One of the things I appreciate most is interacting with people who feel comfortable asking me faith questions. I often find people are afraid to ask questions about faith for fear that they are going to look ill informed or because the church doesn't allow people to question their faith. When they discover that it is safe to ask me questions, they often feel relieved and appreciative.
In my work with an anxiety and depression support group I have experienced that these are people who have felt left out and marginalized by the church. They have been told or have learned that God would heal them from their mental illness if they just had enough faith, or they have found that people are uncomfortable with their situation and resist interacting with them. The result is a group of people with many doubts and questions about faith and the church. In effect, the church has created the questions for these people. The church cannot refuse to welcome the hard questions of faith; if for no other reason than they nurtured the doubts from the beginning.
Jesus was a model for us in how to deal with people's questions. He respected people's questions and responded with interest and compassion. He led them to faith by grace, not with judgment. We can follow his lead and find that in the process we are opening the doors to faith.
That's today's thought.
In my work with an anxiety and depression support group I have experienced that these are people who have felt left out and marginalized by the church. They have been told or have learned that God would heal them from their mental illness if they just had enough faith, or they have found that people are uncomfortable with their situation and resist interacting with them. The result is a group of people with many doubts and questions about faith and the church. In effect, the church has created the questions for these people. The church cannot refuse to welcome the hard questions of faith; if for no other reason than they nurtured the doubts from the beginning.
Jesus was a model for us in how to deal with people's questions. He respected people's questions and responded with interest and compassion. He led them to faith by grace, not with judgment. We can follow his lead and find that in the process we are opening the doors to faith.
That's today's thought.