Doubt Night Part 2

When reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell (a great read, highly recommended), I was floored when he talked about when they Sponsored Doubt Night. They allowed people to write down questions, concerns, struggles, and doubts concerning God, faith, and life. The took an entire service to simply take time to read what people wrote, and then "discuss" (not necesarrily answer) what was said.

Erwin McManus at Mosaic is doing a similar thing right now. For the entire Fall they've been taking time to answer the questions people have been writing in on. It's a podcast worth listening to.

Great ideas. And as is with most great ministry ideas I run across, I decided to steal it. November, 2005, we had our first Doubt Night. We took time to answer a number of questions.
Most questions received addressed the "Big Questions" that are often asked:

• If God is good, where did evil come from?
• Who created God?
• How far is too far?
• What happens to people who never hears about Jesus Christ before he/she dies?
• How can I know the Bible is True?
• How do I know Christianity is the only way?

These questions are great questions, and worthy of wrestling with.

This year, we received nearly 100 questions. The questions fell into three basic categories:

1. Handling Relationships as a Christ Follower (family, friends, dating) - Over 50% of the questions.
2. Living It Out (sin struggles, the cost of following Christ, How do I...?) Another 40% of the Questions.
3. BIG QUESTIONS (Who is Satan, Does prayer work, like mentioned above) 9 questions like this. We will be taking time to dive into these questions via the Senior High Blog over the next few weeks.
   

I was so encouraged as I read the questions. The questions said something. They said, "Our lives are bumping against Christ, and it's getting messy!" I LOVE IT...

Chew on some of these

• How do you share Christ with someone who hates God and keep their friendship?
• I need to make a decision about a relationship. I feel right about my decision but is it correct? What questions do I ask to find out
• Why are we tested… ie. Bad things happen to us that we don't expect?
• Is it as hard to be a Christ follower as what people are making it?
• How do I talk to people who judge Christianity by Christians… choose not to follow rather than considering the one they're being asked to follow. (judging mainly based on Christians only in name, not discernable by their fruit)? These people are tired of being "preached " at… tired of people forcing "religion" on them. They have a very skewed view of Christianity.
• How do you help a "Christian" friend who is living a school life and a church life, but doesn't want to listen to you when you confront them?!
• Will I lose my friends when I buy into this?
• Why do I struggle with the same sins over and over? And say I'm a Christ follower?
• How do you start something that you have never done before or tried to live by?
• What if my unsaved family disowns me when I share my faith?
• Did God make it hard to be a Christian on purpose, or did we make it hard on ourselves? (MY PERSONAL FAVORITE)
  

The reality is that many of us will walk out with more questions than answers, but I'm more and more convinced that the true growth comes in the wrestling with these questions that in finding the answers. I know the truth, and I found it in a person... not so much an answer.