Johan Malan, Mossel Bay, South Africa (July 2014)
One of the common phenomena of modern times is that people start doubting the foundations of their faith and, in extreme cases, even question the existence of God. A confused mindset caused by spiritual doubts is often prompted by negative experiences such as traumatic events which may occur in a family, in a community or elsewhere in the world, by social, economic and other personal crises, or by failed expectations and unanswered prayers. Moral decline and widespread deception in churches and their seminaries contribute to the weakening and even destruction of people’s faith. Internet websites and a growing number of books in which the authenticity of the Bible and the relevance of Christian faith is challenged by prominent individuals, also play a major role in the movement away from the Bible and its guidelines. The norms and traditions of Christianity are denounced as unscientific and unacceptable to modern man.
The Word of God warns us against apostatising that will become particularly widespread during the last days: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). Many of the deceived pastors, as well as independent advocates of deception, collaborate with the spreading of these demonic-inspired lies (2 Tim. 4:3-4; 2 Pet. 2:1-2). Paul’s statement in 1 Timothy 4:1 on people who “depart from the faith” is derived from the Greek word aphistemi which is rendered as follows in the Strong’s Concordance: “Instigate to revolt; to desist or desert; depart, draw away, fall away, refrain, withdraw self”. Under the influence of hostile spiritual influences, some people consciously withdraw themselves from the faith and depart from it.
Many of the doubting people who are in the process of withdrawing themselves from the faith are not outright hostile, aggressive or unteachable when discussing these issues – they are merely disillusioned believers who are engaged in an honest quest for the truth. Their problems should not be ignored or underestimated as they are grappling with foundational issues which have the potential of destroying their faith and leading them into agnosticism or complete unbelief if these problems are not properly dealt with. The entire worldview of such a person is in the process of being abandoned and replaced with another worldview in which a biblical faith does not feature. That is the reason why many of them struggle with questions pertaining to the relationship between natural and supernatural phenomena and, specifically in a Christian context, the degree to which God controls or intervenes in the affairs of daily life on earth. How should we account for everything that happens? Where is God in a world filled with violence and pain, in which millions of innocent people suffer and die? When confronted by challenging questions of this nature people usually try to make sense of reality within the ideological or cosmological framework of one of the following worldviews (for more information on worldviews, see http://www.bibleguidance.co.za/Engarticles/Worldview%201.htm):
Agnosticism. Some people start challenging the truth of the Bible, God’s plan of salvation, God’s care for His children, and ultimately the existence of God. They fail to discern any consistent pattern in God’s dealings with humanity, and justify their view by referring to alleged inconsistencies and contradictions in the Bible. They use these views as an excuse to deny the divine origin of the Bible and to relegate it to a humanly-conceived book which is imperfect and irrelevant to people in modern societies. Many of them end up denying any supernatural intervention in the affairs of men, and then resort to the scientific premise of natural cause and effect to explain all phenomena. Some of these people become outright atheists, while others become deists who believe in a remote God (Deus Remotus) or a hidden God (Deus Absconditus) who has allegedly withdrawn himself from his creation and does not involve himself in any way with the affairs of human life. As far as they are concerned, he has broken all bonds with his creative past; consequently, it is futile to pray to him and to trust him for divine intervention in solving the rising number of serious problems in an overpopulated, deceived, immoral and crime-ridden world.
However, deists cannot assert their extreme views of a God who is not involved with His creation. Jack Zavada (Christianity.about.com) says: “The concept of deism compares God to a clockmaker who creates a clock, starts it running, but has nothing to do with it after that. Deists drew this conclusion from watching natural disasters or human tragedies in which God did not intervene. Deism is clearly unbiblical. Throughout the Bible, God intervenes constantly on behalf of His people. God the Father rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt, He helped them win battles in Canaan, and most important, He sent His Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.”
New Age mysticism. In this worldview, which also forms the basis of Eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism, the universe is perceived as an integrated whole with no distinction between natural and supernatural phenomena. In terms of this holistic orientation, the universe is a self-sustaining whole permeated by a cosmic force or energy which is dynamic and creative in itself and does not function under the control of a personal, transcendent God. According to their pantheistic view, God is an impersonal life force which is present in the entire creation. People are generally unaware of this cosmic force or energy, and therefore have to raise the level of their consciousness by means of psycho-techniques such as transcendental meditation. Once they have achieved a cosmic consciousness they come into contact with this life-giving source of energy, which is sometimes referred to as the higher self, the deeper self or the god within. Having gained access to this source of power they are enabled to balance and control the forces of good and evil (yin and yang) in their own lives and in their relations with other people. They can also use this power for self-healing and to assist others in determining the sources of their ailments and suffering. In this way, people become masters of their own destiny. The more progress they make with the advancement of their cosmic awareness the closer they would be to becoming masters of wisdom who can guide and counsel other people in their cosmic awakening and self-salvation.
