When Pastors Doubt
I remember as a teenager listening to our minister say during the service that he had one time doubts about Christianity. It really shocked me. Pastors should be giants in the faith, never having a doubt about the smallest thing.
The truth is that as long as pastors continue to be human they will continue to have doubts.
Do I ever have doubts? Of course I do. I was an atheist from my mid-teens to my early twenties. That doesn’t mean that I seriously consider that there is no God. I can’t imagine ever returning to atheism. I have witnessed too much evidence for God.
But I am a skeptic by nature. It was my skepticism that led me into atheism and the same skepticism brought me back to theism. Becoming a pastor does not change my basic nature.
For some pastors the doubts are so strong that they leave the faith. There are organizations out there that designed to help pastors leave Christianity. It shouldn’t have to get that far.
What should pastors do when they experience doubt? Here are some things to consider:
- Don’t try to ignore the doubt.
- Remember that both John the Baptist and Thomas experienced doubt.
- Having doubts or questions do not make you a bad Christian.
- Be honest with your spouse (if you have one).
- Find a colleague that you respect that you can share your questions with.
- Don’t rely on emotions or feelings. Just as feelings come and go in human relations, the same is true in faith.
- Major on the majors. Focus on the things that are clearest in the faith.
- Practice self-care, including emotionally and physically.
- Consider taking a break from ministry if the doubts are too difficult.
- Don’t give up on Christian fellowship.
- Keep praying but have realistic expectations. I’m not saying that you can pray away the doubt but God can reveal himself in surprising ways.
- Finally, just don’t give up. Anything worth having is worth fighting for.
