Faith and Doubt — Lesson 3
February 13, 2009
Faith and Doubt – Discussions on Being Certain
When You Are Uncertain
“Considering the Silence of God” Lesson 3
Sunday and Wednesday Adult Bible Class
West Broad Church of Christ
February 15 and 18, 2009
Dr. J.L. Nesmith, Jr., Facilitator
(Adapted from materials by John Ortberg)
Introduction:
We discussed previously that Christians’ faith convictions will be either public, private, or core.
· Tale and trouble
· A prevailing question
We will continue our discussion by attempting to reconcile the evil in the world with the silence of God. How do Christians respond to this question?
I. The Demand for Divine Proof
When a fantastic claim is made, thinking people want to see whether or not that claim is valid. Thinking people include Christian people.
· Noise from God
· An atheist’s response
· The response of faith Question: How do you respond to Agnes’ experience? Was she a hypocrite? Was she deluded? Have you persisted in your times of spiritual dryness? If so, are you a hypocrite or deluded?
Is it possible that one will never overcome pain regarding the silence of God? Is it possible that pain will exist within faith?
· Pride and plotting –silence
· Praise to pit – silence
· Pit to pinnacle – silence
Question: How does Joseph’s experience speak to us in our moments of spiritual dryness?
II. The Demand for Proper Christian Witness
The greatness of Christ is often contrasted with the failures of his followers.
· Failures in past history
· Failures in recent history
· Reviewing command and conundrum
III. The Demand for Righteousness and Goodness
If God is real, why is pain and suffering also real? With all his power, why does he not end the pain? Why is he silent?
· Consideration of the Greeks
· Consideration of a patient
· Consideration of Paul
It is possible for evil to exist just as surely as God exists. How can we know this is true?
· Evil in Genesis
· Evil in Bethlehem
· Evil in Judea. Question: Do the events in Acts 12 speak to Diagoras’ question, above? How?
Conclusion:
What can we conclude about the “silence” of God? Scripture has provided several overwhelmingly convincing answers. First, people of faith know that despite the fact that the Father’s voice is silent, his reality cannot be denied. Secondly, the negative behavior of Christians is not an indication that God is not both real and present. Finally, God has always existed despite the reality of evil. Thankfully, evil will not have the last word (Rev. 21:1-5).
· Belief and approach
As we think of this idea of “belief and approach,” we are left with a sobering possibility. That is, perhaps the silence of God has more to do with our absence than his.
