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The air was cold and crisp as I started driving home. The roads were clear so I zoned out. About the same instant as I noticed white flakes in the air and the white fluffy stuff on the road, was when I started losing control. Going down an incline, I started to veer. Yes, in one instant the road changed from clean to slick. My speed was just too fast and the car started to spin out of control. While providence may have been the ultimate cause of stabilization, I also feel that experience on ice may have helped.
Back on the road, I was grateful for previous experiences, not during the time of emergency, but rather safely on open slick parking lots. I want to stress this point; I had experience, experience during a time of safety and low stress situations for practice.
This point is essential for the prevention of deception. You need to interact with truth and wisdom in low level situations and practice your knowledge. Here I want to talk about asking questions to address your doubts, and help you affirm your understanding by writing and speaking. This way you own your beliefs.
Doubting is not sin
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| Garrett Hardin, click for credit. |
Late Garrett Hardin, a scientists who was an agnostic, told a story of his teenage years, it is so depressing to me. He was out hunting with his father and there was small talk. Garrett asked who made God. Sadly his dad, with fervor, told him he must never ask that question. This experience was a major step towards Garrett’s agnosticism. However, this conversation did not just effect him, but many others because of his influence! How much better it would have been if his dad would have allowed Garrett space to ask questions and try to give a response or be willing to research the answer if he did not know it.
Doubting is not sin, rather that label goes to unbelief (Hebrews 3:12), there is a difference you know. Growing up I had, it seems, countless questions. I still do. However, I had and still have many people and sources that I can draw upon, plus many tools to help me work through tough questions. Many of those tools are things I have been sharing in these posts.
You need to question and express your doubts with good mentors. Again, question, question, question so your beliefs will be yours. While others will not know every answer, challenging a real discipler will help you grow (along with the mentor). Pass along this gift as well, allow others to do this to you as well, like children. Jesus allowed people to question and he gave good answers (yes, I’m a little tired of the good ol’ “doubting Thomas” line, Read more here).
By the way, you do know there is an answer for who made God, right? The Bible teaches that God was never made, he has always existed. Philosophers call him the “unmoved mover” or the “primary cause” (see here for more).
Own It With Writing….
Do you remember all those papers you had to write in school? Well, those were all for a purpose, and no, it was not JUST to give you something to do and keep you out of trouble (okay, maybe that was part of the reason).
So many times I see people using social networking to “sell their product” or talk about their ingrown toenail and the sandwich they just ate. No, those topics are all fine and dandy, but really, is that all one has to live for? What about the most important things in life? Why not start a blog or a website that is designed for your learning and so you can pass on your knowledge you have learned?
Writing out your thoughts is so important. For me, when I write, it helps clarify my thoughts and helps organize and categorize them in a sensible way. Also, I can look for poor thinking and become better prepared on that subject. As you write, you learn, the ideas become yours and you become a deeper person. Writing also helps reinforce the material you have learned. Last, but not least, you can help others learn by your writing too!
….and Speaking
Street performers have a hard life; they have to try to catch the eyes of people who are always in a hurry. However, this experience and practice may give them the opportunity to become excellent and some even go on to the stage. The same goes with speaking with others about the topics that you learn, the more you communicate on the topics of truth, the better you will do when it gets tough.
Teachers will say they learn more than students. Students have to understand the material to one level, however, the teacher has to understand it much deeper level to be able to talk intelligently on the subject. In other words, speaking the subject forces you to clarify, practice and organize your thoughts in a cogent manner. Both speaking and writing allows others to analyze your work and give you proper feedback.
Put it to action!
As we have learned during the past few posts, knowledge and wisdom are essential, but there’s more. Learning is not enough, there has to be an action component. It’s just like following Christ, you can understand every in and out of the scripture and memorize all the text (which is a really good thing!), but if you don’t do it, Jesus says you don’t love him. If one does not love him, that person is not one of his and headed for hell! When one prepares and is confident that his or her views are cogent, one will be prepared for the challenges that come one’s way. You need to address your doubts and fears in a safe place while working with those who can guide and clarify your thoughts. Since you may be that mentor right now or sometime in the future, allow others to question you and challenge your thoughts.
The next step in this whole process is what I call “inoculation”. That will be the topic in one of the upcoming posts. Feel free to click here so you will be updated as soon as it comes out! You will not want to miss it! (Click here.)
Free Resource!
I have a passion to have answers for my faith. I think this is only reasonable for me to do. If you also desire to have answers when you are challenged, you will want grab my free quick guide download, “Why Science Points to God: 8 Quick Reasons I Think Science Affirms The Creator.” I want to send it to you for free. In addition, you will not want to miss the next posts and latest resources, I’ll send them sent straight to your inbox!
Has anyone ever told you to not “question” concerning topics on Christianity (people have told me that)? Did you ever find out the answer to your question? If not, what was you question so we can talk below? What doubts do you have about Christianity? Do you write and talk to others on these subjects?