Calvinism. In terms of this worldview, the Triune God’s sovereignty is viewed in such a way that all people on earth, from before their birth, are thought to have a divinely-determined fate which guides them to heaven or to hell. In its extreme form, the Calvinistic tenet of divine election teaches that God has immutably determined the eternal destiny of all people, resulting in a “good luck” and a “tough luck” list which contain the names of all saved and unsaved people. No spiritual merit or independent choice by any person is taken into account, since God has made His decision on these matters before the foundation of the earth. To most Calvinists, predestination is a comprehensive concept which also includes everything that any person has ever done or will do in future. To argue otherwise, by ascribing decisions and actions to people’s own will or the consequence of their evil lusts, would infringe upon the principle of God’s sovereignty as He has to sanction everything before it happens. In this way, Calvinism renders God the author of sin, including all violent acts in which millions of innocent people have already died. They are indeed seriously misrepresenting the God of infinite love and righteousness.
No wonder that Calvinist pastors are unable to answer the questions of thinking people who are no longer prepared to blindly follow the “teachings” and “commandments” of men (cf. Matt. 15:8-9). Such preachers usually shun or ridicule people who ask challenging questions, probably hoping that the majority of their flock will not question the five basic premises of Calvinism: total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints (“TULIP”). Most people indeed find it very comforting to belong to a Calvinistic church in which they are assured that they are among the elect, that they have entered into an eternal covenant with God through infant baptism, that nothing will happen to them outside of God’s will, and that they will always enjoy the privilege of eternal security, no matter to what extent they may again fall into sin. However, people with ill fortunes find it hard to understand God’s will, and it is evident that their pastors find it even harder to explain adverse phenomena to them within the Calvinistic frame of reference.
Biblical worldview. It is vitally important to be grounded in an evangelical worldview which reflects the major Scriptural teachings on the Triune God and His attributes, His works of creation, the origin and influence of evil, the moral and spiritual depravity of the human race, the free will of man and his accountability to God, the divine inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, the deity and atoning death of Christ, salvation, sanctification, the providence of God, spiritual warfare against evil forces, the perseverance of the saints in the midst of a fierce spiritual battle, and the correct understanding of biblical prophecies on the last days prior to and directly after the second coming of Christ. These foundational doctrines need to be thoroughly studied and appropriated by faith. We should be informed, dedicated and unwavering witnesses for Christ, fully equipped to minister to others in their multiples needs, and able to show them the way ahead in an unstable and transient world.
When the convictions of believers are challenged and shaken by unanswered questions on God, salvation or other aspects of their faith, a fertile breeding-ground is provided to spiritual deception and the doubting of Scriptural truths. The enemy will be quick to exploit this situation by sowing furthers seeds of doubt and unbelief. Prayers lacking in faith (and therefore not answered) are among the first consequences of such a person’s backsliding. James says: “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (Jas. 1:6-8). Prayer should come from a pure heart grounded in Biblical faith. We should always uphold the Bible to be the verbally inspired Word of God, inerrant and infallible in the original manuscripts, and the supreme and final authority in matters of faith and life, interpreted by the Holy Spirit to each individual believer. The teachings of Scripture, and specifically the gospel message, should not be regarded as unimportant or outdated, and never changed to fit one’s own personal fancy or subjective doctrinal orientation.
Tim Challies (www.boundless.org) makes the following remarks on the value of the Bible as God’s Word, as well as the grace of Christ which is offered to us through His atoning death:
“Christians hold to the belief that the Bible is the only infallible source of God’s revelation to us. The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behaviour must be measured. The best place to begin with understanding the Bible is to learn what it says about itself. The Bible testifies to its own uniqueness and sufficiency: ‘All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). It testifies to its own perfection and power: ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple’ (Psalm 19:7). It testifies to its own completeness: ‘I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book’ (Revelation 22:18, 19). Clearly, the Bible demands for itself a place of prominence and pre-eminence. It demands that it be held as God’s most important revelation to us. Some people believe, though, that the revelation given to us in the Bible needs to be supplemented or superseded by fresh revelation. This is especially a temptation in an age like ours where we tend to value what is new more than what is ancient. ...
“The Bible is clear that the cross is the very apex of the Christian faith. It is on the cross that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sin. On the cross Jesus took upon Himself the sin [of humanity] and there He faced the penalty for such sin. The penalty He faced was the just wrath of the Father – the punishment due to those who would turn their backs on the Creator. On the cross we see that great mystery of Jesus becoming sin and of being separated from His Father so He might satisfy the demands of divine justice. This is the gospel! This gospel message is one that requires a response of faith. In faith we believe this and by grace we receive all the benefits of what Christ accomplished on that cross” (end of quotation).
Whatever our spiritual problems are, we should investigate the roots of our faith and put right what is lacking or went wrong in expressing our beliefs. In John 15:1-7 our relationship of faith in Christ is likened to branches which have been grafted into the vine. The metaphor of “grafting” refers to rebirth when we enter into a relationship with Christ to share in His life. Subsequently, we are obliged to abide in Christ and lead fruitful lives under the control of His Holy Spirit (John 15:4; Gal. 5:16; Eph. 5:18). Our relationship with Him should be qualitatively improved and strengthened as that would ensure that we honour a Christian worldview in all spheres of our life, in which there is no room for doubt. That will help us to walk in the light and to defend our convictions against the increasing number of deceptive teachings in the world.