Week One Part 2 - Day Four: Facing Doubt

Here’s another misconception about doubt: doubt is a problem for faith but not for knowledge. Exposing this idea as a misconception has done much to strengthen my own faith. We have this unchallenged notion that there are two giant categories. On one side of the ledger we put logic, reason, investigation, certainty and knowledge.¹ On the other side we put feelings, experience, faith ... and doubt.

We see this bias even in our common vernacular. When we say “I believe so” what we really mean is “probably so, but I’m not completely certain.” Think about what that says about how we define “belief.” And when we say “I doubt it” what we really mean is “probably not, but I’m not completely certain.” Think about what that says about doubt.

Clearly, we live with the impression that faith is weaker than knowledge. Faith, is based on a whole set of assumptions, right? Just think of the most common metaphor for faith: it’s a leap into the unknown. But what is this “knowledge” which is so much stronger than faith? The truth is there is no category that does not rely on assumptions! Faith depends on knowledge and knowledge relies intimately on faith. And both knowledge and faith have to make certain assumptions. Next week we will deal with some specific doubts by addressing the assumptions behind them. In other words, we will doubt our doubt. This is akin to what we are talking about here. But for now let’s look at two general ways in which knowledge relies on assumptions (and faith).

Knowledge is Always Dependent on its Source

First of all, knowledge is always dependent on its source. We always have to make assumptions about how we know and therefore about how reliable the “how we know” is. Os Guinness puts it this way:

“Knowledge pretends it is completely different from faith and makes faith the odd man out by ignoring its own assumptions. But the fact that assumptions are necessary for knowledge shows that knowledge and faith are not archenemies … The problem, though, does not lie in what we know but how we know. When we set out to know something, we do not proceed by proving everything we know before we know it. If we are to know anything, we must proceed on the basis of certain things which cannot be proved but which must be presupposed.” ²

For those of you saying, “it’s too early in the morning for all of this,” hang on just a little longer. A simple, practical example of this line of reasoning is seen in every serious court case where witnesses are called. The cross-examining attorney will question the witness about how reliable their testimony really is. Their questions amount to “how do you really know?” and “why should we trust what it is that you think you know?” If they’re good at what they do, these attorneys leave us shaken by how uncertain our “knowledge” really is. And they’re right!

The Certainty of our Knowledge is Presented by our Limitations

A second challenge to the certainty of our knowledge is presented by our limitations. We don’t have infinite access; we don’t have all of the facts yet. For example, if you had asked me 15 years ago how many planets are in the Solar System I would have been able to answer with absolute certainty. Now poor Pluto is in question. What we know about Pluto has changed a little, but more than that, what we know about the outer rim of the Solar System has changed a lot. Plus, we’ve discovered very distant planets outside of our neighborhood. With this new information, astronomers are rewriting their assumptions! Enough said!

So, what does this have to do with my spiritual life? Okay, good question.

If you’re anything like me, then I suspect you’ve surrendered too much ground to doubt. It goes unchallenged and we suffer the spiritual consequences. Facing our doubts doesn’t just mean admitting that we have them. It means addressing them and, where appropriate, dismissing them. Next week, we will doubt our doubts and hopefully be able to dismiss a couple. But for now, let’s let faith take back a little ground.

Before You Begin Your Day

1. Read Luke 1:1-4. Let’s chew on this for a few minutes.

   (1) Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, (2) just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. (3) Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, (4) so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

   – Luke 1:1-4

   1. First of all, make a mental list of all of the words in this short introduction that would normally relate to the “knowledge” side of our ledgers. (Hint: I found 4, but don’t stop with 4 if you see more.)
   2. It is often assumed that all of the accounts of Jesus’ life were oral before the 4 biographies (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) were written. What does verse 1 say about that idea?
   3. Where do the stories originate?
   4. What does Luke give as his reason for writing this account?
   5. What would make you more “certain” about God? What would make you more “certain” about God’s personal concern for you?
   6. Does such certainty make a difference in our daily lives? Why or why not?
2. Now look at Hebrews 11:1.

   (1) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1

   1. Let’s use this to launch us on our day. Try to rehearse it several times in your mind.
   2. Think about how you might use this verse through the “watches” of this day as a way to exercise and strengthen your faith. Watch for how God might add layers of meaning to this verse as you turn it over in your mind.
3. Pray.
   1. That God would increase your confidence and certainty.
   2. For someone else going through this project – that God would increase their confidence in Him.