HELP! I'M LOSING MY FAITH

"I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24).


I am beginning a sermon series called, "Answers to Tough Questions." I have invited the members of my congregation to submit questions about matters of faith, life, discipleship, theology, ethics, love, marriage, family and college football--just kidding. I do not want to leave honest questions unanswered, from a biblical perspective.


First question: "How to answer some one when they tell you they are loosing their faith?"

These thoughts are just coming out of my mind as I begin to tackle this question. Serious structure will come later.

1. No one has perfect faith and it is natural for doubts to creep into the minds of even the most devout saints from time to time. This is true when life is going well.

2. When some one confesses that they are losing their faith, it could be that there is a lot more going on than just the confession. The loss of faith could well be a symptom of a past trauma, a heavy stress load, unresolved grief and anger. For the last 50 years of her life, Mother Teresa felt spiritually abandoned and cut off from God. She felt no Presence. She felt alone. That seems to be the common experience of those who work in difficult and traumatic situations. The Lord Jesus Christ himself cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" The Psalmist questioned with tears, "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?" Within the pages of scripture these honest expressions of human emotional questioning are allowed. God understands! This honest portrayal of emotion, questioning and doubt by the most devout in the Bible is one of the reasons I believe that it is the Word of God. This questioning of faith is a common human experience. It is also why Christians need each other for prayer and support. In some situations there are no words that can be shared that will solve the problem, only Christian love that is shown will make the difference--that is why Christian fellowship is a necessity! **

3. Many are unbelievers because to be a believer means that they would have to change and they refuse to do that; "Israel has a chance to live, but is too foolish to take it--like a child about to be born, who refuses to come out of the womb" (Hosea 13:13 TEV). For this kind of person, a reasonable teaching of the truth of the Bible is what is required. "Faith comes by hearing, and what is heard by the preaching of Christ" (Romans 10:17).

Knowing the situation of the person who confesses they are losing their faith is the first step in answering him. In any case, he is a person who must be loved and prayed for.

Grace&Peace,
Tom

**I think it is important to add John 6:29 to this discussion: "Jesus answered them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.'" We often under estimate how hard this work of belief is. If you read the context of this verse you will see that many who had followed Jesus because He could give them free food were now leaving Him. Doing God's work means believing in Jesus through extremely difficult times--times when believing doesn't seem to make sense.