Jesus and Doubt

In Matthew 11, we see John the Baptist asking questions from jail on whether or not Jesus is Messiah after making the boldest claims about the Son of God. He struggled with doubt as we all do when expectation of God and His work does not match our reality and desired outcomes.

What do we do with doubt?

From that teaching, I had six observations on Jesus and doubt that I hope are helpful as you wade through the waters of your own doubt.

1. Our doubts don’t discredit Jesus.

   Jesus is secure. When we struggle with doubt, it is tempting to think the world is crumbling and all the foundations are cracking and shaking, or that we can’t go to God with them. To the contrary, Jesus is really ok with us coming to Him.

2. Our doubts don’t drive Jesus away.

   Jesus is safe. The doubts of John don’t push the Savior away, but draw Him closer. The Psalms give us the language of lament in our struggles and show that when our doubts are directed to God in prayer, they are heard and safe there. (See Psalms 10, 30, 42, 43, and the entire book of Lamentations!)

3. Our doubts need a greater story.

   Jesus anchors John (and us) in the story of scripture. As he addresses John’s disciples, he doesn’t give them arbitrary info, but re-tells the story of scripture and specifically how the prophets pointed toward what Messiah would be and do, and how the whole thing centers on Him. When the waves of doubt come, the story of scripture with Jesus as center still serves as an anchor for our souls.

   The answer to doubt is God. The answer to our questions about tithing, membership, gender roles, politics, sin, and any other aspect in life that gives us pause, is God. The blight of our generation is that we believe we are god. - Lore Ferguson Wilbert

4. Our doubts need patience, questions, and community.

   All these are foreign to the air we breathe today. We want instant. Certainty. Individuality. Yet we know that no man is an island, and we are wired for community. A constant refrain through the Bible is to “wait on the Lord.” It’s been said that we need to “doubt our doubts” and ask what’s underneath them. This isn’t to be done alone, but with trusted community that won’t be alarmed, but patient in the process.

   “Feelings are indicators, not dictators. They can indicate where your heart is in the moment, but that doesn't mean they have the right to dictate your behavior and boss you around. You are more than the sum total of your feelings and perfectly capable of that little gift . . . called self-control.” - Lysa TerKeurst

5. Jesus addresses what’s underneath our doubts.

   This can be the most sobering aspect of dealing with doubt. Anne Lamott once said, “Expectations are resentments waiting to happen.” Often doubts reveal where we’ve put our faith, hope, and rest in people or places where they never belonged. Jesus goes to our heart to reveal what’s there and offers us an unshakeable foundation to build our lives upon, rather than circumstances, situations, or particular outcomes. When we place our hearts into His hands, there is strength that can be found there.

   “A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it.” - Tim Keller

6. There’s still blessing and invitation in our doubts.

   Through Matthew’s gospel, Jesus continually invites those struggling to come to Him for rest, hope, and life. Placing our doubts in the good hands of Christ may not answer all of our questions but it can give us the next step forward in trust and faith. One Psalm closes with this, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27: 13-14, NKJV)

   The way of trust is a movement into obscurity, into the undefined, into ambiguity, not into some predetermined, clearly delineated plan for the future. The reality of naked trust is the life of the pilgrim who leaves what is nailed down, obvious, and secure, and walks into the unknown without any rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the future. Why? Because God has signaled the movement and offered it his presence and his promise.  - Brennan Manning

Our doubts don’t have to drive us to despair and deconstruction, but even if they do, the God of all valleys meets us there with His promise and presence.

Resources on Sabbath

As we travel through Matthew, the controversies around sabbath rise up in Ch. 12. (see the recap here) What is lawful? What is good to do or not do on the sabbath? We have a two thousand years of distance from the Pharisees’ confronting of Jesus and blue laws are (mostly) a thing of the past. Outside of the inconvenience of Chick-Fil-A being closed, what are we to make of it? Are we to still practice and observe the Sabbath?

Two observations:

1. The Sabbath ultimately points to the true and forever rest that we have in Jesus. The whole law points to the one who would fulfill it. Regardless of whether or not we practice Sabbath, if we don’t see and savor Jesus, we miss the whole point.

