Matthew 28:16-17 -- On Doubts

"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted."
Matthew 28:16-17


The whole idea of doubt is an interesting one. It seems really bad sometimes because it seems like the opposite of faith, and we know we need that, and so we either beat ourselves up over doubts or take them too seriously and let them overcome the knowledge, faith, and testimony that we do have.

Christ was kind to doubters. If they were honestly doubtful and not pretending to be (he often condemned hypocrisy), he would talk to them and open the scriptures to them. He told Thomas to feel his scars so that he could have that physical evidence that he wanted, and here he tells all of his disciples, even though they doubted, to go forward and do as he asked anyway. And they were willing to worship him even though they had doubts... they knew him, and believed in what they had seen previously. They just needed some time to work through and understand all of this new information.

I don't necessarily think that the opposite of faith is doubt. It might be complacency instead... willing to just accept ourselves the way we are without examining our lives, not being willing to find and work on our faults, and not feeling motivated enough to seek a better world. Doubt can spur us to action, if we are willing to put in the work to find out the answers that we don't know. That is why God tells us to ask and seek... he is willing to reason with us, to answer our questions, to help us to know by the spirit the truth of his existence and the reason for his various commandments.

On the other hand, we can't just say to the air "prove yourself to me," not really believing in God enough to really ask sincerely or try to make a connection. Doubt is not active disbelief. If we aren't sure, then we have room to try the experiment and to be willing to follow God if he is actually there. If we have already decided that God is impossible, then that connection is also impossible because we aren't going to be listening for an answer. Open hearts and minds are required, if we want to really know.
Today, if we have doubts, let's go to the Lord with them. If we are patient and diligent, God will help us to find the answers we seek, on his timetable and not ours. In the meantime though, let's not throw the entire gospel away because we don't understand one part of it, or have doubts about a person or a policy. Let's go forward with the faith and knowledge that we do have, being willing to accept the answers that the Lord offers. As we do, he will help us to understand.