Questioning Faith

Last Sunday I mentioned Randy Newman’s excellent new book, Questioning Faith:  Indirect Journeys of Belief through Terrains of Doubt. Now that’s a densely packed title.  Let’s take it apart.

First, “Questioning” is ambiguous (deliberately, I suspect).  It can mean addressing questions TO faith—challenging the stance of belief in God.  Or it can mean generating questions FROM faith—a zeal to understand more about God, life, and the world from the vantage point of trust in God.  There’s some of both in the book.

“Indirect” makes me think of the song by the Beatles, “The Long and Winding Road.”  Take Joseph’s saga in Genesis 37-50.  He was sold into slavery by his brothers, then wrongfully imprisoned (and forgotten there by those who could help).  Only after MANY turns and twists in the road could he finally say to his brothers, “So it was not you who sent me here, but God” (45:8), and “You meant it for evil, but God meant if for good” (50:20).  Newman prompts us to be patient and watch for God’s wild, round-about ways.

“Journeys” helps us remember that faith isn’t just a decision at a point in time but a way of life.  “Belief” means more than assent to certain facts (like I “believe” 2+2=4)—it involves trust, and an attitude of rest.  “Terrains”—not every “place” we find ourselves is like the previous setting; life’s chapters can vary tremendously.

And “doubt.”  Newman warns against expecting to get to a point where you have a complete grasp on life’s questions and answers.  Frankly, that’s not how it works being human:  only the Creator has a perfect grasp on all truth and water-tight answers to all questions.  As for you and me, we need to be at peace as kin of John the Baptist, who dealt with doubt (Matthew 11:3).  We can echo the man who said to Jesus, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).  And yet, don’t cower before your doubts:  doubt your doubts; dig deeper into God’s Word and see how the Lord may reveal a flimsy footing for those doubts (pp. 54-57).