Have mercy on those who doubt
Over the past few years, as churches and the names of leaders and Christian organizations have been strewn across news headlines fraught with scandal, many people are doubting their faith or rejecting it altogether. For some, they are questioning the veracity of Christianity for the first time, wondering if it is right or good, wondering if it is simply a set of ancient (irrelevant) moral principles enforced by power-mongering hypocrites. Honestly, they are right to wonder.
As a barrage of external and internal circumstances batter our hearts and churches, our anchors are tested and exposed. We are forced to reckon with the reality that we do not follow simply a movement, a social club, a set of ideals, or a particularly good role model. We do not identify as Christians because we bring anything impressive to the table. We are following Christ, our resurrected Lord and Master, because He has given us hearts that are no longer dead, but miraculously alive.
The mercy of Christ
Jude, the younger brother of Jesus, wrote a surprising word towards a group of early Christians who were under attack from false teachers and a corrupt society: “Have mercy on those who doubt….” (Jude 22). Having been a doubter himself, growing up under the shadow of Jesus as a child, and questioning the ministry and validity of Jesus as an adult, Jude was likely personally familiar with doubt (Matthew 13:54-55). He had also probably heard the story of the disciple Thomas questioning the reality of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, saying “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe” (John 20:25). These bitter questions from Thomas were not met with rejection or disappointment from Jesus, but with great mercy and compassion.
“[Jesus] 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.’ Thomas answered Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” John 20:26b-28
Both Jude and Thomas knew the steady and disarming mercy of Christ towards them in their doubts. Though we do not know the specifics of Jude’s conversion to faith in his earthly brother as his heavenly Lord, we do know that his heart was awakened to belief in the resurrected Christ as the Son of God. He humbly submitted himself to the Lordship and authority Christ as his Master (Jude 1).
Helping the weak
It is necessary to seek wisdom in discerning the hearts of those who doubt. Do they ask questions out of a humble desire to know the truth? Do they seek to deny truth because of willful blindness? 1 Thessalonians 5:14 gives us clues as to how to proceed. Are the questioners people who are idle and unwilling to put feet to faith? If so, we lovingly admonish them. Is this person fainthearted? Generously encourage them. Are they weak? Then gently help them. We must remain vigilant in prayer to the Helper as we fumble to steward each opportunity and conversation.
Regardless of the doubters’ motives, we must seek to know the risen Christ ourselves, upholding Him and His Word before others. Even the greatest doubter can cry out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). The church should be filled with the quickest repenters, the hypocrites most aware of their hypocrisy. May we be a people who are known as being merciful to those who doubt, to those who do not have their theology totally correct, to those who are rightly disillusioned by the failings of humanity. With each doubter, we present to them the living Jesus, incarnating His mercy and care, and helping them to place their hands upon the scarred reality of His grace.
Rebecca Faulks is a nurse, seminary student, and member at Mosaic Boston church in Boston, MA.
