the Kingdom.  It has taken me nearly fifty years, to arrive where I am, in these early chapters of Genesis. And honestly, there are still things I need to work through!

The Bible defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). We do not arrive there by reason, but if we are to give “a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15), then we will certainly need to work through our doubts. It is a process. In his response to the criticism that all faith is blind Schaeffer has the following illustration. You are on the Matterhorn and a cloud comes down. The Matterhorn is a mountain in the Swiss Alps. It is notorious for climbers dying when the clouds descend, for they are unable to find their way down. Schaeffer tells after the cloud comes down that you hear a voice saying “I saw you when the cloud came down.  There is a ledge ten feet below you and if you jump, I can lead you down  from there.” Schaeffer suggests you might want to check out the voice,  ask questions. “Do you live here, have you climbed before?” If you get satisfactory answers you will still need to make a leap of faith, but it will be an informed leap.” I like to add  that yes it would be a leap of faith, but you will not be left wondering for the rest of your life if it was real. Either the ledge is there or not!  We are meant to experience the reality of God, in fact “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). 


Father,  one of the idols of the West is rationality, and while we know by reason, we also know by intuition and  experience.  And someone with an experience of You Lord,  is not at the mercy of  someone with with a theory or a theology. We are meant to know You. In fact eternal life is all about knowing You (John 17:3).   Adam and Eve did,  in Jesus Name Amen