Demolishing Doubt and Embracing a Robust Faith
This discussion explores the challenging questions that arise in matters of faith, particularly in today's culture. It offers a framework for approaching doubt not as an enemy, but as a pathway to a deeper and more evidence-based belief.
This sermon addresses common doubts and hard questions about faith, offering evidence for God's existence and Christ's resurrection. It encourages a resilient faith by seeking answers and embracing Christian community.
Overview
The sermon opens with Cliff Connectley sharing his nearly 45-year ministry journey, which began with open-air dialogues on college campuses by directly answering students' difficult questions. He recounts how his approach quickly shifted from preaching to engaging in Q&A, often admitting, "I do not know" to complex theological inquiries, which fostered genuine connection with skeptics.
A central theme is addressing the existence of suffering in a world created by an all-powerful, all-loving God. Cliff explains that God created a good world, but evil arises from free autonomous individuals rebelling against Him. He clarifies that while life is unfair, God remains fair, and Jesus aims to restore the world and bring about a new heaven and earth.
The discussion moves to the nature of doubt, with Stuart Connectley emphasizing that healthy doubt acts like 'antibodies for the body,' protecting and strengthening faith against criticism and skepticism. He and Cliff explain that biblical faith is not blind, but a response to evidence, detailing the historical trustworthiness of the Gospels and the compelling evidence for Jesus' resurrection.
Later, the speakers address the relationship between faith and science, asserting they are not enemies, as science explains processes while the Bible offers a philosophical basis for an orderly universe. They also highlight the growing hunger among Gen Z for objective meaning and purpose, which community and an outward, upward focus on God can fulfill, rather than individualism.
Key points
- Cliff Connectley's ministry began by openly engaging with students' difficult questions, often admitting when he didn't know an answer.
- Suffering exists due to humanity's free will rebellion against God, not because God created evil; God is fair even when life is unfair.
- Biblical faith is a response to evidence, not blind belief, drawing on the historical reliability of the Gospels and Christ's resurrection.
- Healthy doubt is encouraged as it strengthens faith, prompting seekers to find robust answers rather than succumbing to cynicism.
- Faith and science are compatible, with science describing natural processes and the Bible providing the philosophical foundation for an ordered universe.
- Christian community and an outward focus on loving God and neighbor are crucial for overcoming loneliness and finding true purpose, especially for Gen Z.
- Knowing God's will involves humility, obedience to clear commands, and constant prayer for wisdom, recognizing that absolute certainty is rare.
In Joel Osteen's words
“Life is unfair. God is fair. Don't get those mixed up.”
“Doubts are like antibodies for the body. They protect the body and you have to have doubt in order to have a healthy faith that stands against criticism.”
“It is impossible for science to contradict the Bible because there is no science anywhere in the Bible.”
Outline
- I. The Origins of Open-Air Dialogue Ministry
- A. Shifting from preaching to answering questions
- B. Acknowledging 'I do not know' as a valid answer
- II. Addressing the Problem of Suffering
- A. God did not create evil (Genesis 1)
- B. Evil as a result of free will rebellion
- C. Distinguishing between an unfair world and a fair God
- D. Jesus' mission to restore the world and bring new heaven/earth
- III. The Nature of Doubt and Faith
- A. Stuart's journey into ministry and working with his father
- B. The importance of Christian community in an age of loneliness
- C. Patience as a key part of love, empowered by God's patience
- D. Faith as a response to evidence, not blind belief
- E. Demolishing doubt means seeking answers, not avoiding questions
- IV. Evidence for Jesus Christ
- A. Trustworthiness of the New Testament Gospels
- B. Historical evidence for Jesus' life, teachings, death, and resurrection
- C. Medical and eyewitness accounts of the resurrection (John, 1 Corinthians 15)
- V. Understanding Modern Challenges to Faith
- A. Reasons for young people not believing (emotional, volitional, intellectual)
- B. The current 'revival' and hunger for meaning and community
- C. The Bible's silence on topics like aliens and avoiding invented answers
- D. Distinguishing Christianity from other world religions (monism vs. personal God, suffering as illusion vs. reality)
- E. The unique deity, death, and resurrection of Jesus
- VI. Faith and Science: Not Enemies, But Friends
- A. Defining science as the study of process and repeatability
- B. The Bible's role in providing a philosophical basis for science
- C. Miracles as interventions in natural law, not contradictions of science
- D. Historically, many scientists were followers of Christ
- VII. Navigating the Therapeutic Age and Personal Faith
- A. The impact of expressive individualism on Gen Z's well-being
- B. The benefit of looking outward (neighbor) and upward (God) (Nehemiah 8:10)
- C. Addressing struggles with the church or Christians: focusing on Christ (Zacchaeus)
- D. Statistical benefits of church attendance (Harvard studies)
- E. Learning to 'fail forward' in sharing faith
- VIII. Discerning God's Will and Embracing Wisdom
- A. Submitting to God and obeying clear commands
- B. Praying for wisdom in ambiguous decisions
- C. There is no alternative to Jesus Christ supported by similar evidence
- IX. Principles for Ministry and Life
- A. Majoring on the majors: loving God and people, avoiding division over minors
- B. The goal of apologetics: to lead people to Christ, scripture, and church
- C. Coaching students to open up about questions through listening and articulating their concerns
- D. Encouragement for a deep, intimate prayer life with God
Scripture references
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Insights
Doubt, when pursued with honesty, can lead to a stronger, more resilient faith.
God's patience with us empowers our own capacity for patience with others.
True freedom is found not in individualism, but in loving God and our neighbor.
Questions & answers
How does this sermon address the problem of suffering?
The sermon explains that God did not create evil, but evil is a result of free individuals rebelling against Him. While life is unfair due to these consequences, God himself is fair and aims to restore the world through Jesus Christ.
What is the sermon's view on doubt?
The sermon views doubt as a positive force, like 'antibodies' for faith. Healthy doubt encourages seeking answers and a more robust understanding of truth, rather than leading to cynicism or blind belief.
How does the sermon reconcile faith and science?
The sermon argues that faith and science are not enemies. Science studies natural processes, and the Bible provides the philosophical basis for an orderly universe that makes scientific inquiry possible. Miracles are seen as interventions by a supernatural God, not contradictions of natural laws.
What advice is given for parents whose children are questioning their faith?
Parents are encouraged to be honest, admit when they don't know an answer, and commit to finding answers. They should also explore alternatives to Christ and the evidence supporting those alternatives, engaging their children with questions of their own.
What is the ultimate goal of apologetics, according to this sermon?
The ultimate goal of apologetics is not merely intellectual ascent but to put a 'pebble in the shoe' of skeptics, gently pushing them towards investigating scripture, cultivating a healthy devotional life, and ultimately surrendering to Christ's grace within the church.
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