Wisdom and Doubt, Part 2



James 1:5-8
5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The discussion of the wisdom half of this equation is simple. Wisdom is good. Wisdom is desirable. Wisdom is ours for the asking! But James, as he wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, ties wisdom with its opposite – doubt. Doubt isn’t as much fun to talk about; in fact it can be painful for we are all intimately aware of our own doubts. The question always arises, which way will you allow your doubts to take you? Will they draw you closer to God and His wisdom, or will they carry you into unbelief? Doubts are not necessarily sin, but they can become a problem if you allow them to rule your life.

Just to shake things up today, I’ve included a link to a video by a very thought provoking theologian who on May 8 of this year when to meet Jesus face to face. Dallas Willard is a very challenging theologian and has been a calm and serious voice for the faith over that last couple of decades. See what you think of his thoughts on doubt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiOIyP4VHOk

“Doubt your doubts.” Isn’t that fantastic?!? (And don’t be afraid to “doubt your beliefs” either – he’s not wrong about that. Our beliefs need to regularly be held up to the light of the Holy Spirit for review and challenge. Our sinful flesh can quickly pervert the truth of God when we are left to our own devices.) Doubt need not cripple us! When we carry those doubts before a loving Father, we are able to be taught. Do you think that God will be insulted by your questions and your doubts? Absolutely not! If you take those doubts to God with a teachable spirit, He can instruct you and grow your faith in ways that probably wouldn’t have been possible if you just blindly accepted without expressing your doubts. God is big enough to take your questions and turn them into a way to bring you to a greater maturity in Him. (Back to verse4! “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect [mature] and complete, lacking in nothing.)

So what is our prescription here? Acknowledge your doubts before God and allow Him to answer your questions. Many times in the past, when dealing with my own doubts or with the doubts that others bring to me I have noticed that when we tenaciously hang onto our doubts we are simply recreating God in our own image. (The conversation begins with “No God of mine would allow this to happen.” This is so dangerous and is a stark indication that you are creating God rather than allowing Him to create you.) This is sin and while the practice rampant in 2013, it has to be stopped in order for our lives to reflect God rather than ourselves. So, doubt your doubts before the throne of God. And doubt your beliefs too – but stay before that throne while you do it!

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