2. Even though the law of Sabbath is fulfilled in Christ, it is still a helpful practice, rooted in creation. God gave us the practice of Sabbath for our good and joy in Him.

We wanted to provide additional resources to help guide you into a deeper understanding and consistent practice of this life giving rhythm given by God.

Resources:

Blog Post: Is It Still Relevant to Keep the Sabbath Today?

Podcasts:

For those who would like to do a deep dive, the wonderful folks at the Bible Project have done a 14 episode(!) series on the sabbath. Find it here.

Authors John Mark Comer and Jeff Bethke discuss the Sabbath on their podcast “Fight Hustle, End Hurry”

Sermon Series

Bridgetown church in Portland, Oregon did an 8 part series on Sabbath. Find it here.

Videos:

Anthony gave a teaching “A Case for the Sabbath” back in September 2020 as part of our Life in the Dessert series. See below. (Teaching starts at 20 minute mark)

Books:

Subversive Sabbath

If you have a question on Sabbath history or practice, this book by AJ Swodoba is one of the most exhaustive, yet accessible books on the theme.

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

With a great chapter on the Sabbath, John Mark Comer's, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, is another wonderful book written to help our fast paced hearts to slow down.

Theology For Everyday Life

This series is meant to connect the good news of Jesus to every day life. We are going through our statement of faith asking three guiding questions:

1.Where is this found in scripture?

2. How is this good news?

3. How does this shape us and send us as a community today?

From One Year to the Next

How would you sum up 2020? I think this tweet sums it up well:

I’ve been challenged by a question I recently came across:

“What if 2020 didn’t cause your soul condition, but simply revealed it? This might sound challenging but it is actually a gift.”

In looking to a new year it can be tempting to lean into shame at our failure in the past and overestimate our ability and strength in the future. (hello resolutions!)

Instead, what if we prayerfully reflected on where God has sustained us and strengthened us, and invited His Spirit to reveal what to build on, and what to leave behind?

As you look to the new year, I’d like to offer some questions to ask yourself, or with people in your life to help you close out this year well and enter the next year with the hope and power only the gospel can bring.

- What do you need to "leave behind" from the previous year(s)? What unhealthy patterns and habits need to be turned from? What new practices need development and growth as you follow Jesus?

- How do you plan to pursue Jesus and His community this year?

- If God were to answer your prayers as asked, what would change in your world? What would change in the world as a whole?

If you are looking at a help for the next year, we compiled some resources for reading scripture and prayer that can be found here.

If you are looking to build some resolutions, Donald Whitney gives 31 questions for more Christ-centered living. I love the first question: “What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?”

"Seasons" from the Village Church is a helpful intro the the church calendar and helps with family discipleship.

Top Five Books - 2020 Edition

As 2020 comes to a close, I wanted to share some of my favorite books I read this year. They are in no particular order, except for the first one, by a long shot.

A few caveats:

1. Because I enjoyed a book does not mean that I fully endorse any of the authors or books. By telling you about a book means I found it helpful, thought provoking, or interesting in some way.

2. All the links shared (click the picture of the book) go to Amazon. If you purchase from Amazon, might I recommend you also support a local non profit like Gospel Rescue Mission, or Agape house through the Amazon Smile program? Or support a local bookstore like Peregrine Book Company, or the wonderful people at Hearts and Minds books in Pennsylvania.

3. You can always check the local library. Some of the titles are available in Yavapai County!

Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund became an instant classic this year. The whole tone of the book is one that leads you to know, appreciate and love Christ in fuller ways. It’s a book I’ll return to often. From the publisher “Christians know what Jesus Christ has done―but who is he? What is his deepest heart for his people, weary and faltering on their journey toward heaven? Jesus said he is “gentle and lowly in heart.” This book reflects on these words, opening up a neglected yet central truth about who he is for sinners and sufferers today.”

If Tim Keller writes it, I want to read it. In this book he gets to the age old question, “How could a good God allow pain and suffering?” With a pastoral heart, careful look at scripture, and gut wrenching stories, Keller helps those who suffer and those who walk alongside others in their pain.

