Stepping Across the Line

I was thinking today about faith and doubt, probably spurred on by my recent forays into the books and video clips of famous atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Chris Hitchens, Dan Dennett, Michael Shermer, Bart Ehrman, etc. 

I was also thinking about people I've known who have left the arena of faith to live in the arena of doubt, and other people who are in the arena of doubt and are considering entering the arena of faith.

It struck me that there are many similarities between both arenas. It is not a leap that separates them, but a step.  For example, even though I have stepped across the line into the arena of faith, I still possess many doubts once in a while. But I've made a decision, and I am certain that the Christian faith that I have chosen for myself is defensible, both rationally, scientifically and metaphysically. So while I live in the arena of faith, I am well acquainted with doubt.

I am also fairly certain that those in the arena of doubt have some faith too. They don't know for certain that their position is tenable. What if they are making a mistake too, by not embracing faith and God? They don't know, and are forced to hold onto their doubt by faith too.

Perhaps it can be viewed like this...whatever side you choose to live in you will face doubts. On the "doubt" side you'll face doubts that you're missing out on something, that your life is too shallow, that perhaps you're not tasting of the sublime as much as you could, that you won't live forever with God.  On the "faith" side you also have doubts, that perhaps the Bible is human in origin, that Jesus didn't rise from the dead, that God doesn't exist and we are just the products of a naturalistic development over billions of years.  Once this is accepted, that doubts will plague both arenas, perhaps it can become clear what the deciding question really is...do we want God in your life or not? It the answer is yes, we should slide over the line and embrace faith with our doubts. If the answer is no, than we should continue to embrace our doubts and live for the moment.

For me, I stand with the believers on the hill in Jerusalem when Jesus ascended into heaven after his earthly ministry was over...the text says that they all worshipped Jesus, but some doubted. That's me. I've made the decision to climb the hill of faith and worship Jesus, doubts and all.