Lesson 6: Following Jesus In A Scientific Age

The God who reveals his identity in creation, through Scripture, the Incarnation, and the Spirit often leaves us wrestling with silence, doubt, and unanswered questions. Despite all we know and believe, sometimes we still wonder: Have I made a colossal mistake? How can I be sure that God exists?

To develop honest practices for navigating doubts as faithful disciples of Jesus.

Where Is God?

While I was writing this lesson, I received a vulnerable email from a member of the Uncommon Pursuit community. They wrote:

"Right now I'm having some struggles with my faith. I have all this evidence, but I don't feel God's presence. Sometimes I do but most times I don't, and I'm terrified of going to Hell. I read my Bible everyday and pray multiple times a day. Sometimes I listen to worship music and that makes me cry. Could you please tell me how to overcome this challenge and get closer to God! Also, have you ever been in my experience?"

Then I felt again the sense of weightlessness from when I'd had a season of intense doubt. My whole life was tethered to God, the church, and my ministry. But what if it was a made-up religion?

So, I called a mentor, a philosophy professor who has written several books on evidence for the Christian worldview. I asked him, "Do you ever have crippling doubts?" He said, "Well, yes, I do." His vulnerability instantly helped me feel relief.

For now, at least in the U.S., the mood of doubt is a common one. The research group Barna finds that "52% of U.S. Adults & Teens Have Experienced Religious Doubts in the Past Few Years."

As I listen to skeptics, cynics, the curious, doubters, and seekers, I see some common themes to our uncertainty:

**Existential Unease:** - What if death is the end? No reward for the faithful, no accountability for the wicked, no reunion with loved ones? - What if prayer is a form of self-talk, with no one listening?

**Intellectual Challenges:** - How can we trust the reliability of the Bible when we know that stories change over time? - Why do so many intelligent people reject Christianity?

**Emotional Disruption:** - If God loves us, why does he allow us to experience so much suffering? - Who am I without my faith?

**Social Destabilization:** - What if my entire community is built on a shared delusion? - What would happen to my marriage if I told them I didn't believe in God?

Doubt isn't just theoretical. It's the hesitation to sing at church, the tension in our body when we go to a small group, or the half-heartedness of a prayer.

Suppressing Our Doubts

Given how unsettling doubts can be, it's understandable why we often try to keep them far away. But unfortunately, sometimes the attempted solution makes things worse:

**Whack-A-Mole Apologetics.** I was trying to get the 'right' answer for every doubt, whether or not I'd taken the time to consider these questions. But of course, there are far more questions than any one person can answer.

**Piling on Shame.** I've heard sermons where doubts are referred to as rebellion against God. All of this makes it hard to create a culture where brothers and sisters in Christ can openly express their struggles.

**Spiritual Bypassing.** Explaining away legitimate concerns with Christian-sounding platitudes like "God works in mysterious ways" doesn't address the core issue.

**Perfect Testimonies.** The Bible itself spotlights how all of Jesus' disciples failed to believe, trust, and obey him.

Finding God in the Darkness

Perhaps God doesn't exist. It's possible. But this is matched by the possibility that God does exist. Trading speculations about what could be won't get us anywhere closer to the truth.

It helps me to read the Bible with an eye out for the doubters and skeptics. Whether it is Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, or Job and his wife, we repeatedly see prominent people questioning God. Dozens of Psalms record someone lamenting or challenging God's (lack of) involvement in their crisis.

Here are three kinds of hints that keep pointing me back to faith in God:

**Searching For Why.** Whether it's why anything exists at all, the fine-tuning of the universe for life, the emergence of consciousness, or our awareness of beauty, meaning, morality, love, and even reason—none of these are easily explained concerning matter, energy, or space-time.

**The Life of Jesus.** Historians across the theological spectrum acknowledge that Jesus of Nazareth existed, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and that his followers genuinely believed they encountered him alive after his death.

**Transformed Lives.** It is striking that across generations and cultures, so many millions of Christians have turned away from a self-focused life to love God and their neighbors.

C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity:

"Now Faith, in the sense in which I am here using the word, is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. For moods will change, whatever view your reason takes."

Caravaggio's The Incredulity of Saint Thomas

In this masterful painting, Caravaggio depicts the scene where Thomas confirms that he is encountering the risen Christ. As Wikipedia notes, "The shadows (representing doubt) sweep over St. Thomas, but as he touches Christ he is drawn into the light."

Take some time to meditate on this image. What does it say about Jesus that he invites such scrutiny—even after his resurrection?

Father, sometimes I don't know if I'm praying to you or talking to myself. It's scary to have these doubts, and I'm afraid of what others might think if they knew. Help me to remember that you welcome the honest questions of your beloved children.

Jesus, you cried out in desperation for God on the cross. When I need evidence, remind me that you showed your wounds to Thomas and stuck with the disciples in their doubts. Thank you for loving me even when I struggle to believe in you.

Holy Spirit, join me in my groaning prayers. You are the Spirit of Truth. Help me to find not just answers but you.