Just the Facts, Ma’am

Mark 9:19-21

      In a world filled with doubt, it can be hard to believe. Ever since Eve ate from that fruit tree, doubt has been part of the human experience. And most often, doubt has the upper hand over belief. Biblical belief is something we do every day. But so is biblical doubt.

      So what is Biblical belief? It is not standing on the edge of a cliff, blindfolded and being asked to jump off! It is trusting in the rock solid character of God. We know of His faithfulness through seeing how He interacted with people down through history. We know the promises He has made to His people. We know He is with us today because of His Spirit that dwells within us.

      Biblical belief is more like the small child standing on the edge of the pool ready to jump into their father’s arms. Dad has always been there to catch before. He is strong and steady. I can see him standing there in the water. He is inviting me to join him in the water. His arms are wide open and inviting. His bright smile lets me know there is no danger. So I jump knowing he is there and he will keep me safe.

      Biblical belief is about trusting something solid, known. It is not about wishful thinking or the flipping of a coin. It is not a shot in the dark.

      We have this kind of belief every day. We trust that the architect knew what they were doing when they designed the building we enter. If we didn’t trust them, then we wouldn’t enter. We trust that the people in the cars around us are not homicidal maniacs ready to use their vehicles to kill me.

      But each of us has Biblical doubt as well. We know the facts, but we let other factors determine our choices. Our past history, their past history, or the lack of history can all influence our choices. Often the pain of previous failures keeps us from trying again.

      So when the man in the crowd tells Jesus about the disciple’s previous failures at helping this boy, it is no wonder Jesus states the facts: they are an unbelieving generation. But then again, so are we!

      What I find interesting is that the demon believes! As soon as this demon gets in Jesus’ presence, it can’t take it. It believes that Jesus is the Messiah, the promised hope for all mankind. He believes that Jesus presence spells his long-overdue judgment, a judgment he has been told by Satan won’t happen.

      So next time you doubt, slow down and pay attention to what is driving you to doubt. Is there a real reason to doubt, like actual danger, or is it a kneejerk reaction based on something else? We all doubt, so don’t get too down on yourself. Bring your doubt to the LORD and talk with Him about it.

My First Beliefs

You will notice that I start from a very particular position as I write these words every day. It might be helpful if I spelled out plainly that position, so that you can see my bias. Everyone comes from some position when they approach a subject. I do as well.

·        I believe God exists and is involved with His creation.

·        I believe He has the ability to communicate clearly and consistently with us.

·        I believe He did and does in fact communicate to us.

·        I believe He has the ability to preserve that communication across time and culture.

·        I believe that communication is the Scriptures written in the Bible, Old Testament and New Testament.

·        I believe God created us with the ability, young and old alike, to understand that communication.

·        I believe God created us with the ability to respond to the communication.

What this does for me is to anchor me in this world. It gives me a starting point for my whole life. It provides purpose and direction for my journey. I am not left to my own changing mood or circumstance when facing the inevitable difficulties of life. I can connect with the God who created this universe and has interacted and still interacts with it.

Because I believe these things, I can take the questions of life and examine the Scriptures for answers. Because I believe these things I can have confidence that God not only has the answers, but that He wants me to find them and apply them to my life.

This set of basic beliefs also allows me to relax. I don’t have to search everywhere for the answers to life’s questions. Becoming an expert is not necessary. He has communicated in a way I can understand. His communication is not too difficult to grasp. I don’t need a PhD in theology in order to unravel what I need to face life and eternity.

And because He is the God who wants us to be successful at this walk of faith, He has given us enough truth in the Scriptures to navigate through it. The Scriptures do not contain all the Truth that God possesses, but enough for us to live lives in a way that honors Him. We can discover other true things that don’t contradict what is in Scripture and incorporate them into our life. Not much is said about iPads in Scripture, but we can turn one on and use it!