"An Invitation to Doubt" - Faithful Doubting?In this chapter, Dickson argues that the bible, although doesn't necessarily answer all our questions on pain and suffering, it encourages the believer to openly question God. Dickson sees there's a real "tension and complexity" in the Biblical perspective.
Part of this "tension and complexity" in the Bible's treatment of suffering, Dickson argues, is the way in which it encourages or supports "our right to question God". This is interesting. I've never taken this view before and I'm not sure I agree. My issue is with Dickson's use of the words "endorse" and "right". Even though there are many instances in the Bible of people crying out "Why" to God (Dickson uses Psalm 22 as an example), I'm not sure the Bible would go as far as using these examples to say we have a "right" to question God. It's only human to doubt God and ask why (we're sinful creatures after all) and it's assuring for us to see that very faithful people experience very human feelings. But I wouldn't necessarily say that the Bible "endorses our right to question God." I don't think that it's encouraging us to doubt God nor do I think we have a right to question God.
Later on in the chapter, Dickson elaborates on this view further by further discussing Psalm 22. He sees the presence of this Psalm as a reminder "that we have God's permission to express our disappointment." Perhaps this is a better way of putting it, rather than endorsing "our right to question God."
My concern is that Dickson is only presenting half of the issue. Let me see if I can articulate this succinctly...It does appear that we have the freedom in our faith to openly question God. There are many examples of this in the bible. But, the other side of it is that we trust that God is in control, even though we may not understand why. Psalm 22 cries out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" but in Psalm 23 it says, "My Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want."
But, that is the point that Dickson is making, is it not? That we have the freedom to ask why. I wouldn't necessarily say 'doubt', but we can ask why.
In Dickson's opening sentence he says, "...my own view is not that the Bible presents a crystal clear account of evil and pain...". Does he mean that the Bible does not entirely explain whys and hows of suffering? The existence of it? I'm not entirely sure I agree with this. What do you think?
I found this chapter interesting and I'm not too sure about some of the points Dickson has raised. I'd love you to share your comments and see what you thought.
Part of this "tension and complexity" in the Bible's treatment of suffering, Dickson argues, is the way in which it encourages or supports "our right to question God". This is interesting. I've never taken this view before and I'm not sure I agree. My issue is with Dickson's use of the words "endorse" and "right". Even though there are many instances in the Bible of people crying out "Why" to God (Dickson uses Psalm 22 as an example), I'm not sure the Bible would go as far as using these examples to say we have a "right" to question God. It's only human to doubt God and ask why (we're sinful creatures after all) and it's assuring for us to see that very faithful people experience very human feelings. But I wouldn't necessarily say that the Bible "endorses our right to question God." I don't think that it's encouraging us to doubt God nor do I think we have a right to question God.
Later on in the chapter, Dickson elaborates on this view further by further discussing Psalm 22. He sees the presence of this Psalm as a reminder "that we have God's permission to express our disappointment." Perhaps this is a better way of putting it, rather than endorsing "our right to question God."
My concern is that Dickson is only presenting half of the issue. Let me see if I can articulate this succinctly...It does appear that we have the freedom in our faith to openly question God. There are many examples of this in the bible. But, the other side of it is that we trust that God is in control, even though we may not understand why. Psalm 22 cries out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" but in Psalm 23 it says, "My Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want."
But, that is the point that Dickson is making, is it not? That we have the freedom to ask why. I wouldn't necessarily say 'doubt', but we can ask why.
In Dickson's opening sentence he says, "...my own view is not that the Bible presents a crystal clear account of evil and pain...". Does he mean that the Bible does not entirely explain whys and hows of suffering? The existence of it? I'm not entirely sure I agree with this. What do you think?
I found this chapter interesting and I'm not too sure about some of the points Dickson has raised. I'd love you to share your comments and see what you thought.
I agree with you Bron, I don't know that I am comfortable with Dickson's suggestion that the Bible says we have a "right" to question God. I just don't know that I can reconcile this idea with the several places in the Bible that tell us that we cannot test the Lord (Exodus, Deuteronomy, Matthew off the top of my head and I'm sure there are other places too). I think there is too fine a line between questioning and testing for my comfort. I find "we have God's permission to express our disappointment" is easier to swallow, but still don't know that it sits quite right. A matter for more thought and reading, I think!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that in the Bible people do question God, but not without his reply. I am reminded of Job, and in particular, chapter 38 (verses 2-5):
ReplyDelete"Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?"
Then, later on in Chapter 42, Job says, "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,things too wonderful for me to know."
It's quite a compelling read. It certainly puts things in perspective.
God gave us the freedom to choose. In that, isn't he giving us the freedom to question why? Whether good or bad.... why is this day so beautiful? to Glorify God.... why did I fall over and break my arm? to Glorify God. It seems that the questioning isn't the problem, it's our response to the answer that presents the issue. God is saying in Job (38:2-5) that His answers may not satisfy us humans, but He has answered them and He does answer them. I want to add more to my comments, but I need to read a little more first and watch a video that I saw a while back...
ReplyDeleteGood point, Suzie. We do have the freedom to question God. I think that's a better way to put it. We are free to ask God 'Why'. He lovingly tolerates our questions (probably very frustrating on his part...makes me think about Jesus and the disciples).
ReplyDeletePerhaps what's the important thing is our relationship with God, rather than our questions. How do we view God and relate to him?
Hi Everyone, God created us with free will. It was his intention from the very beginning and we could talk in circles and ask why he did that but realistically we already know the answer to that and it is irrelevant to my point any how.
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest risk is to never question God, I believe he wants us to! Just suppose we never questioned God, or anything else for that matter, and we just blindly accepted everything. How much would we actually learn / know? Someone says the sky is blue... OK. Your told to vote republican.... OK. Your asked to kill your neighbor... OK. Someone asks you why you believe in Jesus.... because. Your given a million dollars! What do you do with it?? Wouldn't the smart Christian thing be to ask God.. seek his guidance. I believe being in a relationship with God means that we should (because he wants us to) bring everything to him. Good and bad.
When has he ever told us to do anything in our own strength? Suffering included. It's our selfishness that prevents us from recognizing that when we hurt God is also hurting. Think about that for a second. The bible says 'what you do to the least of these you do to me'. Also after Jesus asked 'Why' when he was being crucified, he then said 'Forgive them father they know not what they do'. Why would he have said that??? I don't think he thought that God may have been changing his mind on his decision to send his son to die for the sins of the world. It Hurt Him! (putting the Trinity aside) It hurt Him! With the knowledge of the purpose for the Crucifixion, it still hurt Him.
We may not get an answer. We may not get an answer when we want an answer. We may get an answer but still not understand. But we should always ask, never try doing anything in our own strength because it will never work. Remember that God wants us to come to Him when it hurts, praise Him of the good, ask Him when we need wisdom....
Darian