Shall we take things at face value? I doubt it

            This marks my fourth entry of my literary endeavor to avoid the ennui of life. With each consecutive tirade I cannot help but feel some disconnected closeness to you my anonymous readers, and I thank you. Your devotion (a word certainly overestimating your interest) to my reflections means a great deal to me. Now for the matter at hand: in this I journey to the boundaries of conventional thought to introduce a possibly uncomfortable notion.

            God’s word is law. This declaration is one standard to we who mentally check the disciple of Christ box in our yearly tax forms. The Bible is His inspired word. Again, another statement less than revolutionary to our faith. But God created mankind, a creation claiming possession of His image, and in so are granted freedom from several constrictions: one being from predestination (apologies to the Presbyterians in the room). In this gift of free will we are no longer constricted to simple existence on this rock, but we are capable of philosophical imaginings that can seemingly reach the heavens. Humans are endowed with the ability to think not only freely, but with the highest of intellect, producing blossoming thoughts, which make feats such as the iPhone and the International Space Station possible. Higher thought breeds brilliant minds such as Svante Arrhenius, Emil Fischer, and Linus Pauling (appropriately all chemists). But is it logical to believe these sophisticated men produced their work without first some measure of skepticism? Critical thinking is just that: critical. So, is it unhealthy to have some measure of doubt in your faith? I say no. God gave us minds to think, and to accept anything without some portion of analysis is a poor use of God-given talents. Jesus did not blatantly dictate his answers as basic principle, but he responded with parables. These parables prompted thought on behalf of his audience, so they could fully grasp for themselves the teachings of Christ. Now would be the time where from the trite pulpit, the story of Peter springs to the forefront, but for the sake of critical thinking I shall omit this slightly overused anecdote. I take solace in the fact that the Bible asks more questions than it gives answers, because in this questioning we can produce for ourselves a true, tested faith. Profound philosopher Rene Descartes states, “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” So when you find yourself doubting any aspect of your faith, do not shrivel into a corner feeling discouraged as a “doubting Thomas,” but instead persevere through doubt knowing that through the testing of your faith, true knowledge will surface.

            I, fittingly, have barely offered a rubric for issues of doubt, but am reassuring those who do. Do not fear when doubt arises. Steel yourself when it comes. I thank you once again for your repeated audience and pray you return asking more from me. I leave you with the simple, undoubtable truths that 1) the tomb is empty and 2) God is faithful.