Why doubt is important to your faith.

Those questions you have? They're important.

Have you heard of Peter Abelard?

Up until yesterday I had no idea who he was. But from what I’ve come to know about Mr. Abelard, I have become a fan. And I think one of his core beliefs is something absolutely integral to our faith.

What is that? Questions. Hard ones. Maybe even doubts. Yes, doubts. Doubts are important. Let me explain.

Abelard was a brilliant man who lived from about 1079-1142. Just a few years ago. He is considered one of the fathers of the scholastic movement. His passion for learning paved the way for universities to sprout up all across the medieval world.

And the church hated him. I mean hated him.

Why? Because core to Abelard’s philosophy was that we need to ask hard questions. We need to deal with apparently contradictory ideas, especially when it comes to faith. Here’s how he put it:

“The first key to wisdom is assiduous and frequent questioning. . . . For by doubting we come to inquiry, and by inquiry we arrive at the truth.”¹

That did not make the church leaders happy. In fact, one of the most influential church leaders at the time declared, “The faith of the righteous believes, it does not dispute.”²

The point was clear: There’s no room for doubt. And yet, Abelard’s movement grew despite him being ostracized. And so did the church. After all, we’re still here today, aren’t way?

Abelard, then, was obviously onto something. Even though he was essentially exiled and died alone because he dared to doubt, he was right. Why? Because when we doubt—when we question—something incredible happens: we’re often motivated to find the answers. At least that’s what we should do. What we’re called to do. In other words, it’s not wrong to doubt, but it is wrong to not search for the truth.

Here’s the truth: if you doubt and are faithful to search, you will find the answers. Maybe that takes a while, but the Scriptures promise you will find the truth.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,” Jeremiah says. So does Jesus: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Certainly, Jesus also says that “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” But I think too many people take that as Jesus taking a shot at those who doubt. I don’t think that’s what he’s saying. I don’t think it’s a blanket statement on doubting. Why? Because the truth is that even some of the disciples who didn’t have to “see” Jesus do believe still doubted at first. For example, in Luke 24:10-12 Peter hears that Jesus has been resurrected and he what does he do? He runs to the tomb to SEE for himself. He had questions, for sure.

And yet, Jesus didn’t call Peter out.

My point is this, you and I are “blessed” because we will never physically see Jesus this side of heaven. But will we doubt? Absolutely. Will we have questions? Yes. And I think those questions—those doubts even—force us to investigate. Just like Peter. They force us to look. They force us to the truth.

Friend, I urge you not to be afraid of your doubts. Don’t pretend they don’t exist. Instead, speak them and then investigate them. Ask the questions. Do the work. I have. I do. I can’t tell you how many times I ask myself, “Are you sure this is all real?”

And every time—eventually—I’ve gotten to the answer: “Yes.”

Sometimes the road to that answer is windy and hard. But it is a road worth taking. Because on that road, just like Jesus is apt to do, he meets you.

And what a beautiful sight it is.

Photo by Jakub Kriz on Unsplash

1. Shelley, Bruce L.. Church History in Plain Language, Fifth Edition: The Story of the Church for Today's Readers (pp. 239-240). Kindle Edition.

2. Ibid. 240.