A Reason to Believe, or a Reason to Doubt?

Mr. Skeptic, are you looking for a reason to believe, or a reason to doubt? Mr. Christian, are you giving Mr. Skeptic a reason to believe, or more reasons to doubt? There is a difference.

A man named Dan began his answer to my question about his views on eternity by saying “I want to believe, but I just can’t”. He said he just can’t get past his intellectual doubts, and during the course of our conversation I really felt like he is sincere. He seemed to be looking for a reason to believe, not more reasons to doubt.

Reviewing the dialogue, it seems to me the biggest stumbling block for Dan to believe, at least specifically in Christianity, is the idea of “easy-believism”. He’s had some experiences with people who claim to be “born again”, yet don’t seem to be any better morally than anyone else. In fact, their hypocrisy makes them seem worse. He finds it hard to believe in a God who would save some people based on a “magical prayer”, rather than on their overall goodness.

I knew what he meant. I’ve met many people who have claimed to be “saved” at some point years earlier and are now living life as if they are good to go, but when I ask them what they prayed they have no idea. Some well-meaning Christian had at one time declared them saved based on their repeating the “sinner’s prayer”, and they took that as their get out of jail free card.

Dan objected to the self-righteous certainty of such people, and I could tell he would never want to be associated with them. I also had to tell him I’m one of those people who claim to be born again, and I also feel a certainty toward my future in heaven.

So as one of those very people that seem to turn people off to the Gospel for someone like Dan, was I being just another nagging stumbling block that causes doubt, or might I somehow find a way to be a good reason for Dan to believe?

I can’t presume to know. The best I could do was try to explain what Jesus meant when he said “You must be born again” of the spirit, and how it is that one can have certainty of salvation without being self-righteous about it. I tried to explain that my certainty comes from faith In Jesus and his righteousness, not faith in my own righteousness. I am in a right relationship with God based on what Jesus has done, not on anything I could do.

We can have an assurance of salvation when we put our faith in Christ. But the Bible also tells us to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12) Maybe it’s best to tone down our certainty, and show some fear and trembling with regard to just how that salvation is being worked out in us. Maybe then we can be a reason to believe, rather than just another reason to doubt in the life of a hopeful skeptic.