What's wrong with doubting?

Growing up in a Christian household can actually prove detrimental to one’s faith. You are taught to believe in the teachings of the church with your eyes closed and mind shut. And if you ask questions that do not have an obvious answer then you are considered as someone lacking in faith. I think this is the case with most religions. Don’t question what we have been following for eons or you are damned. I am assuming that to be the case for many of us who have grown up in religious households, whichever religion it might have been. 

If that's the case why do we expect anyone to accept our belief? The non-believers, as we generally like to call anyone who doesn't belong to our own faith, are doing the same thing we do -- accept what they grew up hearing without questioning its veracity.

I for one find this behavior unacceptable. What's wrong with doubting? Au contraire, I find it quite healthy. It gives me a reason to truly believe rather than purporting to be a believer. What's the point if you tell everyone you accept everything wholeheartedly but in your mind you are confused! After all, we do say, our God is a God who searches what's in our hearts. So even if we fool everyone with our lip service, I doubt it's going to get us the eternal salvation we all seek.

So I say ask questions. Try and find your answers in the bible, in history, in archaeology, in science, wherever possible. After all, the gospels do say ‘love the Lord your God with all your mind’. Yes, that's right. Loving with the mind is also a commandment. And to make this possible it's necessary to have a questioning mind. A mind that seeks answers to quell those doubts. A mind that thinks things through.

In fact, a biblical instance comes to mind in support of this theory. In Acts 17:11 we read about the people of Berea. Luke, the author of Acts says, the Bereans were open-minded and listened eagerly to Paul's message. But they didn't stop there. After listening to these preachers of the new faith, they went back and searched the Scriptures day after day to see if what Paul and Silas were teaching was indeed the truth. Here we see that this was seen as a good thing to do. Even Gideon from the Old Testament days is a case in point. He had his doubts and so he places various tests to confirm that it is indeed God's will to do what he has been asked to do.

So let’s encourage healthy doubting and grow in our faith. 

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