Parshall Partners

Why We Doubt

         Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, once said: “Doubt discovers difficulties which it never solves; it creates hesitancy, despondency, despair. Its progress is the decay of comfort, the death of peace. "Believe!" is the word which speaks life into a man, but doubt nails down his coffin”.

         According to research done by the Barna Group, over half of all evangelical Christians say they sometimes doubt their religious beliefs.  The study was entitled "Doubt & Faith: Top Reasons People Question Christianity”. 

         The study revealed that while Americans are digging deeper into spirituality, their journey is often accompanied by tough questions.  The report noted:

As of October 2022, Barna data show three out of four U.S. adults (74%) say they want to grow spiritually. Additionally, the same proportion (77%) say they believe in a higher power. Nearly half (44%) say they are more open to God today than before the pandemic.

         That’s the good news.  The bad news, according to the survey, is that “over half of teens and adults (so, the U.S. general population ages 13+) report that they’ve experienced doubts about their religious beliefs at least sometimes (12% frequently, 16% occasionally, 24% sometimes) in the past few years” Specifically, “exactly half of those who are Christian or who have some Christian background or experience (50%) say they have gone through a 'prolonged' period of doubt at some point in their life."

         Why? What causes those doubts?  The data revealed that the majority said their doubt came from "past experiences with a religious institution." Those who weren’t practicing Christians cited the "hypocrisy of religious people" as "the top driver of doubt."  Ouch!

         Barna noted:

"Elsewhere in this study, and throughout many years of Barna's research, our data shows that those who are reluctant to affiliate with a church say Christians seem closed and judgmental, or that they often value being right in their beliefs over and above helping others make their own faith discoveries." 

         Among practicing Christians, “human suffering” and “the hypocrisy of religious people” were the biggest reasons for doubts in their faith.  So, what is the solution to mitigate those periods of doubt for both those seeking and those already saved?  We are.

         As Christians, our lives can become either the best argument FOR or AGAINST Christianity. As the saying goes, does our walk match our talk? Do we give ground to the ‘hypocrisy’ issue because the world sees a disconnect in what we say and what we do?  Is there a better way to integrate our faith into the very core of our being?

         I believe there is.  Our job resume as believers calls us to be “ambassadors for Christ”. We need to love, listen and lead.  Love the people that God brings into to our lives by showing them FIRST the love of Christ.  We need to listen to their questions and doubts.  Then, we can prayerfully and gracefully lead them to Christ.

         Doubts may come and go but the consistent message of the Gospel gracefully delivered changes everything – and everyone.

         Those are my thoughts.  I’m Janet Parshall.