Mark Sayers is a pastor, author, and thinker that blends theology, ministry, and culture together with insight and accessibility. In this follow up to his book “Disappearing Church” he shows the history and flow of renewal and revival and wonders if what is going wrong in the world can provide an opportunity and fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit on the church.

This book was published in 2017, and was incredibly fitting for 2020 given the state of American politics and the church’s desire for worldly power. The authors address the temptations the church has had for power, control, and influence, then points us to discover and embrace Jesus’ way in the world today.

Dr. Zach Eswine highlights an area of the “Prince of Preachers” life that was consistent, but not well known. He writes about Spurgeon’s struggles with depression as a fellow sufferer with a heart to help and show the hope Christ gives. The three main sections of the book are 1. Trying to understand depression 2. Learning how to help those who suffer from depression and 3. Learning helps to daily cope with depression. It’s a short book packed with gospel light.

Honorable Mentions:

Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - John Mark Comer - Technically read in 2019, this book gives a compelling case against hurry and hustle and toward rest, slowness, intentionality, and simplicity in our apprenticeship with Jesus.

Home/Jack - Marilynne Robinson - These are a couple novels that follow up her award winning book Gilead. Marilynne Robinson is a writer that understands humans well and creates characters and dialogue that stir the soul.

The Splendid and the Vile - Erik Larson - A look into the life of Winston Churchill, his family, and cabinet during the bombing of London during the fall and winter of 1940-41. Larson is an incredible researcher and this book shows how the people of England suffered with a strength and grit that is difficult to imagine today.

Caste - Isabel Wilkerson - If you want to understand more of the history and tension of race relations in America, Mrs. Wilkerson is a good guide. She shows the dark underbelly of racism and it’s effects in the United States with stories and accounts that are alarming and heartbreaking. While I don’t agree with her conclusion and grief the lack of a gospel lens and hope, this book is worth reading to have a greater understanding of many people’s experience of America today.

Atomic Habits - James Clear - There’s a reason this book has sold over a million copies. James Clear breaks down how habits are formed and gives insight and guidance into how we change and can build healthier, more productive new habits. It’s a compelling read with some good takeaways.

Resources on Prayer

With our recent teaching looking at the Lord’s Prayer, we wanted to provide you with additional resources to help connect you with Christ while deepening and widening our prayer lives together. We hope you find one or two of these can press you toward a greater understanding of the love and grace of God found in Jesus.

Practices:

Lectio Divina is practice used throughout church history of integrating prayer, bible reading, and contemplation all together - A helpful introduction can be found here. An article on it from Richard Foster can be found here. Click here for a simple one page breakdown.

Examen or Prayer of Examen is another contemplative practice that brings greater awareness of God’s presence throughout the day. Here’s a good introduction and breakdown, and Intervarsity shares a blog with an invitation and experience of Examen.

Podcast//Teaching//Article:

Dr. Curt Thompson has written a lot on the soul, shame, and neuroscience. Here he offers thoughts and prayer practices for those that struggle with feeling overwhelming

Tim Keller gives a sermon on prayer and the Psalms.

Jen Wilkin integrates prayer when we struggle to understand the Bible.

A collection of prayers for Advent from Bible Study Tools.

Books:

Spiritual Disciplines Handbook - Adele Calhoun - A great resource giving introductions and examples of many practices and habits of the Christian life.

57 Words that Changed the World - Darrell Johnson - Small book on the Lord’s Prayer

Prayer - Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God - By Tim Keller - Pure gold here. (Here’s 20 quotes from the book)

Resources on Anger, Lust, and Divorce

As we continue through Matthew and the Sermon on the Mount, we wanted to provide you with additional resources on the topics of anger, lust and marriage/divorce.

You can find the teaching from our gathering here. As we mentioned at the gathering, none of us are meant to figure out these things alone. If you’d like to talk with a pastor or simply get prayer, click the button below.

Anger:

Dallas Willard has written and spoken on anger extensively.

He says:

“Anger embraced is, accordingly, inherently disintegrative of human personality and life. It does not have to be specifically “acted out” to poison the world. Because of what it is, and the way it seizes upon the body and its environment just by being there, it cannot be hidden. All our mental and emotional resources are marshaled to nurture and tend the anger, and our body throbs with it. Energy is dedicated to keeping the anger alive: we constantly remind ourselves of how wrongly we have been treated. And when it is allowed to govern our actions, of course, its evil is quickly multiplied in heart-rending consequences and in the replication of anger and rage in the hearts and bodies of everyone it touches.”

