DOUBT AND LITTLE HOPE

DOUBT AND LITTLE HOPE By Elder Joe Holder

Both in scripture and in the Christian experience there are two kinds of doubt. We should not confuse the two and frankly we should not encourage either. One kind of doubt questions God. You could call it atheistic or agnostic doubt. It questions scripture, it questions the integrity of scripture and it questions the fidelity, the faithfulness of God Himself. That is always condemned in scripture. The other doubt raises questions about personal assurance, not about the faithfulness of God but if it is cultivated it will grow into that spirit of questioning the faithfulness of God. So, it should not be encouraged even though it is not condemned in scripture and it IS a part of every legitimate Christian experience.

Sometimes we have gotten into word games to no avail and to no profit with our friends from other denominations over this issue of hope and I think we have adopted the wrong terminology and the wrong attitude. Perhaps we have glorified our doubts too much and we will always say, "I have a little hope." Where is the word "little" connected to hope in scripture? It’s not there. It’s always a very significant factor and a very significant word. In fact if you talking with your friends in other persuasions were to simply use the word "assurance of salvation" rather than hope they’d understand what you were talking about. And, isn’t that what you ARE talking about when you talk about your hope in Christ? Of course it is. InColossians 1:1-29, Paul says that your hope grows out of the fact that Christ dwells within you. That’s not little and you should not refer to it as little because Christ in you is not a little matter - it’s a great matter and should be honored.