Republished from the Christian Research Net, which is an outreach from Apprising Ministries:

So when one doesn’t have the anchor of God’s Word as the final authority to judge highly subjective “feelings” concerning what a person believes then we’ll wind up heading where this pastor is drifting and Giving Up Certainty:

Doubts don’t arise from fear, but faith. I’m not talking about the sort of doubt that leads to apostasy or blasphemy. I’m talking about the sort of doubt that can only lead to faith. I’m talking about the sort of faith that doesn’t resort to mere apologetics but is willing to live in the place between worship and doubt, between seeing and not seeing, between wisdom and foolishness, between weakness and strength.

I have a confession to make. God is leading me there and the journey is not easy and not without resistance from me. I like certainty. I like answers. I like knowing. I told someone in a thread the other day, “I’m not confused at all.” Well, that was a lie I told to cover up all sorts of fears, not to cover up all sorts of doubts. I wish now I hadn’t said that. Doubt is not sin. Doubt doesn’t necessarily lead to death, but perhaps it does lead to a deeper faith in the One who overcomes death.

“Doubt is not sin”; really? You wouldn’t know that by what Jesus-God Himself in human flesh-told His disciples or the way the Lord rebukes those with a lack of faith i.e. doubting/disbelieving. The apologists among us would point out the following were recorded by eyewitnesses to the events and/or under the direct inspiration of God the Holy Spirit:

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  (see-Matthew 14:30-31)

Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. (Mark 16:14)

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25)

And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? (Luke 24:38)

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” (John 20:27)

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. (Hebrews 11:1-2)

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6)