For a little more from his book The Divine Conspiracy, see here.

Here’s a teaching on Jesus’ way out of anger:

Lust:

On Sunday, Jon mentioned a teaching from Tim Mackie who helps lead the Bible Project.

The audio from “Jesus and Sexual Desire” can be found here.

See below for a video of the teaching:

Marriage and Divorce:

On of our favorite books on marriage is from Timothy Keller entitled “The Meaning of Marriage” you can find it for purchase here.

For an article summarizing some of the insights from the book click here.

John Piper gives some helpful insight on how couples can heal after adultery here.

A teaching from a Google Talk that Dr. Keller gave is below:

Elections and Jesus

An election is upon us.

Here’s a couple of recent headlines:

“The Most Important Election of Our Lifetime”

“America is Hurtling Toward a Crossroads”

The hype sells. The hysteria gets attention and clicks, which happen to be one of the most precious commodities of today’s economy.

Reflecting on history can humble us. There have been some significant seasons in our nation’s history. Is the election of 2020 more important that the that of 1896 or 1932? Time will tell. We ought to be informed, engaged, and vote. Yes and amen. AND, while doing all those things, our main concern, as Christ’s people, is how we press forward in love of God and of our fellow human beings…yes…even those we disagree with.

My desire is for the Lord to root us and ground us as we walk through the deluge of headlines, coverage, speculation and tension that can easily throw us off-center.

The call is simple. Let’s keep our eyes, ears, hearts, and focus closely on Jesus and look for every opportunity to show His love to those around us. He is the only one still promising a light burden and easy yoke for any that come and follow Him. He is in control and worthy of our trust regardless of November’s outcome.

The world, our flesh, and the devil seek to distract us from that holy call, distort our vision of what’s important, and get us focused on anything but Jesus.

Let’s pursue Jesus as ultimate and most important. Let’s be sensitive to The Spirit of God as He moves us and works in and through us. Let’s go before the Father in humility and earnest prayer—for our community, our state, our country and its leaders.

How can we do that well in a hyper-charged time with tensions surrounding us?

Here’s a couple quotes, a prayer from St. Francis, and a passage from Hebrews that I’ve found helpful:

Wisdom on how followers of Jesus can vote well from from John Wesley:

“1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy

2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and

3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”

On having a more Christian worldview relating to politics from Scott Sauls:

“Carefully read the 4 Gospels, Romans, and James.

Pray and dine with people whose politics differ from yours.

Name 1-2 weaknesses of your own party.

Name 1-2 strengths of the other party.

Vote your conscience.

Fight evil.

Advance good.”

A prayer from St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.

Hebrews 12:1-3

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted”

For further reading and a song based on the above prayer see:

Political Riptides Rip Us Apart - By my friend Jim Mullins and Jackson Wu

Politics, Important, But Not Ultimate - By Jeremey Treat (the whole series on politics and the way of Jesus from Reality LA can be found here.)

Frederick Buechner on Peace

As a little follow up to yesterday’s gathering on how followers of Jesus are a sent people, here’s a short thought on peace from Frederick Buechner:

“Peace has come to mean the time when there aren't any wars or even when there aren't any major wars. Beggars can't be choosers; we'd most of us settle for that. But in Hebrew peace, shalom, means fullness, means having everything you need to be wholly and happily yourself. 

One of the titles by which Jesus is known is Prince of Peace, and he used the word himself in what seem at first glance to be two radically contradictory utterances. On one occasion he said to the disciples, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). And later on, the last time they ate together, he said to them, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you" (John 14:27).

 The contradiction is resolved when you realize that, for Jesus, peace seems to have meant not the absence of struggle, but the presence of love.” 

-Originally published in Wishful Thinking and later in Beyond Words

One Verse, On Thought, One Quote - Hillary Horn

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you - 1 Peter 5:6-7

“I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me.” - C.S. Lewis