Dr Paul Allen

At some point, many Christians experience unsettling doubts regarding their professed beliefs. Some Christians experience this more than others. The areas of our individual doubt struggles are as diverse and complex as our Christian faith claims.  Some battle doubts about the genuineness of their conversion (“Have I truly been born again?”).  Some battle doubts about the character of God (“Is God truly good?”).  Some battle doubts about the validity of their theological framework (“Does Calvinism truly represent the biblical revelation of God’s nature, purposes, and actions?”).  Some battle doubts about the authenticity of their spiritual experiences (“Was my remarkably fast health recovery after receiving prayer truly a divine healing?”).  Some battle doubts about the veracity of the Christian faith itself (“Does God truly exist?” or “Does another religion or belief system more truly reveal the nature of ultimate reality?”).  Some battle a hodgepodge of th...

Doubting Thomas (1621 1623) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “ Doubting Thomas ,” we call him. Yet the reason he doubts that Jesus has risen from the dead may have more to do with the fact that he was not present when Jesus first appeared to the apostolic band ( John 20:19 –25). Is it entirely obvious that any of the others would have fared any better if they had been absent on the critical day? Certainly Thomas does not lack courage. When Jesus purposes to return from Galilee to Judah to raise Lazarus from the dead, and the disciples, understanding the political climate, recognize how dangerous such a course of action will be, it is Thomas who quietly encourages his colleagues: “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (11:16).  On occasion Thomas articulates the question the entire band is wanting to ask. Thus, when Jesus insists he is going away, and that by now they really do know the way, Thomas is not just speaking for himself when he quietly protests, “ Lord , we don’...