Faith is not just obtained; it’s grown into. A dynamic, organic, evolving piece of you. That’s how I’d describe it at least. Where ever you are in your faith today, it’s likely not where you were 15 years ago. For some, the trek has been aggressive and their faith only retains hints of its former self. For others, faith has recklessly taken them miles from where they started only to bring them back stronger. I would characterize my faith as flexible, constantly adapting to my ever changing perceptions of truth and reality. I understand that this may not sit well with some, but it suits me just fine. Evolving in Monkey Town is just about that. With honest reflection, insight, and humor, Rachel Held Evans gives the reader a front row seat into the formation of her faith, from a somewhat over zealous defender of the faith to an uncertain critic tumbling on the brink of loosing that faith.
“The space between doubting God’s goodness and doubting his existence is not as wide as you might think.”
Growing up in the in the town made famous by the Scopes Monkey Trials, Rachel was born into faith. Raised in church, AWANA, youth groups, and all those other things many of us are very familiar with, she was grounded in good doctrine and had a heart for others and God.
“I guess when you grow up listening to Ravi Zacharias on your way to kindergarten in the morning, you kind of turn into a Jesus freak.”
The surety that came in her youth began to slip however, when the all-to familiar answers failed to satisfy unsettling questions concerning the reality of God in light of justice, suffering, hell, and difficult passages of scripture. This story, naturally, has a happy ending. Out of the anger, fear, and struggle emerged a greater faith.
“If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that serious doubt – the kind that leads to despair – begins not when we start asking God questions but when, out of fear, we stop.”
If you find yourself lost in an emerging faith, much of this book will resonate with you. Though I’ve never been brought to anything that could be considered a crisis of faith, much of the thoughts and experiences that evolved Rachel’s faith can be found in my own story. I found it an enjoyable read and think you will too, even if you find some of the seeds it plants a little uncomfortable.
I feel where she (and you it sounds like) are coming from. But is there ever a time when we find something (some truth, some reality) that makes us stop our questioning, and stand squarely on that reality? Even though it is by faith, it is so much absolute truth that questions just aren't part of the equation? Questions about the understanding of the truth, yes, but not whether that truth is real or false. It seems to me to the degree that the Bible is crystal clear about something, we accept it as reality. Truth is not relative, and the Bible is absolute truth, not some things that fallible men wrote about their understanding of God. I can wrestle with how I feel about it, and how I process it, but "it" is still true, and no matter how much I question, it will remain that. Questioning doesn't threaten the reality, but if someone is looking for a question that can give them "an out" on God, they will probably find it.
ReplyDeleteFitzsy
Yes, 'it' is true and will always be true. But the truth of 'it' is only relative to the point that I understand it. So yes, I'm certain of absolute truth, but it is my pursuit of that truth which is brought about by questioning. Questioning can be a vital part of faith. Can faith exist without doubt? Faith is believing in the midst of doubt. Faith is trusting despite the questions. So no, I don't think I'll ever find something (some truth, some reality) that will make me stop my questioning, because any truth or reality I find will have been filtered through my experiences and senses, which will always lend itself to questions.
ReplyDeleteIs there a God? Obviously there are massive questions that everyone grapples with to come to their conclusion on that reality. But I do not question the truth of it. I don't sit around asking myself whether or not I believe there is a God, I do. Period. No more need for questions for my personal understanding of it. I can understand the questions that others have, but how in the world will I be able to win an Atheist if I am still questioning the existence of God. That question is not relative, even in my understanding anymore. This kind of coversation smacks of relativism, which is philosophically ridiculous. If you say there is no knowing of absolute reality, then you have just denied your own assertion.
ReplyDeleteThe existence of God is just one example.
Fitzsy
So, as our personal perceptions of truth and reality change (or evolve) over time, our faith changes accordingly? As I come to understand more and experience more of the God's absolute truth in his Word, my faith can then evolve and change accordingly. The truth never changes, my understanding of it changes. Is that what you're saying above?
ReplyDeleteI would agree with Fitzsy though. At some point, you have to move on from point 'A' to point 'B'. Like in the example above, we believe in the existence of God. . . .end of discussion. Salvation is by grace through faith. . . .period. When is our perception and understanding of absolute truth ever satisfied? Is there a point where the questions ever stop?
-Smitty
Yes, Mike. I think our faith adjusts in response to our ever changing (growing) understanding of God and his world. Not so much our faith in God, but our faith in the things of God. Think about your own walk over the past decade. While your faith in God probably hasn't been altered much, your faith in, or should I say understanding of, those things tangent to your faith has certainly been adjusted as a result of questioning, experience, and thought. Your faith has evolved in a sense. Adjusted as you sifted through new evidence. A faith that doesn't adjust, as illustrated by the Ehrman post, is often lost beyond the mere questioning of God.
ReplyDeleteNo Fitzy, you may not sit around asking yourself whether or not there is a God, neither do I. My faith necessitates the absolute existence of God, as does yours. I think when a person says he is questioning his faith, he does so because he believes in the existence of that which he is questioning. If he didn't, what is there to question? Our questions arise when what we think we know of unseen things collides with empirical reality. If a person isn't presupposing God, there is no conflict of realities and really no need to question in the first place. Maybe 'questioning of your faith' is not the best way to communicate this. Perhaps it would be better to say 'questioning in your faith'. There is room for questioning in my faith. This because my faith is in the person and work of Christ. My faith convinces me. Alternatively, my faith is not in a particular doctrine, creed, translation, or interpretation (not that there aren't good and right and useful doctrines...)
ReplyDeleteGood explanation, I think I understand what your saying a little better!
ReplyDeleteFitzsy