Faith And Doubt
I'll start off by saying that I am a HUGE John Ortberg fan. His teachings and writings have impacted my life.
In my opinion, John's new book, Faith And Doubt, is his best so far. And I've appreciated every book he has written.
Here's an excerpt from the book's introduction:
I will tell you my secret: I have doubts.
I have spent my life studying and thinking and reading and teaching about God. I grew up in the church. I went to a faith-based college and then to a seminary. I walked the straight and narrow. I never sowed any wild oats.
And I have doubts.
I'll tell you more than that. There is a part of me that, after I die, if it all turns out to be true--the angels are singing, death is defeated, the roll is called up yonder and there I am--there is a part of me that will be surprised. What do you know? It's all true after all. I had my doubts.
Is it okay if we ask questions and consider objections and wonder out loud?
Is it okay if we don't pretend that everybody is split up into two camps: those who doubt and those who don't?
Is it possible--maybe even rational--to have faith in the presence of doubt?
John Ortberg's latest release will be one that I give numerous people as a Christmas gift this year. It is an authentic, rational, readable exploration of our faith even in the presence of honest doubt.
When it comes right down to it . . . can there even be faith if there is no doubt?
In my opinion, John's new book, Faith And Doubt, is his best so far. And I've appreciated every book he has written.
Here's an excerpt from the book's introduction:
I will tell you my secret: I have doubts.
I have spent my life studying and thinking and reading and teaching about God. I grew up in the church. I went to a faith-based college and then to a seminary. I walked the straight and narrow. I never sowed any wild oats.
And I have doubts.
I'll tell you more than that. There is a part of me that, after I die, if it all turns out to be true--the angels are singing, death is defeated, the roll is called up yonder and there I am--there is a part of me that will be surprised. What do you know? It's all true after all. I had my doubts.
Is it okay if we ask questions and consider objections and wonder out loud?
Is it okay if we don't pretend that everybody is split up into two camps: those who doubt and those who don't?
Is it possible--maybe even rational--to have faith in the presence of doubt?
John Ortberg's latest release will be one that I give numerous people as a Christmas gift this year. It is an authentic, rational, readable exploration of our faith even in the presence of honest doubt.
When it comes right down to it . . . can there even be faith if there is no doubt?
posted by Greg Nettle at 9:35 AM
2 Comments:
Thanks for the reading ahead Greg. I appreciate your scouting the book shelves.
On the Jesus Wants to Save Christians website Rob Bell makes the statement that some level of doubt is critical to healthy faith.
Glad to hear it, because I doubt sometimes.
This sounds like a great read.
I am a doubter, and I try to keep in the forefront of my mind a quote from one of my favorite ministers, David Corts, former minister at First Christian Church: "you will never have true faith until you become a doubting Thomas."
Doubting leads to questions, questions lead to research, research leads to knowledge and the formation of hypotheses which can be tested in life, conclusions can be drawn and lives can be improved.
Ah yes, the scientific method can be used in building faith!
Philip Yancey, another doubter and great author has stated "Doubt always coexists with faith, for in the presence of certainty who would need faith at all?"
Speaking of certainty....another great book recommended to me by another minister at FCC: "The Myth of Certainty" by Daniel Taylor. I read it at least once a year just to remind myself that I am "Okay" and that there are others out there just like me!
Lori
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