Doubters Welcome

"Blessed are the poor in spirit... Blessed are those who mourn."

I wondered what could be said about doubters (another unfavourable group, especially among believers). In the kingdom of Christ, I believe we can say something like this...

Dr. Wendy Berghuis-Hummel BSc, MD, CCFP, FCFP is a family physician practising psychotherapy, a clinical member of MDPAC (Medical Psychotherapy Association of Canada).

Dr. Wendy Berghuis-Hummel and I define spiritual abuse, discuss why it's so damaging to our relationships with God, and consider what healing might look like.

Find it on your favourite podcast app or here: doubterswelcome.com/podcast

YouTube video by Doubters Welcome How Spiritual Abuse Damages Faith and Why It’s Hard to Heal

How Spiritual Abuse Damages Faith and Why It’s Hard to Heal
youtu.be/YYDNwVML3zs

Saying things like, "Christianity is true, even when Christians poorly represent Christ," implies that church hurt shouldn't affect our faith... But it CAN cause doubts!

NEW PODCAST EPISODE!

Today we're doing the first-ever listener Q&A! You've all sent in questions about deconstruction, church culture, the inspiration of the Bible, and more. I can't wait to discuss it all.

Find it on your favourite podcast app or here: www.doubterswelcome.com/podcast

YouTube video by Doubters Welcome I Clicked the Top 100 Results. Here's What I Learned.

I Clicked the Top 100 Results. Here's What I Learned.

I want to be confident of my salvation, but sometimes I feel scared and unsure. What advice is helpful and what's not? What’s been said 100 times and what hasn't been said at all?

Trying to understand the nature of inspiration and inerrancy is complicated! I’m grateful Dr. Licona for encouraging me to share our honest, but challenging dialogue about the nature of Scripture.

Find it on your favourite podcast app or here: doubterswelcome.com/podcast

YouTube video by Doubters Welcome Will my doubt INFECT other Christians?

Will my doubt INFECT other Christians?
youtu.be/1X8K1HP6xhg

Sometimes hearing the doubts of others can rattle me... So, when I doubt, I wonder if I should just keep it to myself. How contagious is doubt? When should we share our doubts or not? Will expressing our doubt harm others?

Many Christians have serious doubts about the Bible, I was (and sometimes am) one of them! Dr. Licona presents an academically rigorous and satisfying explanation for why there are differences in the Gospel.

Find it on your favourite podcast app or here: www.doubterswelcome.com/podcast

YouTube video by Doubters Welcome Is it Wrong to Dislike Portions of the Bible?

Is it wrong to dislike portion of the Bible? This Charles Spurgeon quote may actually work AGAINST what Biblical authors were inspired to write. You decide!

Find the whole video here: youtu.be/SoD8-n5Yepo

Ask a question about doubting/deconstruction and I'll answer it in an upcoming podcast!

When doubt robbed me of my confidence in so many beliefs, what I discovered underneath it all was this bare-bones, simple, but solid idea: If Jesus is a king, I want to be part of his kingdom.

Americans Don’t Mind Pastors Having Doubts About Their Faith | Barna Group Though many people do want pastors to be certain in their beliefs, nearly half of Americans would rather church leaders be honest about any doubts they may have.

"...Our research finds that people think it’s more important for a pastor to be honest about their doubts than certain about their beliefs... They’d rather have someone who can relate to them as they process their own questions and uncertainties."

www.barna.com/trends/hones...

The "never-doubting" preacher is a caricature that models a similar "never-doubting" faith to Christians in the pew. Instead, church leaders must find healthy ways to model a life with Christ which can honestly engage doubts while remaining hopeful about faith.

Fill in the blank: It's _________ for a church leader to express doubt publicly.

Are doubters best ministered to by past doubters? Not necessarily. They are best ministered to by people like Jesus! Past doubters are just likely to understand from experience how much patience, humility, gentleness, and wisdom is needed to navigate doubt and offer it to doubters, as Jesus would.

Even if you aren't familiar with emotional doubt, you've likely experienced it! Simeon shares a strategy for dealing with emotional doubt that has helped him journey toward faith.

Find the whole conversation on your favourite podcast app or here: doubterswelcome.com/podcast

"Have faith! Trust God!"

Imperative statements aren't helpful when doubting. They're like using the map feature on a phone that doesn't know your current location. It can tell you where you could be, but offers no guidance on how to get there.

Matt looks at his glowing phone with a concerned look on his face.

Christian Memes Hurt Doubters When...
youtu.be/SoD8-n5Yepo

There are Christian memes that frame doubt and faith in a way that actually makes things harder for doubters... Let's learn to recognize a harmful mindset and replace it with a mindset that will empower empower a journey toward faith.

NEW PODCAST EPISODE!

Kat is the author of "Let's Talk About Doubt." Her book is filled with honest and helpful thoughts, including the best definition of 'faith' I have yet to come across. Enjoy!

Find the whole conversation on your favourite podcast app or here: www.doubterswelcome.com/podcast

If the Bible isn't understood artistically, as a story that unfolds with drama, tension, and resolution, it cannot be properly engaged.

Sadly, modernism makes us resistant to art as a source of knowledge, and so many Christians avoid engaging the Scriptures in this manner.

I'm a devoted (and DISSATISFIED) Christian. Does feeling dissatisfied conflict with my faith in Christ? I don't think so...

Find the whole video where I explain exactly how I came to this conclusion here: youtu.be/2aMqjrQs3jU

My friend Hope wanted to share her story of doubt with you through drawing...

If you'd like to hear our whole conversation on "Doubting God's Love for Women," you can find it on your favourite podcast app or at DoubtersWelcome.com.

While doubting we fearfully ask, "What will happen to my faith if I honestly engage these doubt?" That's valid but needs to be held in tension with its twin: "What will happen to my faith if I DON'T honestly engage these doubts?"

Will that be a faith worth having?

NEW PODCAST EPISODE!

In this episode I talk with Hope. Her story of doubt includes tension with God's goodness, tension with the Bible, and tension with the way church handles certain issues.

Find the whole conversation on your favourite podcast app or here: www.doubterswelcome.com/podcast

Advent is a season made for doubters. It's dark. It's cold. We wait. We ponder. We long. We hope for something that has not yet come.

Statements like, "Just have faith" aren't helpful for doubters. They're like a pin on a map, telling the doubter where they "ought" to be. But that will not help the doubter until we've also thoroughly understood where they are. Then we may be able to chart a path between the two.

YouTube video by Doubters Welcome I'm a Devoted (and DISSATISFIED) Christian

NEW VIDEO - I'm a Devoted (and DISSATISFIED) Christian youtu.be/2aMqjrQs3jU

I’m a Christian, but I still haven’t found exactly what I’m looking for… Awkward… Why does dissatisfaction seem out of place in church? Is it a reason to consider giving up on faith altogether?

Doubters Welcome journeys with doubting Christians toward faith in Christ.