In praise of doubt

Lutheran, The, Mar 2006 by Blezard, Robert C

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More so than many other types of Christians, Lutherans are comfortable living with paradoxes: We are simultaneously saint and sinner; the bread we take at communion is both bread and body of Christ; we are helplessly in bondage to sin but still fully expected to resist sin and repent. So it is no surprise that Lutherans are comfortable living with faith and doubt.

Exercise 1:1 believe. Help my unbelief (Mark 9:14-29)

Martin Luther loved this passage. It describes precisely the predicament in which even the most devout Christians sometimes find themselves: Believing with all our will and all our strength, yet even so possessing unbelief.

Read the passage and discuss:

* Jesus stumbles upon an argument. What is it about?

* What does Jesus' response in verse 19 reveal about belief and unbelief? What is surprising about it?

* What does the father ask in verse 22?

* How does Jesus' response in verse 23 contradict the expectations of everybody there? How does it contradict your thinking about the power of faith?

* The cry of the father in verse 24 has been called the cry of all Christians. What does it say to you? Have you ever been in that situation? Can you share it?

* What is Jesus' response?

* Is the boy's father rebuked for his "unbelief? What are the consequences for the father and the boy?

* What does this say about God's response to our unbelief? Is it a hindrance to God's blessing?

* Based on this passage, how can belief and unbelief coexist in the life of a believer?

* What do the boy's father-and all those in the scene -now understand about belief and unbelief?

Exercise 2: Faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20)

People talk about faith that moves mountains. Well, this is one of the passages they point to.

Read Matthew 17:20 and discuss:

* Do you generally think of your faith as big and strong? Or as small and weak? (At least when you aren't studying this passage.)

* What is Jesus saying here about faith?

* How big is a mustard seed?

* Don't you ordinarily think of your faith as at least that big?

* But when is the last time you ordered a mountain to move?

* Do you know any Christian who moved a mountain?

* If Jesus says we can move mountains, what is he really saying about the capabilities of faith?

* What does this teaching of Jesus say about the tension between belief and unbelief?

Exercise 3: Doubting Thomas (John 20:24-29)

If you sometimes have doubts about Jesus, just imagine poor Thomas' situation. As an apostle he had walked with Jesus and been part of the inner circle, and yet he would not believe reports of the Resurrection from his fellow apostles.

Read John 20:24-29 and discuss:

* What is Thomas hesitant to believe?

* What proof does he seek? Why?

* Does it surprise you that an apostle has doubts? If an apostle can doubt, what does that say about us and our doubts?

* When Jesus finally arrives, what does he do for Thomas? Why?

* What do Jesus' actions reveal about how God views our doubts?

* Does Jesus always give us what we need to believe? Why or why not?

Exercise 4: When does doubt reinforce faith?

If you're like me, your most confident steps forward in faith have followed times when you stumbled in doubt. Have you had moments like that?

* When have you found yourself doubting your faith?

* How have those doubts manifested in your life?

* How have they affected your faith?

* How did you work through them?

* Did God give you what you needed to restore your faith?

* What did you learn as a result?

* How has your faith grown?

* How can we learn to use doubts as a way to strengthen our faith?

(The online version of this study guide contains two more exercises as well as discussion questions. Visit www.thelutheran.org and choose "resources/guides.")

Blezard writes The Lutheran's online study guides. The pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Arendstville, Pa., he holds degrees from Boston University School of Theology and the Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg.